Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership - focused on watershed restoration and preservation in Ouray County - Page 46

How to contribute to UWP

How to contribute to UWP

The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) offers a few easy ways to make your tax-deductible financial contribution to our nonprofit. Your donations support education about local rivers, riparian areas and water science; monitoring and analysis of water quality and quantity; restoration of watershed areas; collaboration and communication with public land agencies and river property owners; and the operation of our nonprofit so we can do all of the above.

In 2025 and 2026, your support is more important than ever as federal, state and local grants are being cut back. The competition for private grants is also greater than ever.

Please read our 2025 Fall Fundraising and Membership Drive letter by clicking on the button below to learn about the importance of donations and how you can make your donation now.

Read, download, print & mail

Tax Credits

Colorado taxpayers, who make monetary or in-kind contributions of $250 and above to the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership, may also receive a Colorado income tax credit of 12.5 or 25 percent of their donations. See more information about the Enterprise Zone tax credits.

NEW: Stock, Donor Advised Funds, and Crypto:

UWP can now accept donations of stock, crypto currencies, and from donor advised funds. We have secured a portal for easy processing with Pledgeling. Learn more about donating stock, crypto, and donor-advised funds. Then, please donate.

Membership: a convenient way to show your annual support of UWP, which puts you on our mailing list to receive news and updates on our activities and projects. Click on the “Donate” button below to open the PayPal website, pick your membership level, and pay through the online service or with your credit card.

Individual Member ($40), Family Member ($75), or Business Member ($100)

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Please be sure to include your mailing address when you complete your donation payment in PayPal, so we can send your donation receipt and record for tax purposes.

One-time online donation: a simple way to choose any monetary level from $5 to $10,000 to help fund our activities. Please click on the water droplet on the right side of this page to open the PayPal website, where you can type in your donation amount and pay through the online service or with your credit card.
Recurring online donations: a method of spreading your donations out over the year so they can have lasting impact. Please click on the water droplet on the right side of this page to open the PayPal website, where you can type in your donation amount, check the “Make this Recurring” (to make it monthly), and pay through the online service or with your credit card.
Donations and membership payments by mail: another method of getting your payment to us through the postal service. Please open, fill out and print our Membership Form (pdf) and send it with a check made payable to UWP to UWP, P.O. Box 392, Ridgway, CO 81432.

Donate as you shop (at no cost to you!)

through igive.com and City Market/Kroger. Find out more: https://www.uncompahgrewatershed.org/trigger-donations-while-you-shop/

Planned & Estate Giving

Please go to our Legacy Giving page to learn about this philanthropic option.

Other Options

2024 Membership & Fundraising Letter

Colorado Gives Day Online Year-Round Donor Portal

Ridgway RiverFest Sponsorships

If you have any questions about giving to UWP, please contact Executive Director Tanya Ishikawa at tanya@uncompahgrewatershed.org or 970-325-3010. Thank you for considering a financial contribution to support the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership and our work restoring and protecting the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed.

Become a UWP Board Member

Become a UWP Board Member

UWP is guided by a board of seven to eleven directors including four officers, as well as bylaws and other operating documents. Directors must be adults with a demonstrated interest in issues that affect the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed. Board directors include area residents, landowners, permit holders, public land managers, recreational users, and other stakeholders – many with technical/scientific expertise and experience that contribute added value towards UWP’s mission, activities, and objectives.

Three-year terms are staggered to ensure continuity of leadership. Directors generally serve at least two terms. The board generally meets on even months of the year (Feb, April, June, Aug, Oct, Dec) from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday.

On odd months, three Board Working Groups meet. Board members can choose to participate in one to three Working Groups, based on their interest and availability. The groups are: Operations (for officers), Financials & Fundraising, and Watershed Health. The groups also welcome non-board members who are community members with specialized knowledge related to the group’s goals and activities.

Board directors typically volunteer four to six hours per month including meetings and other activities, while board officers volunteer an additional 2 to 3 hours per month. One to three times a year, directors are expected to help out an extra four to six hours in a month for special events such as RiverFest.

If you are interested in becoming a board member, you can contact UWP Executive Director Tanya Ishikawa at 970-325-3010 or tanya@uncompahgrewatershed.org. Also, please complete a short questionnaire regarding your interest in serving on the board.

If you are not ready to become a board member but are interested in joining a Working Group or volunteering in other ways for UWP, please reach out to Tanya to let her know!

RAUR: Recreation Allies of the Uncompahgre River

RAUR: Recreation Allies of the Uncompahgre River

Formed in 2021, this action-oriented group of diverse local and regional volunteers is seeking to maintain and improve safe, responsible and environmentally sensitive recreation along the Uncompahgre River corridor. By collaborating with landowners, stakeholders and policymakers in the Uncompahgre River Watershed, the committee will:
• Foster a strong stewardship ethic among river users by providing educational opportunities on river etiquette, safety and the surrounding environment,
• Identify impediments and opportunities to recreation and public resource access, and
• Collaborate with partners to address these issues.

UWP is a founding member of Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance (ORRCA). You can find out more about this regional partnership and see past meeting minutes and recordings on the ORRCA website.

Good Tips for Responsible & Safe River Recreation

Following these tips will ensure your next trip out on the water is as good for you as it is for the waters we love to recreate on. Remember, it’s your world, and it’s up to each of us to look after it.

Check out the article, “Leaving only ripples,” by the Subaru/Leave No Trace Teams.

Keep Updated on Recreation on the Uncompahgre River

Do you like to fish, raft, kayak and play on local rivers?

Do you care about sustaining recreation opportunities on local rivers, streams and lakes?

Do you want to stay engaged in decisions about sustainable recreation?

Then, please email Tanya to get updates from the RAUR at tanya@uncompahgrewatershed.org.

Connect your shopping to donations to UWP

Connect your shopping to donations to UWP

Did you know that by installing an iGive add-on to your internet browser toolbar, your online shopping can trigger automatic donations to the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership from those organizations? Yes, a small percentage of your payments for your online purchases will be directed to our nonprofit if you take a few moments to set up UWP as your beneficiary of those donation programs… and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

iGive Screen Shot

To get the iGive.com add-on that will automatically link various shopping and online travel agents to their automatic donation program to direct a percentage of your purchases to UWP, go to this link: http://www.igive.com/1S1UOga and sign up. You will then be instructed how to put the toolbar add-on to your web browser.

Your purchases at City Market (King Soopers/Kroger) can send donations UWP’s way without costing you anything extra. City Market is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper so donates a portion of sales to local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations through City Market Community Rewards. All you have to do to get donations flowing to UWP is to connect your Rewards/Value Card to UWP online. The, just shop at City Market and swipe your Value Card (or enter Alt ID)!

Please connect your Value Card on the City Market Website

Your participation in these convenient programs will make a difference in UWP’s ability to accomplish our mission. Thank you!

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