Design Workshop Foundation Selects Rocky Mountain Land Library for 2026 Community Capacity Building Initiative
The Design Workshop Foundation (DWF) announced on June 18, 2026 that Rocky Mountain Land Library has been selected as the recipient of its 2026 Community Capacity Building initiative, a program that provides strategic planning, design expertise, and technical assistance to mission-driven organizations working to strengthen communities and steward meaningful places.
"Rocky Mountain Land Library embodies a place-based stewardship and community connection that aligns closely with the Foundation's mission," said Sarah Konradi, Executive Director of the Design Workshop Foundation. "Their work inspires curiosity, learning, and a meaningful relationship with the land. We look forward to partnering with the team to advance its vision and strengthen capacity for the next phase of growth.”
Buffalo Peaks Ranch, Rich with Community Connectivity
Located at Buffalo Peaks Ranch along the South Platte River in Park County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Land Library is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture the human spirit through the transformative power of nature, community, and books. Since its founding, the organization has grown into a Headwaters-to-Plains network of locations that serve both rural and urban communities while advancing a shared understanding of the landscapes and cultural histories of the American West.
The 2026 Community Capacity Building initiative will bring DWF trustees, Design Workshop professionals across its seven U.S. studios, and Rocky Mountain Land Library leadership to identify opportunities that strengthen the organization's long-term impact, organizational capacity, and vision for the future.
Situated on 36 acres of the historic Buffalo Peaks Ranch, the Land Library is home to a collection of more than 50,000 books focused on nature, ecology, history, and the American West. The site serves as a living classroom where visitors gather for workshops, field studies, restoration projects, creative programming, and shared learning experiences rooted in the surrounding landscape and the Library’s book collection.
As part of the Community Capacity Building initiative, DWF and Rocky Mountain Land Library will engage in a collaborative planning process throughout 2026, bringing together stakeholders, community members, and organizational leaders to explore strategies that support long-term resilience and organizational effectiveness.
"We are honored to be selected for this partnership," said Ben Sherrill, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Land Library. "The opportunity to work alongside the Design Workshop Foundation will help us build upon years of stewardship and community engagement as we continue creating spaces for deeper connection -- with nature, with books, with oneself, and with others."
The Community Capacity Building initiative reflects the DWF commitment to strengthening communities through collaboration, strategic thinking, and design. By partnering with nonprofit organizations and community leaders, the DWF helps build the capacity needed to advance meaningful projects and lasting impact.
About Design Workshop Foundation
Founded in 2002, the Design Workshop Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating healthy communities through environmental stewardship, education, and community capacity building. Working alongside local partners, the Foundation provides leadership, expertise, and resources that help communities realize their visions and create lasting positive change.
About Rocky Mountain Land Library
Rocky Mountain Land Library is a Colorado nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture the human spirit through the transformative power of nature, community, and books. With locations spanning from the South Platte headwaters to Denver, the organization fosters learning, stewardship, and community through a growing network of libraries and landscapes dedicated to the natural and cultural histories of the American West.
