About Us
Your local community foundation
We are your local community foundation providing scholarships and grants to non-profits. We also collaborate with regional non-profits by investing their endowment funds and earn market rates of return.
Since 2002
Onward! currently manages 170+ funds with total assets over $9.7 million.
At Onward! A Legacy Foundation, we value your legacy and together, we elevate our communities.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” - Margaret Wheatley
Guiding Principles
- Invest donor funds responsibly to preserve capital, provide growth, and earn income for grant making.
- Create and encourage methods for philanthropic giving to meet financial goals for a variety of donors.
- Identify, improve, and assist in addressing the needs of the Four Corners' communities.
- Foster understanding and cooperation among diverse cultural and ethnic groups.
Core values
Together, we elevate our communities.
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We serve with visionary leadership
We strive for collaborative and equitable relationships to benefit the future of our community.
“Leadership is the art of giving people a platform to spread ideas that work.” - Seth Godin
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We steward investments with integrity
We tend your generous contributions with active engagement, opportunities for growth, and long-term considerations.
“Investing isn’t a value system, it’s an investing strategy, but it works better if you’re fighting for something you truly believe in.” -Phil Town
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We cultivate a culture of giving and caring
We make a difference through local philanthropy.
“Philanthropy, like charity, must begin at home; from this center our sympathies should extend in an ever-widening circle.” – Charles Lamb
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We embrace excellence
We strive for excellence through reliability, accountability, and professionalism.
"Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities" - Aristotle
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We forge innovative growth
As catalysts in our community, we work to move peoples’ passions to actions while acknowledging our foundation of diverse histories, cultures, and experiences.
“Sometimes you have to create a vision, a path for a vision. It may not be apparent, and you may have to forge it yourself.” - Herbie Hancock
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Onward! A Legacy Foundation
Ways to give
Our team
Onward! Staff
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Chuck R. Forth
Executive Director
Chuck graduated from London Central High School, England, attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and earned a BA in Mathematics while completing Air Force ROTC. After serving in the Air Force at Nellis AFB for four years, he separated and went to Fort Lewis for classes towards a CPA. In 1999, Chuck earned his CPA and later formed Forth & Associates, PC. He was a founding board member of Onward! in 2002 and become the Executive Director in 2008. Chuck is married to Tess Montano Forth, and they have two beautiful girls.
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Vanessa Malloy
Executive Program Director
Born and raised in Montezuma County, Vanessa brings a variety of experiences to the Executive Program Director position. She previously worked for the Montezuma County/CSU Extension office and at City Market. Vanessa has served as the Administration Director for the K-9 Search and Rescue Team since 2013 and as Board Chair since 2024. Vanessa has also been the Program Coordinator for Leadership Montezuma since November 2022.
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Tharimae Jones
Operations Manager
Tharimae has worked with Onward! since 2012 and has a background in bookkeeping & accounting. She has lived in Cortez her whole life, moved a few times but Cortez has always been home. She is mother to one daughter, who is an artist. Outside of work Tharimae enjoys going on drives and occasionally exploring different places. When at home she can be found listening to audio books or with her nose in a book. Her favorite types of novels include mysteries and suspense.
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Rebecca Tevault
Staff Accountant
Born and raised in Missouri, Rebecca graduated from DeVry Institute of Technology in Kansas City, MO. She moved to the four corners area in 1998 and worked for an oilfield & power generation construction company in Farmington for 21 years before moving to Cortez with her husband, Ed. Rebecca also works for Forth and Associates, PC as a staff accountant. She and Ed enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Outside of work she can be found on the back of Ed's motorcycle traveling and exploring (especially visiting Lake Havasu, AZ, where she and Ed were married).
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Misty Hately
Executive Assistant
Misty join the Onward! team in August of 2021. She also works for Forth & Associates, PC as the Executive Assistant.
Governance
Onward! Board of Directors
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Pete Montano
President
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David Coit
Vice President
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M.B. McAfee
Secretary
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Youvonne Neeley
Treasurer
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Casey Simpson
Director
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Jessie Farias
Director
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Laura Herrick
Director
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Rebecca Samulski
Director
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Jennifer Tewell
Director
Stewardship
Onward! Investment Advisory Committee
Employ the insights of the highly experienced professionals on our financial advisory committee to monitor your investments. See Onward!'s Historical Rates of Return.
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