Colorado Workforce & Community Investment Requirements

As part of Horsetooth Organization's mission to strengthen Colorado's film ecosystem, sponsored projects are expected to prioritize the hiring, mentoring, and professional development of Colorado filmmakers.

Colorado First Policy: Sponsored projects shall make a good-faith effort to seek Colorado crew, vendors, locations, post-production facilities, musicians, artists, and service providers before contracting outside the state. When qualified Colorado professionals are reasonably available, preference should be given to hiring and purchasing within Colorado.

To remain eligible for fiscal sponsorship, projects shall make a good-faith effort to satisfy the following requirements:

Colorado Workforce

Projects shall staff at least 50% of all key creative and department leadership positions with Colorado residents whenever reasonably possible.

Key positions include, but are not limited to:

  • Director (when applicable)

  • Producer(s)

  • Director of Photography

  • Production Designer

  • First Assistant Director

  • Gaffer

  • Key Grip

  • Sound Mixer

  • Editor

  • Costume Designer

  • Hair & Makeup Department Head

  • Art Director

  • Composer

  • Visual Effects Supervisor

  • Animation Director

  • Unit Production Manager

For productions where specialized experience or budget limitations make this impractical, the Sponsorship Committee may approve alternative staffing plans.

Shadowing & Workforce Development

When a key role cannot be filled by a Colorado resident, the production shall provide a meaningful professional development opportunity by assigning a qualified Colorado resident to shadow that department whenever feasible.

Shadow positions should receive:

  • Access to production meetings

  • On-set observation

  • Hands-on training when appropriate

  • Professional mentorship

  • Screen credit identifying the shadow role

Examples include:

  • Camera Shadow

  • Producing Fellow

  • Editing Apprentice

  • Art Department Fellow

  • Directing Shadow

  • Production Office Intern

  • Sound Department Shadow

Colorado Vendors

Projects are encouraged to purchase goods and services from Colorado businesses whenever practical, including:

  • Equipment rental

  • Catering

  • Lodging

  • Transportation

  • Printing

  • Post-production

  • Music recording

  • Fabrication

  • Construction

  • Insurance

  • Payroll services

Community Impact

Projects should demonstrate a positive impact on Colorado's creative economy by:

  • Hiring local crew

  • Contracting Colorado artists

  • Utilizing Colorado vendors

  • Supporting educational opportunities

  • Promoting Colorado filming locations

  • Building long-term employment opportunities

Waivers

The Fiscal Sponsorship Committee may approve exceptions when:

  • Specialized talent is unavailable in Colorado.

  • Safety concerns require outside personnel.

  • Budget limitations make compliance impractical.

  • The project provides comparable educational or economic benefits to Colorado.

Any waiver shall be documented in the project file.

Thank you for choosing Horsetooth Organization as your fiscal sponsor.

We believe that independent filmmakers and artists are essential to building a vibrant, creative Colorado. Our goal is not only to provide access to charitable fundraising, but to foster collaboration, mentorship, accountability, and opportunities that strengthen our local film community for years to come.

Fiscal sponsorship is a partnership built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to responsible stewardship of charitable resources. By working together, we can help bring meaningful stories to life while supporting the growth of Colorado's creative economy.

We are excited to support your project and look forward to working with you throughout your fundraising and production journey.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, donors, and community, thank you for helping advance the arts and independent filmmaking in Colorado.