Collider Foundation Receives Funding from CLA Foundation
Rochester 501(c)3 nonprofit Collider Foundation is thrilled to announce it has received a grant of $15,000 from the CLA Foundation. This grant is a testament to Collider’s ongoing work within the community and will enable Collider to continue its mission of empowering Rochester's entrepreneurs through startup support, business education, community focused coworking and storytelling. Collider believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community.
“The CLA Foundation believes in the power of education, employment, and entrepreneurship to transform lives,” said Susan Carter, executive director of the CLA Foundation. “Our grants are designed to support organizations that embody these principles and strive to create lasting impacts within their communities. By funding initiatives that promote these three E’s, we’re helping to build a brighter future for all and further our commitment to be connected to the communities in which we live and work.”
The grant will be used to support various initiatives at Collider Foundation, including operational funding for its well established programming such as 1:1 startup support, cohort based education, inclusive storytelling, and a welcoming community space – all geared towards lowering barriers to entrepreneurship for those who need it most.
“CLA has been a long supporter and partner of the work done here at Collider. With a shared vision of how entrepreneurship can transform lives, we are extremely grateful for this generous support to foster new ideas and innovations and get business ideas off the ground in the Rochester community,” said Amanda Leighter, Collider Foundation Executive Director.
The CLA Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization. This foundation supports a variety of initiatives aimed at improving education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The Foundation provides grants to support organizations as they advance their missions and make a tangible difference in their communities. The Foundation is exclusively funded by contributions from CLA family members and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals from external organizations.
For more information about the CLA Foundation, please visit Community Impact: CLA.
In 2016, Collider began as a for profit coworking space to serve the Rochester community and provide a place for innovation minded individuals to connect to spark new ideas. Recognizing that most of the work being performed was better served under a nonprofit model, Collider transitioned in 2019 to a 501(c)3 organization with the mission to activate, connect, and empower early stage entrepreneurs in Rochester, Minnesota. Since then, Collider has served over 1,488 Rochester-based entrepreneurs through 1:1 startup support, low-cost business education, a supportive community work environment, and a platform for the stories of local entrepreneurs. This year, its team aims to remove barriers for 300+ individuals within the community to open up inclusive, accessible pathways to business ownership.
For additional information about Collider and its work within the Rochester community, contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306.
