The Board of Trustees of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation recently established the Livingston Fellowship Program. The purpose of this new program is to provide advanced learning and professional development opportunities to promising nonprofit leaders who hold or aspire to hold significant leadership roles in Colorado’s nonprofit sector. Each year, the Trustees will select up to five Livingston Fellows who will receive awards of up to $25,000 to further their leadership skills and abilities. Recipients will use their fellowships to support a program of activities that may include study, research, skill enhancement, professional development, and peer learning.

Candidates for Livingston Fellowships are nominated by a panel of Colorado community leaders, and interviewed by an independent consultant. Fellows are selected on the basis of exceptional leadership ability, promise for significant and unique contributions to the nonprofit sector, and potential for the Fellowship experience to enable them to move from “success to significance” as leaders of people, organizations and Colorado’s nonprofit community.

It is the hope of the Foundation that by identifying and supporting executive leadership talent, we will strengthen the capacity of a new generation of leaders to shape the future of Colorado’s nonprofit sector.

Johnston R. Livingston

Mr. Livingston has actively participated as a volunteer and board member for nonprofit organizations in every community in which he has lived. His service to Colorado includes Chairman of the World Trade Center, Chairman of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, and Chairman of the Rocky Mountain Region Board of Trustees of the Institute of International Education. As a leader, Mr. Livingston is known for innovation, entrepreneurism, creativity, and achievement.

Susan Birch

Susan Birch is the Executive Director of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association. This is a comprehensive community health agency that serves residents scattered over 6700 square miles of the Yampa Valley. Susan has been in her position since 1992 and serves on a number of boards and commissions at the local and state levels. She has an MBA and a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Colorado, has worked in nursing as an R.N. and clinical instructor, and is completing a Robert Wood Johnson Fellowship. Through the Livingston Fellowship, Susan wants to further develop her skills, resources and knowledge to advocate for community health improvements at the state and national levels, and make quality health care available to underserved people in rural Colorado.

Colleen Colarelli

Colleen Colarelli has been the President and CEO of Girls Inc. Metro Denver since 2001. Girls Inc. offers programs to girls ages 6 to 18, the majority of whom experience risk factors including family income below the poverty level and attending low-performing schools. Prior to this position, Colleen worked for several large nonprofits in Colorado and New Mexico as a development director and an associate executive director. She has a B.A. in Social Work from Colorado State University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico. As a Livingston Fellow, Colleen hopes to develop her skills as a social entrepreneur and broaden her capacity for strategic thinking. She has a particular interest in exploring alternative approaches for generating financial support for her organization.

Kevin Seggelke

Kevin Seggelke has been the President and CEO of the Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) since 2003. FBR is the largest food procurement and distribution center in the state and provides food to more than 900 hunger relief programs across northern Colorado and into Wyoming. Kevin has a B.A. in History and English from St. John’s University and a J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law. Prior to his current position, he worked in the private sector including a 10-year stint as VP/General Manager/Division Director of Cub Foods for the Wisconsin and Colorado Divisions. Kevin believes that FBR can operate more efficiently - and can help their partner agencies operate more efficiently - through collaboration and leveraging of resources. He will use his fellowship to implement best practices gleaned through research and study.

Jamie Van Leeuwen

Jamie Van Leeuwen has served as the Associate Director of Urban Peak Denver for the last three years and recently was promoted to the Director of Development and Public Affairs. Urban Peak is the largest provider of services to homeless youth in metro Denver and its mission is to assist them in permanently exiting the streets. Jamie has a B.A. in Psychology/Pre-Med from Creighton University, a Master of Public Health and an M.A. in Sociology from Tulane, and will complete a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs in the spring of 2006. Jamie is very interested in both direct services and sector-wide issues. He wants to explore strategies and policies at the local, state, national and international levels which help the public, private, and nonprofit sectors work together to address complex societal issues.

Chip Walton

Chip Walton is the Producing Artistic Director of the Curious Theater Company, Denver’s premier mid-size professional theatre. Curious Theatre presents main-stage productions and develops new talent through workshops and by commissioning new work. Prior to founding this company in 1997, Chip worked as an executive director, producer, and actor in other arts organizations. He has a B.A. in Theatre from Miami of Ohio University, an M.A. in Theatre from the University of Colorado, and has completed the coursework for a Ph.D. in Theatre at CU. Chip wants to explore how to grow a small non-profit organization to a mid-sized organization, while keeping the mission, vision and core values central and vibrant. He will pursue a dual track for the fellowship that combines field-based professional development and personal leadership development.