Welcoming New Foundation Team Members and a Director for Colorado Media Project

Gates Family Foundation is pleased to welcome two new staff members who will contribute to our continued impact. Latia Henderson has been named the Foundation’s Director of Strategic Communications and Informed Communities and Helen Katich is our new Senior Program Officer for Community Development.

Latia Henderson is a strategic communications, marketing, events, and public relations expert with nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management. Born and raised in Colorado, she brings a deep understanding of the region and a wealth of expertise in developing and executing strategic communications, excelling in storytelling, brand development, digital strategy, media relations, and community engagement. 

Latia’s experience includes providing strategic direction and amplifying mission-driven initiatives. Most recently, Latia served as the Chief Engagement Officer for Denver Families for Public Schools. Before joining Denver Families, Latia worked for Denver Scholarship Foundation, Young Americans Center for Financial Education, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and Community Resource Center.

She holds various leadership positions, including serving as the founding board chair of Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado, and is a member of The Communications Network’s local Denver chapter. Latia is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, a Daniels Fund Scholar, and a magna cum laude graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and a minor in Business Administration.

Helen Katich’s professional career has focused on public service and community development. She has over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, government service, stakeholder engagement, and federal and local government grantmaking. 

Before joining the Gates Family Foundation, Helen served as the Director of Federal Grants and Investment for United States Senator John Hickenlooper (CO). There, she developed a new legislative portfolio focused on driving public funding toward critical infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic development initiatives. Prior to her work for the Senator in Washington D.C., she served as his Western Colorado Regional Director, where she led and facilitated policy conversations and coalition-building across the state’s diverse rural communities. 

Before serving in government, Helen was the Managing Director of the Food Systems Respond & Rebuild Fund where she helped to secure and deploy rapid-response funding for Colorado’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior, she served as the CEO of Fresh Food Connect and as a Programs Manager at Metro Caring. Born and raised in Colorado, Helen is a product of Denver Public Schools. She holds a degree in Geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a focus on community studies from the school’s  INVST Community Leadership Program.

As well as growing our team at the Foundation, our partner organization, Colorado Media Project, has also hired a new Director. Colorado Media Project is a cross-funder collaborative that is building a healthier news and information ecosystem for Coloradans. Since its founding in 2018, the Gates Family Foundation has proudly partnered with the Colorado Media Project and served as one of its largest financial sponsors. The Foundation also lent a staff member, Melissa Davis, to lead the organization as its founding director for several years.

Kimberly Spencer, CFRE will lead Colorado Media Project’s (CMP) efforts to strengthen the local news ecosystem in Colorado. A seasoned fundraiser and nonprofit leader, Kimberly has helped newsrooms build financial sustainability through fundraising, executive leadership, and relationship building. Prior to joining CMP, Kimberly worked with Capital B News, Pivot Fund, and Chalkbeat. To learn more, please visit Colorado Media Project’s announcement here.