BNDC – RTL- Foundation

BIPOC Nonprofit Development Center (BNDC)

The RTL Foundation is committed to empowering historically underserved communities by providing essential education and support in technology, history, and entrepreneurship. Recognizing the unique operational challenges faced by BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits, particularly those rooted in minority communities, we established the BIPOC Nonprofit Development Center (BNDC). The BNDC is the nation’s first incubator exclusively focused on fostering the growth and sustainability of BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving nonprofit organizations.

Our Mission

Dedicated to Minority-led and serving Nonprofits. Our mission is to build up the capacity of BIPOC-led and serving nonprofit organizations in the Denver metro and all of Colorado.

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide a BIPOC Nonprofit Development Center (BNDC) that functions as a collaborative space to support minority-led and servicing organizations

Currently, the BNDC is incubating 24 nonprofits that collectively serve over 185,000 BIPOC Coloradans. These organizations are making a profound impact, transforming lives and fostering positive change in our communities. We take great pride in being based in the historic Five Points neighborhood and are honored to support a diverse group of leaders—24 BNDC member nonprofits are helmed by BIPOC executives, with 18 of these leaders being women.

About Us

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 enabling them to effectively serve the community.

Through the BNDC, the RTL Foundation is not just supporting nonprofit growth; we are driving a movement towards equity, empowerment, and sustainable development in the communities that need it most.

The BNDC offers specialized workshops, seminars, and trainings to address the needs of our tenants and members on topics such as board development, sustainability, scalability, grant writing, etc, while providing thoughtful operational leadership strategies.
The BNDC has created agreements with local Universities and colleges to offer interns to support tenants and members, based on their individual needs.
The BNDC serves as a fiduciary sponsor for nonprofits that do not have 501(c)3 status.
The BNDC provides networking opportunity for our tenants and members to establish and nurture relationships that have the potential to transform into meaningful partnerships.
The BNDC offers streamlined access to interns from local Universities and colleges.
The BNDC offers tenants and members access to a wide range of print materials and on-line databases and fundraising resources, to research, identify and capture more funding.

Programs

The RTL Foundation provides capacity building programs to its BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits in multiple areas including fundraising and grants management, strategic planning, board building, leadership development, financial management and human resources, mentoring, among others. Programs are delivered by subject matter experts and external nonprofit partners. Programs are delivered in-person to member organizations in RTL Foundation’s BIPOC nonprofit incubator and in real time via VideoTeleConference (VTC) to remote members of the BNDC throughout Colorado

Membership

The BNDC offers two distinct membership options to cater to the needs of its community of BIPOC nonprofits. This dual approach ensures inclusivity and accessibility for various organizations and individuals.

In-Person COHORT Membership (limited to two years)

First, we offer an in-person COHORT membership in Five Points neighborhood facility (Denver), offering members: deeply discounted office and/or cubicle space, event spaces, and two board rooms with varying capacities. In addition to physical space, the BNDC has partnered with exernal organizations to provide valuable trainings and mentorship to our members. This programming is 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

Virtual Membership (no time limitations)

In addition to the in-person, cohort, the BNDC has launched an “Incubator Without Walls,” to cater to remote members. This VIRTUAL membership grants access to a select set of programming, the majority of which is delivered on-site, in-person at the BNDC in Five Points and is live-streamed to virtual members, and available as live and recorded video content. Virtual members also have the opportunity to engage in select in-person trainings, workshops, seminars and events at the BNDC and utilize the event space, board rooms and day desks; thus, 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.

Partnerships

The BNDC is actively partnering with external organizations and experts to deliver programming and other services to all our members. By forming collaborations with other community leaders and iconic 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 able to provide high quality programming, workshops, seminars, and talks to our members. These organizations and leaders share their valuable insights and experiences, aimed at uplifting the BIPOC nonprofit sector, catalyzing growth and impact within the community.

Apply now

Share Your Expertise: Become Our Next Presenter

Share Your Expertise: Become Our Next Presenter! If you’re passionate about what you do and you want to help others, here’s your chance. Join us in serving the community by sharing your knowledge with a group of eager entrepreneurs and business owners. As a presenter, you’ll have the unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, to our Cohort, and make a meaningful impact on the organizations that are serving our community.