Gates Family Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members who bring deep expertise in finance, operations, systems, and grantmaking. Strengthening internal capacity is essential to supporting Colorado’s long‑term viability, and these new team members expand the Foundation’s ability to operate effectively, adapt to changing needs, and remain closely connected to what is happening in our communities. We are delighted to welcome:
- Asseal Ahmad, Grants and Operations Accounting Manager
- Owen David, Treasury and Investments Accounting Manager
- Melanie Kujawa, Salesforce and Grants Administrator
Asseal Ahmad
Asseal Ahmad joined the Gates Family Foundation in September 2025 as the grants and operations accounting manager. In this role, he assists Leslie Sabin, vice president for finance, administration, and impact investing, with the management and oversight of foundation operations and grants administration. Asseal brings more than 14 years of experience across private technology companies, higher education, nonprofit and grant accounting, finance administration, office management, customer service, and human resources. He is known for his collaborative mindset and attention to detail, supporting mission‑focused work through a strategic and impact‑driven approach. His emphasis on operational excellence and meaningful outcomes helps advance organizational goals through thoughtful execution and a commitment to community improvement and growth. Before joining the Foundation, Asseal worked as a project accountant at Meridian Institute and spent nine years at Colorado State University in accounts receivable operations, human resources, and payroll. He also served as chief accounting officer at Red Hen Systems from 2011 to 2015. Asseal holds a B.S.B.A. in accounting with a minor in French, as well as an M.B.A., all from Colorado State University. He has volunteered for numerous events promoting diversity, education, and inclusion and has coached youth sports in his local community. In his free time, Asseal enjoys playing basketball, running, soccer, tennis, and fitness, as well as watching movies, attending concerts, spending time outdoors, and being with friends and family.
Owen David
Owen David joined the Gates Family Foundation in October 2025 as the treasury and investments accounting manager. In this role, he supports Leslie Sabin, vice president for finance, administration, and impact investing, with managing and overseeing the Foundation’s investments and cash flow. Owen brings nearly ten years of accounting experience and four years of foundation‑specific expertise. Throughout his career, he has worked with a variety of nonprofits, including book publishers focused on environmental issues and organizations promoting sustainable agriculture. Before joining the Foundation, Owen served as senior accountant at the Colorado Gives Foundation, where he led the month‑end close process, reconciled bank activity and online payments through ColoradoGives.org, and recorded investment activity. Previously, he was controller at Cotton & Company, a CPA firm, managing full‑cycle accounts receivable and accounts payable. Owen holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brown University, with a focus on economic development, and a master’s degree in environmental management from Yale University. After discovering his interest in accounting, he completed an intensive certificate program for mid‑career professionals at Santa Clara University. Outside of work, Owen enjoys trivia nights, karaoke, camping, skiing, and exploring different hot springs. He loves road trips and always has one planned for the near future.
Melanie Kujawa
Melanie Kujawa joined the Gates Family Foundation in September 2025 as the Salesforce and grants administrator. In this role, she supports the Foundation’s grantmaking operations through database management, system enhancements, and workflow optimization. Before joining the Foundation, Melanie was a grants manager at the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw a portfolio focused primarily on domestic violence housing programs. She also served as a grants manager at the National Women’s Law Center, supporting the organization’s mission to advance reproductive rights and gender justice by managing grant budgets and expense reports. Originally from Maryland, Melanie began her career in Baltimore at Center for Hope, a violence intervention and prevention nonprofit, where she held several roles in the grants and program development department. Melanie holds a master’s degree in public policy and management from the University of Glasgow and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Towson University. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, traveling, and exploring new (often short‑lived) hobbies.
Looking Ahead
The Foundation is committed to Colorado’s long‑term viability, which means looking beyond today’s challenges to anticipate what lies ahead. Part of that work begins internally. By bringing in new team members, the Foundation is ensuring it can adapt, operate more efficiently, and stay closely connected to the needs of Colorado communities.
Please join us in welcoming Asseal, Owen, and Melanie to the Gates Family Foundation.
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: 