After years of passionate dedication to our mission, the team at Gates Family Foundation is bidding farewell to two longtime staff members who have helped us make significant strides in building a more equitable, resilient and sustainable Colorado for all. Amid this transition, we are pleased to welcome new staff who will contribute to our continued impact.
Melissa Milos Davis joined the Gates Family Foundation team as the Vice President for Strategic Communication in 2017. In this role, Melissa worked alongside our leadership team to increase the visibility of the Foundation’s grantees and amplify the issues that matter most to Coloradans. In 2019, Melissa also took on the role of program officer for Informed Communities, where she directed the Foundation’s strategy, grantmaking and activities within the focus area.
“Melissa is someone who listens,” shared Erin McIntyre of the Ouray County Plaindealer. “She consults with stakeholders who give her honest feedback about problems and possible solutions, and on top of that, she gets things done like no one else I’ve encountered in the nonprofit world. Thank you for caring about scrappy, independently owned papers in small places.”
In addition to her role at Gates, Melissa served as the director of the Colorado Media Project (CMP) since 2020. CMP is a cross-sector organization that is building a healthier news and information ecosystem for Coloradans.
“Colorado’s local media environment would not be where it is today — and serving as a model for others to emulate — without Melissa Davis and her indefatigable, innovative, smart, and passionate commitment through the Colorado Media Project. Coloradans across this state are better for it,” shared Corey Hutchins, Journalism Institute Manager at Colorado College.
She will continue her career in strengthening our local and national news ecosystem in her new role as the Network Manager for Press Forward, a national philanthropic campaign that seeks to strengthen communities by invigorating local news.
Laia Mitchell has been part of Gates’ Community Development program team since 2015. As the Senior Program Officer, she led strategy and grantmaking for our Community Development focus area. She brought a strong knowledge of community planning, economic development, affordable housing, and public policy to the team to help us build a more just and inclusive economy for all.
“I had the deep pleasure of working closely with Laia Mitchell in her role at the Gates Family Foundation since 2016,” shared Louise Martorano, Executive Director of RedLine Contemporary Art Center. “Each time I called, texted or emailed, she joined me in the trenches of a challenge that we were trying to collectively solve for. Laia has certainly been a catalyst not only for partnerships, but for good throughout our city and state, and so much more.”
Yessica Holguin, Executive Director of the Center for Community Wealth Building added to that sentiment sharing, “Since 2017, at the inception of the organizing efforts that became the Center for Community Wealth Building, Laia’s belief in the importance of focusing on racial justice, even when the path was uncertain, has meant more to me than words can fully capture. Laia’s kind spirit and conviction gave me strength when I needed it most. Because of Laia’s support, we continue to push boundaries and create change. I am so thankful to have Laia by my side in this journey as we create an economy that works for all.”
Laia will use these skills in her new role as the Director of Catalytic Partnerships with the City and County of Denver’s Department of Housing Stability.
“I would say that Laia is the kind of quiet partner who is curious, courteous, and willing to dig into the details of programs and projects with you to understand how to work together to improve the lives of Colorado residents,” said Jennie Rodgers, Vice President of Rocky Mountain and Tribal Nations & Rural Communities Markets at Enterprise Community Partners. “She was a calm and dedicated volunteer for Mile High Connects committees that we both sat on, an engaged member of our Enterprise Leadership Council and a wonderful grant manager. I’m sure she will bring the same dedication and level of excellence to her new role at HOST.”
As the Gates team looks ahead, we’re excited to welcome Leslie Sabin, CPA, as our new VP for Finance, Administration, and Impact Investing. Before starting in July, Leslie served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Santa Fe Community Foundation and VP of Finance for the Pikes Peak Community Foundation.
With immense gratitude, we are looking forward to an exciting future for the Gates Family Foundation. Thank you to our former staff for their years of service. Good luck on your next adventures!
Finally, also in 2023 a total of $410,956 previously committed by Gates to the 
A total of $1,110,956 committed to the 
In 2019, the Community Development program committed $932,500 in strategic grants to 13 organizations and $465,000 in responsive capital grants to 12 organizations. New impact investments supporting vibrant communities in 2019 included a $500,000 MRI to 
Our Focus Landscapes initiative, a key element of our Natural Resources program, underwent a comprehensive review, revision, and re-launch in 2019. This initiative was launched in 2011 to help Colorado achieve landscape-scale conservation through the protection of private lands in specific geographies. A great deal of progress was made in North Park, southeast Colorado, and the San Luis Valley, resulting in more than 200,000 acres of farm and ranch lands conserved, along with their associated ecological values. The strategic review process was done in close partnership with the land trust organizations representing those geographies, providing lessons-learned and an exploration of emerging opportunities. The revised Focus Landscapes initiative will first focus on two geographies: