I have been donating to the Chinook Fund for many years, mainly because they have been a core supporter of many of the organizations here in Colorado that work tirelessly to create a more just and equitable society.
Then this past year I had the opportunity to participate in the first cohort of the Giving Project - the new grant making body of the Chinook Fund.
It truly was a life changing experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to deepen their social justice understanding and activism.
Participating also left me feeling more confident than ever that the Chinook Fund has a unique recipe for identifying and bringing into its network the organizations doing the most groundbreaking work in ways that truly challenge systems of inequality and oppression.
The Chinook Fund is an exceptional organization that helps people find a home for their passion for social justice. Providing grants, connecting non-profits to one another, providing technical assistance, and creating opportunities for popular education--all these activities help create a network of support and love for social justice advocates. Chinook Fund has provided me with a home and a family for the ever-necessary, difficult work of being an ally.
I am a community organizer by profession, so I take the Chinook Fund phrase, "Change not Charity," very seriously. As a former member of the Grant Making Committee (GMC), I personally experienced this organization live out its' mission to a remarkable degree of excellence. This is evidenced by their diverse and inclusive volunteer base, who take Chinook Fund's mission to heart by driving the work forward in awarding grants to organizations who are investing in community-led leadership, which is the best way to create sustainable change. Before the 2016 elections I was honored and proud to be affiliated with this organization. After the 2016 elections, I feel a sense of urgency to support the work Chinook Fund propels forward, as it will be the front-line resistance to policies and practices that threaten our social fabric and democracy.
Chinook Fund is a fantastic social justice nonprofit and funder here in Colorado, focusing on root causes that lead to systemic change and lasting effect. I had the honor of serving as a cohort member of their first-ever Giving Project and learned so much through that eye-opening experience. Chinook Fund has challenged the way I view nonprofit work, pushing me to focus more on diversity and inclusion in my work, as well as ensuring our programming is community-wide and constituent-led. Since having been introduced to Chinook Fund, and supported by them as well through multiple grants, I have become an active donor and intend to remain so for years to come. Thank you!