The year of 2020 was a devastating time for Colorado communities. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and the economy created uncertainty and loss across the state. Unemployment rates rose sharply, food insecurity and housing instability increased, and many small businesses shuttered or struggled to find ways to operate in a changed world. Local governments and nonprofits worked to meet the basic needs of their communities with less revenue and while working to protect staff in a time of uncertainty.
COVID-19 also exacerbated and revealed existing community disparities and structural inequity. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have been harder hit by both the virus and the economic impacts from it. Concurrently, repeated incidents of police brutality against BIPOC have led to a broader discourse about systemic racial injustice in America, including access to capital, housing, jobs, education, transit, parks, public space, and many other components of community development. In 2020, Gates’ Community Development program shifted staff time and resources toward COVID response with a focus on equity, including identification and support of organizations addressing food insecurity, housing insecurity, and support to small businesses left out of federal response programs.
In addition to COVID response grants, the Gates Community Development program committed $495,000 in strategic grants to eight organizations in 2020, and $1,335,000 in responsive capital grants to 12 organizations. In 2020, the Foundation approved two (non-COVID) community development impact investments, including a deposit in Native American Bank (fixed income, $240,000), and the Metro Denver Impact Facility (debt, $1.25M).
Access to Economic Opportunity was the most robust strategy area in 2020, and the Foundation continues to advance community wealth building strategies, such as the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center to advance co-op conversions around Colorado; Mi Casa Resource Center and the ACT303 effort to support small businesses and community planning in East Colfax; and the NPX effort to catalyze economic mobility through large investments in select nonprofits.
Within the Informed Communities program area, Gates staff continued to support the Colorado Media Project as a multi-funder, community-led initiative to strengthen and transform Colorado’s local journalism ecosystem. CMP priorities in 2020 included working with partners to launch the Colorado News Collaborative, which in June hired veteran journalist Laura Frank as its first executive director; developing and awarding a pool of funds to ensure diverse and multi-lingual communities have access vital COVID news and information; and convening journalists and community members for frank conversations on journalism’s role in systemic racism. CMP also supported 25 Colorado newsrooms with $5,000 challenge grants for the year-end #newsCOneeds campaign, which resulted in more than $580,000 raised for the cohort in the month of December. Apart from CMP, program officers from all of Gates’ focus areas continued to provide direct grants to newsrooms covering important issues, including Chalkbeat Colorado, Colorado Public Radio, High Country News, and Rocky Mountain PBS. Gates also made an impact investment in The Colorado Sun, bolstering its ability to scale as a member-supported statewide newsroom.
Grantee |
Amount Awarded |
Type |
Strategy |
Area Served |
Alamosa School District
|
$5,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Alamosa |
Archuleta School District #50 Jt.
|
$3,500 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Archuleta >
Pagosa Springs |
Artspace Projects, Inc.
|
$75,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
Ouray >
Ridgway |
Bethel Community Center
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Lincoln >
Arriba |
Big Green (The)
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Food Systems & Agriculture |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club
|
$35,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Montrose >
Montrose |
Boys and Girls Clubs of Chaffee County
|
$35,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Chaffee County >
Salida |
Bright Future Foundation for Eagle County
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Eagle >
Gypsum |
Canon City School District
|
$5,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Fremont >
Canon City |
Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado
|
$25,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
CASA of the Seventh Judicial District, Inc.
|
$30,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Delta >
Delta |
Center for African American Health
|
$10,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Center for People with Disabilities
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Boulder >
Boulder |
Chalkbeat
|
$75,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Informed Communities >
Education >
Advocacy |
* Statewide |
Chinook Fund – Another World is Possible Fund
|
$20,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Clear Creek County
|
$40,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Clear Creek >
Idaho Springs |
Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger
|
$40,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
|
$50,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Colorado Hospital Association – Colorado Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
|
$40,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Community Builders
|
$160,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Community Planning |
* Statewide |
Community Food Bank
|
$30,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Mesa >
Grand Junction |
Compañeros
|
$10,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
La Plata >
Durango |
Cotopaxi School District RE-3
|
$2,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Fremont >
Cotopaxi |
Denver Food Rescue
|
$15,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Denver Foundation – Black Resilience in Colorado Fund
|
$70,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys
|
$10,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Jefferson >
Lakewood |
Denver Public Library
|
$150,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Denver >
Denver |
Denver Santa Claus Shop, Inc.
|
$15,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Denver Urban Gardens
|
$15,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Food Systems & Agriculture |
Denver >
Denver |
El Alba LLC
|
$55,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
El Laboratorio
|
$25,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Placemaking |
Denver >
Denver |
EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum
|
$25,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Mesa >
Grand Junction |
Food Bank of the Rockies
|
$25,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Fox Theatre Walsenburg
|
$50,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Huerfano >
Walsenburg |
Fremont RE-2 School District
|
$2,500 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Fremont |
Friends of the La Veta Library, Inc.
|
$25,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Huerfano >
La Veta |
Fund for a Healthier Colorado (The)
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Goodwill of Colorado
|
$45,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Impact Charitable
|
$20,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Inner City Health Center
|
$25,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Judi’s House
|
$50,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
Karis Inc.
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Mesa >
Grand Junction |
Keystone Policy Center
|
$40,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Montezuma |
La Puente Home
|
$22,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Alamosa >
Alamosa |
Lake County School District R-1
|
$3,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Lake >
Leadville |
Latino Community Foundation of Colorado
|
$25,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families >
COVID-19 Response |
* Statewide |
Mi Casa Resource Center
|
$30,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
Denver >
Denver Aurora |
Mile High Connects
|
$150,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
Denver >
Denver |
Mile High United Way
|
$275,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Montbello Organizing Committee
|
$150,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Placemaking |
Denver >
Denver |
Museum of Friends
|
$25,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Huerfano >
Walsenburg |
New Voice Strategies
|
$2,500 |
Strategic Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Informed Communities |
* Statewide |
NewFarms
|
$35,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Food Systems & Agriculture |
Pueblo >
Boone |
NPX Charitable Inc.
|
$25,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
* Statewide |
Philanthropy Colorado
|
$10,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
* Statewide |
Pine River Shares
|
$5,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
La Plata >
Ignacio Bayfield |
Project Worthmore
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
Re:Vision
|
$5,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Denver >
Denver |
RiNo Gives Back
|
$35,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Placemaking |
Denver >
Denver |
Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust
|
$10,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Costilla |
RISE Colorado
|
$10,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
RISE Colorado
|
$8,000 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
River Bridge Regional Center
|
$10,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Garfield >
Glenwood Springs |
Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center
|
$50,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
* Statewide |
Rocky Mountain Public Media
|
$100,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Informed Communities |
* Statewide |
Rose Community Foundation – Colorado Media Project
|
$667,772 |
Strategic Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Informed Communities |
* Statewide |
Roundup River Ranch
|
$250,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Eagle >
Avon |
Routt County United Way
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Routt >
Steamboat Springs |
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Boulder >
Boulder |
San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition
|
$40,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Food Systems & Agriculture |
Alamosa >
Alamosa |
SARA House
|
$10,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Morgan >
Fort Morgan |
Sedgwick County
|
$30,000 |
Capital Grant |
Community Development >
Placemaking |
Sedgwick >
Julesburg |
Silverton School District
|
$1,500 |
Strategic Grant |
COVID-19 Response >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
San Juan >
Silverton |
Solar Energy International
|
$15,000 |
Strategic Grant |
Community Development >
Access to Economic Opportunity |
* Statewide |
South Central Council of Governments
|
$15,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Huerfano >
Walsenburg |
South Park Historical Foundation
|
$10,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Arts & Culture |
Park >
Fairplay |
Springboard Child Care
|
$20,000 |
Capital Grant |
Capital Project Support >
Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families |
Arapahoe >
Aurora |
St. George’s Episcopal Church
|
$50,000 |
Capital Grant |