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Elevating local community members to lead and excel.
The Elevar Program
Elevar, a program of Eagle Valley Community Foundation, is designed to elevate local entrepreneurs and community leaders by helping them grow both personally and professionally. At its core, Elevar focuses on empowering people of color, immigrants, and individuals from low-income backgrounds who are developing business ideas, growing small businesses, launching social enterprises, or leading community-centered projects that benefit Eagle County.
Elevar provides a pathway of support for entrepreneurs at different stages of growth. Through training, mentorship, networking, leadership development, and access to capital, the program helps participants strengthen their business ideas, build confidence, communicate their vision, and grow as leaders in the community.
Startup Elevar: The First Step in the Elevar Journey
New this year, Elevar launched Startup Elevar, a 4-week preparation program designed to help entrepreneurs clarify and strengthen their ideas before the full launch of the ALUNA course and official Elevar cohort selection.
Startup Elevar is ideal for entrepreneurs and small business owners who have a business idea, are just getting started, or want to grow their business but need support organizing and communicating their vision. This introductory program helps participants better understand their business purpose, audience, goals, and community impact while also strengthening their future Elevar application.
The Elevar Cohort
Following Startup Elevar, participants may move into the next steps of the Elevar process, including interviews, evaluation, and potential selection for the official Elevar cohort and ALUNA course.
Each year, Elevar selects a cohort of entrepreneurs for a more intensive experience that includes mentorship, specialized curriculum, leadership development, and capital support to help advance their ventures. The cohort model is designed not only to support business success, but also to cultivate entrepreneurs as community leaders who contribute to a more inclusive and thriving local economy.
- 2024 Graduates- Inaugural Cohort
- EG Multimedia Design
- Elevated Engravings
- Grab n’ Grow
- JHOVA
- Nourish: Mind and Body
- MAS Color
- Yuli’s Berries
- 2025 Graduates
- Elite HVAC
- Helping Hands Vail Valley
- Las Arepas De La Abuela
- Noche Latinas EC/ Vibras Latinas
- Pure Sense Columbian Coffee
- Sabia y Fuerte
- Sazon y Mas
- The Party Studio
- Village Barber Shop
Community-Led Leadership
Elevar is guided by a diverse Steering Committee that plays a central role in shaping leadership development, supporting cohort selection, and guiding community investments. This community-led approach ensures that Elevar remains grounded in lived experience, local knowledge, and the real needs of entrepreneurs in Eagle County.
Join the Elevar Steering Committee
Elevar is recruiting new Steering Committee members to help shape opportunities for entrepreneurs and emerging leaders in Eagle County. We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences, and complementary strengths.
Steering Committee members bring community perspective to Elevar’s strategy, curriculum, mentorship, and outreach. They also support committee projects and events, help build community connections, and may review applications and participate in candidate interviews when authorized.
Commitment and compensation: Members contribute approximately 10 hours per month, including preparation, generally two committee meetings, and relevant activities. Meetings are scheduled by the Elevar Program Manager and may be attended in person or remotely when appropriate. Members receive a flat $400 monthly contractor stipend, subject to the member agreement and EVCF’s payment procedures. This is not an employee position or an hourly rate.
We’re looking for people with collaborative leadership, sound judgment, knowledge of the Eagle County communities Elevar serves, and experience in entrepreneurship, business development, mentorship, or community leadership. Spanish and English skills are valuable, but no specific language background is required.
Interested in joining? Complete the Elevar Steering Committee Candidate Application. The application is available in English and Spanish.
Join Elevar Community Builders
Elevar Community Builders is a welcoming way to connect with and support entrepreneurs and emerging leaders across Eagle County. Community Builders help spread the word about Elevar’s opportunities, make connections, and take part in workshops and community activities.
How it differs from the Steering Committee: Community Builders contribute through community connection and participation. They do not guide Elevar’s strategy or curriculum, take on committee projects, or review applications and interview candidates. Those responsibilities belong to the Steering Committee, whose members make a more formal commitment of about 10 hours per month and receive a $400 monthly contractor stipend.
We welcome people with different backgrounds, experiences, and connections who want to strengthen the local business community. Experience in entrepreneurship, business, mentorship, or community engagement is welcome, but not required. Spanish and English skills are valuable, but no specific language background is required.
Interested in becoming a Community Builder? Apply today.
2026 Elevar Steering Committee
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< 30%
Less than 30% of businesses in Eagle County are women owned and only 8% of all businesses are owned by a person of color, and even less for women of color. Even fewer people of color hold leadership roles in businesses, on nonprofit boards, and at decision-making tables within our community.
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Only 30%
of junior managers say they have access to mentorship programs or on-the-job training.
Our Partners
Thank you to our partners who are committed to supporting entrepreneurs building sustainable and impactful businesses in the Eagle Valley community.
The Community Market garden needs helping hands! 🌱 In this video, Yulisa invites you to volunteer in the garden over the next two weeks. Come lend a hand and help care for a space that supports our community.
Sign up to volunteer: https://eaglevalleycf.org/volunteer/
Make room for movement, mindfulness, and giving back this November! The Athletic Club at the Westin is hosting community classes with donations benefiting The Community Market.
Join us Thursday, November 12, from 5–6:30 p.m. for Restorative Yoga + Sound Bath. Then on Thanksgiving, November 26, choose the 9 a.m. Turkey Burner or the 10 a.m. Grateful Flow Yoga class. Classes are free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for The Community Market.
Thanksgiving Day club hours are 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m. All other classes are canceled. Register by calling 970-790-2051 or booking online at athleticclubwestin.com.
Thank you to the Athletic Club at the Westin for welcoming the community and helping nourish neighbors across Eagle County!
Monday Momentum! 💛
Big things are happening across Eagle Valley Community Foundation:
🥩 Help us reach 1,000 Holiday Meal Kits for our community! Each $40 donation helps provide a kit to a local family. It’s the last week to sign up—applications close November 9: https://bit.ly/2026TCMHoliday
🙌 Want to lend a hand? Join us Monday, November 23, to help prepare the kits. We’d love to have you!
📈 Elevar is gathering for its annual meeting on November 17 and celebrating the entrepreneurs building businesses in our community as well as having a film premeire for One Valley, a documentary produced by one of the Elevar graduates.
🚌 MIRA is out in the community every day, connecting neighbors with health and other vital resources. And at The Community Market, come shop and talk with a nutritionist while you browse!
There’s a place for everyone to pitch in, connect, and make a difference. 💛
Monday Momentum is here! From celebrating MIRA’s Health Fair partners to sharing what’s coming up with MIRA, The Community Market’s Holiday Meal Kit Program, and Elevar—there’s a lot of good happening across EVCF. Press play for this week’s updates!
More information available here:
https://linktr.ee/eaglevalleycf
As colder days arrive, a warm coat can make a real difference. 🧥❤️
We’re grateful to 8z Real Estate Vail Valley for hosting a coat drive to support The Community Market and neighbors across Eagle County. This generous effort helps connect people with the warm clothing they need as temperatures drop.
Thank you to everyone who donates a coat, helps spread the word, or takes part in the drive. Your kindness brings our community together and helps make sure more of our neighbors feel cared for this winter.
