Funding Opportunities and Needs for Temple Aaron of Trinidad, Colorado

TOTAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ESTIMATE: $2.25 million

L’dor v’dor Endowment: $1,000,000

To ensure the continuity of basic operations and maintenance for another 100 years, an endowment will be created. A new regional model of Temple membership and affiliation, from Albuquerque to Denver and from Santa Fe to Boulder, is being created to ensure ongoing programming to keep the Temple operationally viable and strong.

Raise the Roof Campaign: $500,000

The Temple’s complex, one of a kind original pressed metal roof, with multiple peaks and valleys, needs repair and full replacement in kind (with like or replicated original materials). A $50,000 State Historical Fund grant resulted in a full investigation and emergency repairs for the roof in 2023. A new $237,714 State Historical Fund grant awarded in June, 2024, requiring a $79,238 Temple match, will be used to complete Phase I of the campaign. We successfully raised this match in the last year thanks to your generous help, so the funding for phase 1 is complete! Phase II will cost at least $185,000 for the porch, pyramid, onion dome, cornice repairs, and painting. We are working towards the match as part of this year's Colorado Gives Day campaign.

The Grand Temple (Exterior) $325,000

The unique, Exotic Revival style Temple, designed by master architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp, stands like a sentinel high on a hill at 3rd Street and Maple overlooking downtown Trinidad. It is a contributing building to the El Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District and was approved by the National Park Service as a National Landmark (NHL) in December, 2023. The Temple’s many unique architectural features, and estimated costs for their full rehabilitation, include:

• The Temple Mount (retaining walls/stairs/security)  $150,000

    In late October 2025, the retaining wall was shored up with emergency reinforcements due to heavy rains that caused the hillside to begin moving. Engineers are now working to develop a long-term plan for this wall. This is the second major effort that will be funded (in part) by your donations during this campaign. 

• Masonry and cornice repairs for four facades            $75,000

• The Twelve Tribes of Israel (stained glass windows)  $100,000