Columbus Foundation INC

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / Utah

Mission

Mission Statement: Columbus supports individuals with disabilities to make purposeful choices to live meaningful lives.

Programs or services

Columbus Community Center provides comprehensive programs and services that help individuals with disabilities build independence, develop skills, and participate fully in their communities. Services include residential supports, day activities, supported employment, vocational training, and community-based employment opportunities. Columbus also operates the NextWork Autism Program, which provides employment preparation, independent living instruction, social development, and individualized support for autistic adults.

Detailed programs

Columbus Community Center offers a range of programs designed to increase independence, employment, and community inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Programs include Supported Employment and Vocational Services, providing job readiness, job development, coaching, and competitive employment support; Residential Services, offering supported living and 24-hour residential assistance; Day Activities focused on life skills, recreation, community participation, and personal development; and Contract Services which provide paid work opportunities in areas such as custodial services, grounds maintenance, secure shredding, kitting, and assembly. Columbus also operates the NextWork Autism Program, which provides employment preparation, independent living instruction, social and life-skills training, employer education, and individualized support for autistic adults, as well as workforce training initiatives that prepare participants for careers in high-demand industries.

Target Audience

Columbus Community Center serves individuals with disabilities, including autistic adults, who benefit from support in employment, independent living, residential services, skill development, and community participation. Columbus also works with families, employers, community partners, and service providers to create inclusive opportunities that promote greater independence and quality of life.

Geographic Focus

United States, Utah (USA), Salt Lake County (UT)

Current projects

Current Columbus projects include expanding the NextWork Autism Program, strengthening employment and independent living pathways for autistic adults, and growing workforce development opportunities such as the CNC Machinist training program in partnership with industry and education partners. Columbus is also advancing its Autism Mental Health Initiative, which connects autistic adults with accessible, individualized mental health support and addresses common barriers to receiving appropriate care. Other priorities include AutCon SLC 2026, a community conference focused on education, resources, and connection for autistic individuals and families, and continued enhancement of residential services through the Connor Street Residence and other community-based supports. Across these initiatives, Columbus is focused on increasing employment, independence, inclusion, wellness, and long-term quality of life for the people it serves.

Organization goals

Columbus Community Center’s goals are to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence, meaningful employment, community inclusion, and improved quality of life. The organization aims to strengthen and grow its employment, residential, day, and autism-focused services; expand access to mental health and workforce development supports; build stronger partnerships with employers and community organizations; and ensure programs remain financially sustainable. Columbus also seeks to invest in its workforce, improve service quality and outcomes, and develop innovative programs that respond to the changing needs of the disability community.

Leadership

Columbus Community Center is guided by an experienced Board of Directors and executive leadership team with expertise in nonprofit management, disability services, finance, operations, workforce development, fundraising, and community partnerships. Leadership is focused on strong governance, financial sustainability, quality services, staff development, and strategic growth while ensuring that programs remain responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities, families, employers, and community partners.

Strategic priorities

Columbus Community Center’s strategic priorities are to strengthen and expand high-quality services, improve financial sustainability, invest in staff and leadership development, and grow innovative programs that respond to emerging community needs. Key areas of focus include expanding autism services, strengthening mental health supports, increasing competitive employment and workforce training opportunities, enhancing residential and day programs, building stronger employer and community partnerships, and improving measurable outcomes for the people served. Columbus also seeks to diversify revenue, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining a person-centered approach across all programs.

Organizational capacity

Columbus Community Center has more than five decades of experience providing comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities and has the leadership, staff, infrastructure, partnerships, and financial systems necessary to successfully manage complex programs and initiatives. The organization maintains experienced program and administrative teams, established community and employer partnerships, strong fiscal oversight, and systems for tracking outcomes and reporting results. Columbus’s diverse service portfolio, established facilities, and history of successfully implementing employment, residential, workforce development, autism, and community-based programs demonstrate its capacity to responsibly manage funding, expand services, and sustain long-term impact.

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

Aging and Seniors, Community and Economic Development, Disabilities, Housing, Mental Health, Operating Support, Quality of Life, Special Education, Workforce

Funding needs

Columbus Community Center’s funding needs include support for programs that are not fully covered by government or service contracts, particularly NextWork Autism services, mental health supports, workforce training, residential services, and community-based programming. Funding is also needed for staff training and retention, transportation, technology, adaptive equipment, program supplies, facility improvements, and participant scholarships or assistance. Flexible and unrestricted funding is especially valuable because it allows Columbus to respond quickly to emerging needs, close service gaps, and sustain innovative programs that promote employment, independence, mental wellness, and community inclusion.

Impact & Recognition

Outcomes and impact

Columbus Community Center measures impact through increased employment, independence, skill development, community participation, and overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Participants have secured competitive employment, developed stronger job and independent living skills, transitioned to more independent living arrangements, and increased their engagement in the community. Through NextWork and related autism initiatives, participants also receive individualized employment, life-skills, and mental health supports, with measurable improvements in employment readiness, adaptive skills, and emotional well-being. Columbus uses participant outcomes, assessments, employer feedback, and program data to continually evaluate effectiveness and strengthen services.

Success stories

Columbus Community Center has helped individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful milestones in employment, independent living, and community participation. Through programs such as NextWork, Supported Employment, Residential Services, and workforce training, participants have secured competitive jobs, developed greater independence, transitioned into more independent living arrangements, and built stronger social and life skills. Recent workforce training participants have also moved into full-time employment with competitive wages and benefits, demonstrating the impact of combining individualized support, skills training, and strong employer partnerships.

Organization achievements

Columbus Community Center has more than five decades of experience advancing independence and opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Major achievements include the development of the HUB of Opportunity, a nationally recognized mixed-use, transit-oriented development that combines affordable housing, employment, training, and community resources in one location. Columbus has also expanded community-based employment and residential services, developed the NextWork Autism Program and Academy, launched AutCon SLC, opened the new Connor Street Residence, and created workforce training initiatives such as the CNC Machinist program. These accomplishments reflect Columbus’s continued commitment to innovation, inclusion, and creating pathways to greater independence and economic opportunity for people with disabilities.

Major funders

Major funders and funding partners for Columbus Community Center include the Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), Utah Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, Intermountain Community Care Foundation, May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, Synchrony, UBS Bank, American Express, and other corporate, foundation, and community partners. Columbus also relies on earned revenue, individual donations, sponsorships, and grants to support and expand its programs and services.

Partnerships & Collaborations

Columbus Community Center works closely with state agencies, educational institutions, employers, healthcare and mental health providers, foundations, and community organizations to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Key collaborations include partnerships with Utah DSPD and Vocational Rehabilitation, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Manufacturers Association, University of Utah HOME Clinic, Support One Counseling, Special Olympics Utah, Utah Parent Center, UTA, and local employers that support employment, workforce training, mental health, independent living, and community inclusion. These partnerships help Columbus leverage expertise, funding, training, and community resources to provide more comprehensive and sustainable services.

Sustainability, dissemination & replicability

Columbus Community Center promotes sustainability through a diversified funding model that combines public funding, earned revenue, grants, corporate and foundation support, and community partnerships. Successful practices and outcomes are shared through partner meetings, community events, conferences such as AutCon SLC, employer trainings, and grant reporting. Programs are designed around clear processes, measurable outcomes, and person-centered practices, making key elements—such as workforce training, autism employment supports, independent living instruction, and mental health partnerships—adaptable and replicable by other organizations and communities.

Internal checks & balances to prevent fraud

Columbus Community Center maintains strong financial oversight and internal controls to help prevent fraud and misuse of funds. These include **segregation of financial duties, multiple levels of review and approval, board oversight, regular financial reporting, documented purchasing and reimbursement procedures, and independent external audits**. Leadership and the Board of Directors regularly review budgets, financial statements, and organizational performance to promote accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of funds.

Get Involved

How can volunteers get involved?

Volunteers can support Columbus Community Center in a variety of ways, including assisting with special events, community activities, participant programs, fundraising efforts, and service projects. Opportunities may include helping with AutCon SLC, Heroes at Work, recreational and social activities, donation drives, facility projects, or skill-based volunteer support. Corporate and community volunteer groups are also welcome and can participate in projects that directly enhance programs and create meaningful experiences for individuals with disabilities.

How can donors support your mission?

Donors can support Columbus Community Center’s mission through individual gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, planned giving, in-kind donations, and unrestricted contributions. Donations help sustain and expand programs in employment, residential services, day activities, autism services, mental health, and workforce development, while also providing scholarships, adaptive equipment, technology, transportation, and other critical resources. Unrestricted gifts are especially valuable because they allow Columbus to direct funds where they are needed most and respond to emerging needs and opportunities.

Do you accept partnerships?

Yes. Columbus Community Center welcomes partnerships with businesses, foundations, healthcare and mental health providers, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organizations that share our commitment to inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities. Partnerships may include employment and internship opportunities, workforce training, program collaboration, sponsorships, volunteer engagement, mental health services, or financial and in-kind support. We value collaborative relationships that expand resources, strengthen services, and create greater opportunities for the individuals we serve.

Are you seeking board members?

Columbus Community Center periodically seeks dedicated community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors. Ideal board members bring expertise, community connections, lived experience, or a strong commitment to advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. Board service may include governance, strategic planning, financial oversight, fundraising, advocacy, and helping strengthen community partnerships. Individuals interested in board service are encouraged to contact Columbus to learn about current or upcoming opportunities.

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