REBUILDING THE TEMPLE

TOTAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ESTIMATE: $2.25 million

L’dor v’dor Endowment: $1,000,000

To ensure the continuity of basic operations and maintenance for another 100 years, an endowment will be created. A new regional model of Temple membership and affiliation, from Albuquerque to Denver and from Santa Fe to Boulder, is being created to ensure ongoing programming to keep the Temple operationally viable and strong.

Raise the Roof Campaign: $500,000

The Temple’s complex, one of a kind original pressed metal roof, with multiple peaks and valleys, needs repair and full replacement in kind (with like or replicated original materials). A $50,000 State Historical Fund grant resulted in a full investigation and emergency repairs for the roof in 2023. A new $237,714 State Historical Fund grant awarded in June, 2024, requiring a $79,238 Temple match, will be used to complete Phase I of the campaign. We successfully raised this match in the last year thanks to your generous help, so the funding for phase 1 is complete! Phase II will cost at least $185,000 for the porch, pyramid, onion dome, cornice repairs, and painting. We are working towards the match as part of this year's Colorado Gives Day campaign.

The Grand Temple (Exterior) $325,000

The unique, Exotic Revival style Temple, designed by master architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp, stands like a sentinel high on a hill at 3rd Street and Maple overlooking downtown Trinidad. It is a contributing building to the El Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District and was approved by the National Park Service as a National Landmark (NHL) in December, 2023. The Temple’s many unique architectural features, and estimated costs for their full rehabilitation, include:

• The Temple Mount (retaining walls/stairs/security)  $150,000

    In late October 2025, the retaining wall was shored up with emergency reinforcements due to heavy rains that caused the hillside to begin moving. Engineers are now working to develop a long-term plan for this wall. This is the second major effort that will be funded (in part) by your donations during this campaign. 

• Masonry and cornice repairs for four facades            $75,000

• The Twelve Tribes of Israel (stained glass windows)  $100,000

The Inner Sanctum (Interior): $225,000

From the grand sanctuary to the assembly room, and from the library/museum to the social hall, the Temple’s many unique historic features are in need of preservation and restoration to their original condition, while at the same time making improvements to meet modern code, accessibility and functionality. These include:

• The Sanctuary (Including Bimah, Holy Ark and ceiling) $100,000

• The Assembly Room (south of entry by kitchen)               $ 25,000

• Library/Museum/Archive (north of entry)                          $ 25,000

• Mishpacha  Social Hall (large rectangular west room)      $ 25,000

• Historic Estey Pipe Organ                                                      $ 25,000

• Vestibule and Stairways to Sanctuary (inc. portal window)$25,000

Remodeling for fully functional kitchen: $75,000

We Jews love food, and it is an integral part of our life cycle events, religious services and social and family celebrations! The Temple’s antiquated kitchen, which has not been upgraded in decades, needs improvements to enable supporting the many events and activities now underway and envisioned for the future. A fully modern, code compliant and functional kitchen in its original configuration can be accommodated within the existing kitchen footprint in the historic building. Help with design and implementation of a full retrofitted kitchen is needed to continue to serve the community at our many scheduled events.

...And now for the sexy stuff! ADA compliant bathrooms  $100,000

The Temple’s antiquated and cramped restrooms are not ADA compliant and need reconfiguration and plumbing code updates to make them functional for the building and visitors.