We have received outreach from some of our funded organizations regarding the ongoing transition of the federal administration which has resulted in many executive orders and other federal directives from multiple governmental agencies. We understand that the cumulative total of these has caused concern and confusion.
First, it is important to clarify that the SCFD and its funding is not impacted by any of these orders. The SCFD is a voter-approved, locally funded taxing district serving the seven counties of the Denver metro area. As such, the district neither receives nor disburses federal funding. Any money provided by the district to the nearly 300 organizations we support comes from a sales tax that collects one penny on every $10 spent in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties. This tax is distributed through a process initially approved by voters in 1987 and reauthorized by voters three additional times over the SCFD’s more than 35-year history.
Organizations that receive federal grants or other types of federal funding should reach out to those agencies providing the funding or to other available and knowledgeable council to receive guidance on how these federal directives may impact your organization. The SCFD cannot provide this guidance.
In the meantime, the National Council of Nonprofits is tracking executive orders affecting charitable nonprofits, expected impacts, and related actions which can be viewed here. The chart will be updated regularly. We thank our grantees for the work they continue to do for our Denver metro community during this time.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SCFD executive director will step down in 2025, assume senior advisor role
(DENVER, Nov. 25, 2024) – SCFD Executive Director Deborah Jordy will step down from her role at the district’s helm on June 30, 2025. A fixture on the national, regional and local arts and cultural scene, Jordy will move into a role as the district’s senior advisor on a host of issues including reauthorization.
Jordy began her tenure as SCFD head in 2016, following the successful reauthorization of the district, an effort in which Jordy played an integral role. That district reauthorization was the third time voters had overwhelmingly voted to keep the district running and assured the SCFD of 40 years of existence.
“If you are working in the arts and culture arena in the Denver metro area, you know Deborah, have been mentored by Deborah or directly benefit from work Deborah has done,” said Jacki Cooper Melmed, Chair of the SCFD Board of Directors. “Her stewardship of the SCFD is just one more example of the impact she has had on arts and culture for nearly 50 years.”
During her nearly decade-long tenure heading the SCFD, Jordy focused much of her work on breaking down barriers to access and building up district presence. To that end, she updated the SCFD through successfully transitioning its brand and digital presence. She elevated awareness of the district through a variety of outreach and organizational efforts. She enhanced the relationships between the district’s funded organizations, resulting in greater collaboration for the patrons and members of these valued visual and performance organizations. Jordy led through the pandemic, where the district was able to deliver more than $74 million in general operating support annually to organizations, many that were shuttered for nearly two years. This support ensured that the metro area’s arts and cultural organizations survived.
“It is difficult to overstate the impact that Deborah has had on arts and culture in our region and beyond,” said Denver City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, Vice Chair of the SCFD Board of Directors. “While her daily leadership presence will be hard to replace, we look forward to keeping her on board to provide the advice and counsel that only she can.”
Jordy began her career as a practicing artist. She transitioned to become one of only a handful of female curators who were the barrier breakers at the Denver Art Museum. She went on to be the first woman to lead the Arvada Center and the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation. Before taking the reins of the SCFD, she served as executive director of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.
She has served on many of the state and nation’s most important boards including her more than decade-long service on the board of Americans for the Arts and her nearly decade-long service on the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Board of Directors. She has used this volunteer service not only to support her own passion for the arts, but also to ensure that the value and impact of arts and culture are represented in Colorado and nationally.
“This was a difficult decision because I am passionate about my work, all the people I serve and the importance arts and culture play in society,” Jordy said. “It has been an honor and a great privilege to lead SCFD over the past eight years. Serving the hundreds of SCFD-funded cultural organizations, and the residents of the district, has been the pinnacle of my professional career. I am looking forward to continuing my service to the district in a new capacity as senior advisor, which will allow me to continue the work I love so much while dedicating more time to my other passions outside the workplace.”
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Board of Directors approved the release of $14,082,602.60 to Tier III organizations in the Denver metro area on September 26, 2024. These organizations provide arts, culture, and science programing to district residents that ranges in focus from visual and performing arts to natural science and cultural history.
Tier III grants were recommended by SCFD’s County Cultural Councils, made up of volunteers who live in SCFD’s seven counties and are appointed by their respective county’s board of county commissioners or city council. Collectively, these councils reviewed more than 600 grant applications for the 2024 Tier III funding cycle, recommending funds for 98% of the requests submitted. Tier III funding was allocated either towards general operating support or project support, and qualifying organizations could apply for either single-county or multi-county grants to support their work in both their home counties and expanded programming throughout the district. A full list of Tier III distributions can be found here.
As a result, Tier III recipients will be able to provide unique programming over the next year such as mobile art studios and exhibits, touring performances throughout the district, county-specific citizen science projects, and much more. Learn more about Tier III organizations and find programming near you here.
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Board of Directors approved the release of $20,271,300 to Tier II organizations in the Denver metro area on August 22, 2024. This diverse group of organizations range in focus from dance, visual art, and music to aviation, environmental education, and more, offering an array of cultural programming to district residents.
A selection of Tier II representatives shared exciting updates with the board about their work including new programming, data about the reach of their organizations throughout the community, and strides toward greater equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Above all, the Tier II organizations have been working hard to find ways to truly provide culture for all over the past year. For example, organizations like the Colorado Music Festival and Colorado Ballet have been working to provide transportation to programming for students and the elderly, while organizations such as the Colorado Symphony and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory have brought their programming into the community for groups ranging from patients with cancer at UC Health University of Colorado Hospital and kids at the Anchor Center for Blind Children.
Presenting funded partners included Swallow Hill Music Association, Colorado Music Festival & Center for Musical Arts, Longmont Museum, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Clyfford Still Museum, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony Association, Mizel Arts and Culture Center, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, South Suburban Parks & Recreation – Cultural Department, Rocky Mountain Butterfly Consortium, and City of Aurora Cultural Services Division. All of SCFD’s Tier II funded partners will continue to seek innovative ways to make culture available and accessible to all in the district with the help of this year’s SCFD funding distribution.
Learn more about Tier II organizations and find programming near you here.
At the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District’s (SCFD) May board meeting, the Board of Directors approved Resolution NO. 24-04, releasing $50,343,350 to Tier I organizations in the Denver metro area. The funding amounts per organizations are as follows:
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science: $12,334,120.75
- Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: $12,203,228.04
- Denver Art Museum: $10,234,803.06
- Denver Center for the Performing Arts: $8,900,704.28
- Denver Botanic Gardens: $6,670,493.88
Tier I executive directors shared exciting updates about their organizations with the board including strides toward greater equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in addition to new programming. From collaborative partnerships with organizations across the district to pop-up programming throughout the community, Tier I organizations are working hard to provide arts, culture, and science for all. Notably, the Denver Botanic Gardens hit an all-time world high for attendance, the Denver Art Museum hosted 1 million youth visitors for free, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance added a director of belonging to its staff, the DCPA launched a five-year strategic plan to create 1 million engagements with the community annually, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science partnered with 54 SCFD funded partners on collaborative programs.
“It’s wonderful to see the collaboration and creativity of the Tier I organizations,” said DCPA President & CEO, Janice Sinden. “We are grateful to the residents of the Denver metro area for supporting SCFD and, in turn, our work as Tier I’s to provide culture for all.”
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) will recognize top cultural contributors at the SCFD Block Party & Awards on June 5, 2024 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at SCFD’s headquarters in Denver. Since 1998, SCFD has celebrated cultural champions of the district with the biennial Rex Morgan Awards. Named for Rex Morgan, without whom the SCFD would not exist, these awards seek to honor his memory by recognizing local leaders and cultural organizations in lifetime leadership, civic engagement and innovative partnerships.
“The Rex Morgan Awards are an important SCFD tradition that give us a chance to honor the cultural leaders and organizations who work tirelessly to champion arts, culture and science in our seven-county district,” said SCFD Board Chair, Jacki Cooper Melmed.
The Rex Morgan Award for Lifetime Leadership: George Sparks has served as the President/CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science since 2004. A lifetime champion of arts, culture and science, his leadership has helped the museum expand its impact and accessibility to the community through collaborative partnerships, mobile programs, and more. Sparks’ passion is public policy, particularly around science and education. He is a member of the Colorado Forum, Colorado Concern, and is on the Boards of Colorado Education Initiative, Colorado Business Round Table, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Denver Council of Foreign Relations and Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. George is the founder of the Institute for Science & Policy, a program of the Museum. George Sparks’ advocacy and dedication to the sector has enriched our cultural landscape for generations to come.
The Rex Morgan Award for Civic Engagement & Volunteerism: Renee Fajardo is an author and cultural activist who has spent the last 35 years preserving and promoting the Latino culture of Colorado. She has been on the board of the Colorado Folk Arts Council for 20 years and is the current board chair of the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council. In addition to her work as director of MSU Denver’s Journey Through Our Heritage program, Fajardo has dedicated countless volunteer hours to uplifting Latino youth, sharing multicultural stories, and creating opportunities for exposure to diverse arts and culture experiences throughout the metro area. Her many volunteer accomplishments and commitments have amplified Latino voices throughout the district, bringing attention to an important aspect of our community’s culture.
The Rex Morgan Award for Innovative Partnerships & Regional Cooperation: Motus Theater’s mission is to create original theater to support community conversation on critical issues of our time. By using the power of art to build alliances across diverse segments of the community, Motus Theater presents multimedia performances through the lens of race and class. Current performances include auto-biographical monologues with leaders on the frontlines of violence and oppression in the U.S., putting them center stage as the protagonists in the American drama. Motus Theater’s uniquely collaborative performances and projects have helped our community become more open-minded, empathetic and connected.
“We are proud to recognize George Sparks, Renee Fajardo and Motus Theater with Rex Morgan Awards as thanks for their efforts to provide culture for all right here in the Denver metro area. Each honoree’s leadership, civic engagement and innovation is inspiring, and we look forward to celebrating them in June,” said SCFD Executive Director, Deborah Jordy.
In fiscal year 2023, SCFD’s total sales and use tax revenue was $86.2 million, the highest recorded revenue in SCFD’s history! This amount is a 0.48% increase from fiscal year 2022. As a result, $84.9 million in total grants was distributed to nonprofit arts, culture and science organizations across the Denver metro area last year.
In celebration of Culture for All, Governor Jared Polis has proclaimed February 21 – March 21 Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Month! Organizations benefitting from SCFD funds create an unparalleled level of access to arts, culture and science for Colorado residents, offering thousands of free and discounted activities each year. You can help us celebrate by sharing why you love SCFD and our funded organizations with #SCFDMonth2024 all month long.
Save the date! On February 21, 2024, SCFD and its funded organizations will take over the Colorado State Capitol once again. Arts, culture and science will fill the halls throughout the morning as we raise awareness of the district and its mission to provide culture for all in the Denver metro area. Stay tuned for more information!
At the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District’s (SCFD) September Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved Resolution No. 23-07 (pdf), releasing $14,919,058.34 to Tier III organizations across the seven-county district.
Thanks to district residents, one penny of every $10 spent in the district supports arts, culture and science programming provided by a range of nonprofit organizations. Each of SCFD’s seven counties receives a share of the tax collected, and volunteer County Cultural Councils make funding recommendations based on their county’s funding priorities. Based on these recommendations, SCFD made more than 500 general operating and project support grants to Tier III organizations across the district such as the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Evergreen Jazz Festival, HawkQuest, Pop Culture Classroom and Su Teatro.
The 2023 funds will be distributed per each county’s annual funding plan. Each county’s distribution is based on the sales tax collected in its jurisdiction. The amounts per county are as follows:
- Adams: $2,635,755.69
- Arapahoe: $2,855,660.10
- Boulder: $1,423,720.91
- Broomfield: 388,763.07
- Denver $3,821,829.11
- Douglas $1,536,142.63
- Jefferson $2,257,186.89
This funding cycle will provide funding for the first time to the following Tier III organizations:
- Feel the Beat
- Tunas Mekar
- SeriesFest
- Cal-Wood Education Center
- City of Louisville- Louisville History Museum
- Rocky Mountain Youth Musicals
- Carousel of Happiness, Inc.
- Handweavers Guild of Boulder
- Roshni
- NoBo Art District
- Society for Creative Aging
A full list of Tier III organizations funded by the SCFD can be found here.