RTL Foundation

Situated within an 8,500-square-foot headquarters at the Five Points Media Center in Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood, The RTL Foundation's BIPOC Nonprofit Development Center - BNDC - serves as a collaborative workspace hub for BIPOC nonprofit organizations. The BNDC provides crucial resources, including IT infrastructure, high-speed secure broadband, and access to databases for funding opportunities, and provides comprehensive programming to enhance organizational capacity for long-term growth. The BNDC model promotes natural collaboration and mentoring among its members, mirroring the successful processes seen in for-profit incubators. BNDC seeks to provide the architectural framework and support needed for promising nonprofits to flourish, helping them fundraise, grow, and scale, as desired.

To transform and elevate the impact of BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits, the BNDC is taking a proactive approach to empower and strengthen the nonprofit community in Colorado and the more than 20 BIPOC nonprofits in its inaugural 2023 cohort.  Cumulatively, these nonprofits serve more than 27,000 people annually in predominantly BIPOC and systemically underserved and marginalized communities in Colorado.

The BNDC offers two distinct membership options to cater to the needs of its community of BIPOC nonprofits.  First, we provide an in-person incubator in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, offering members: offices, cubicles, day-use desks, event spaces, two board rooms with varying capacities, two media studios for content production, and an Art Gallery that serves as both a creative space and an event venue. The Art Gallery will exhibit art exclusively from BIPOC artists from the Denver Metro and Colorado.  This on-site facility can accommodate more than 50 persons daily (member organizations plus their staff), providing a physical hub for collaboration and work.

Additionally, the BNDC has launched an “Incubator Without Walls,” to cater to remote members. This virtual membership grants access to a wide array of programming, the majority of which is delivered on-site, in-person at the BNDC in Five Points and is live-streamed to remote members, and available as live and recorded video content. Remote members also have the opportunity to engage in in-person trainings, workshops, seminars and events at the BNDC and utilize the event space, board rooms, day desks, and the Art Gallery, extending the reach of the BNDC's mission to BIPOC and minority-serving organizations not only in the Denver Metro area but throughout the entirety of Colorado. This dual approach ensures inclusivity and accessibility for various organizations and individuals.

The incubator programming is a cornerstone of this effort, designed to provide tailored support for each participating organization. Upon joining the cohort, each organization undergoes baseline assessments to evaluate its status in various vital areas. This assessment provides a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Each organization establishes tailored goals and objectives following the baseline assessment. The process will ensure that goals are aligned with the organization's unique needs and circumstances and aims to facilitate the growth and development of each organization. 

Specific programming encompasses: 

• Organizational and strategic planning; 

• Fundraising and grants management; 

• Human resources and financial/accounting; 

• Board development; 

• Mentoring

• Capacity building; 

• Leadership Development

• Marketing and communications. 

Additionally, the BNDC is actively partnering with external organizations and experts to deliver these services, forming collaborations with organizations such as Mile High United Way, the Colorado Nonprofit Association, Community Resource Center of Colorado, Colorado Gives Foundation, Social Venture Partners, and Spark the Change Colorado. The BNDC is creating specialized programming highlighting BIPOC leaders and external experts, who will facilitate workshops, seminars, and talks to share their insights and experiences, mainly focusing on the successful journeys of BIPOC-led nonprofits from inception to thriving organizations. This holistic approach, made possible by Gary's funding, aims to uplift the BIPOC nonprofit sector, catalyzing growth and impact within the community.