Gary Community Ventures

04/29/2026

The child care market is widely described as broken — and the data backs it up.

Research from groups like Child Care Aware of America shows a persistent paradox: child care is too expensive for families, yet providers still operate on razor-thin margins that make it difficult to sustain or grow their businesses.

That’s why we’re excited to be a part of the Child Care Loan Fund, a new initiative from Colorado Enterprise Fund and Executives Partnering to Invest in Children - EPIC designed to increase child care capacity across Colorado.

This loan fund addresses a core barrier: access to capital.

Through reduced-interest loans and flexible terms, child care providers can start, sustain and grow their businesses — investing in the spaces and infrastructure families rely on every day. Gary is proud to support this work with a $1M loan guarantee, helping unlock financing for providers who might otherwise be left out.

Because expanding access to child care isn’t just about supporting families — it’s about strengthening communities, enabling workforce participation and building a more resilient economy.

Thanks to Nim Patel, Alethea Gomez and Catherine Toner for their leadership and vision in bringing the Child Care Loan Fund to life.

Read more about the program https://bit.ly/4vX70Rk

04/22/2026

Last week at the Denver Public Schools Foundation Achieve Gala, we were inspired by incredible performances from DPS students and reminded what’s possible when a community comes together to support kids.

We were also honored to receive the Community Partner Award for our role in co-designing My Spark Denver. Our own James Lukens and Angie McPhaul accepted the award on behalf of the entire team that brought My Spark to life.

Programs like My Spark — now led by the DPS Foundation — show what happens when students are given the chance to pursue their passions, build connections, and develop a sense of purpose and belonging. We’re proud to continue our partnership as the DPS Foundation expands My Spark and works to ensure every student has access to the opportunities that help them thrive.

Congratulations as well to the other honorees: the Denver Broncos Foundation, Victoria Scott Haynes and Dre Calloway.

We’re grateful to be part of a community that continues to invest in Colorado’s kids — and to partners like the DPS Foundation who are carrying this work forward.

04/21/2026

Tackling Colorado's affordable housing crisis requires more than funding. It requires asking what the system actually needs and letting that question drive how philanthropy, policy and investing can work together toward lasting change.

That outside-in approach is at the heart of Gary's housing work, and it’s what Catherine Toner brought to the stage at TransCap Initiative hashtag .

Alongside Adair Mosley of GroundBreak Coalition , Daniel Contrucci of Climate Ventures, and Madeleine Lewis of TransCap Initiative, Catherine joined a fireside chat exploring what the challenges, breakthroughs and inner work of systemic investing really look like in practice.

Catherine shared perspectives from our housing work here in Colorado, where we've learned that changing complex, interdependent and ever-shifting systems requires letting go of rigid, long-term strategy in favor of flexibility and adaptation. Effective capital deployment means addressing financing gaps, shaping policy, incubating new solutions, and investing in the leaders who will carry this work forward - all at once.

💡 Interested in diving deeper into our housing and systemic investing work? Read TransCap Initiative’s case study here:https://www.transformation.capital/assets/uploads/case-studies/260213_TCI-Case-Study_GCV_250dpi.pdf

04/09/2026

An office is made up of more than walls and desks. It’s truly defined by the individuals, ideas and collective work that come to life within it.

Gary Community Ventures has a new office designed for collaboration, connection and the work ahead. We look forward to welcoming partners, collaborators and friends into this space as we continue working together to transform systems and build wealth for Colorado kids and families.

03/25/2026

What can philanthropy do today to solve our communities' most pressing challenges? We believe the answer lies in impermanence.

At Gary, impermanence means that we will close our doors in 2035 - a deadline that enables greater focus, smarter risk taking and investments in durable, long-lasting change for Colorado.

We also believe that foundations designed to exist in perpetuity can draw on the principles of impermanence.

This is why we are pleased to release "Impermanence In Philanthropy: The Case For Giving Urgently," a resource that illuminates a range of approaches for solving today's problems, today.

The report is shaped by attendees of ASSEMBLE100: Impermanence, one of the largest gatherings of "sunset curious" or "sunset convinced" funders. It also features perspectives and examples from leaders across the field, including Blue Meridian Partners, Solidaire, The Heron Foundation and the Stupski Foundation.

If you are a sunsetting organization or you're interested in learning more about the movement, DM us to set up a conversation

Impermanence in philanthropy asks an essential and urgent question: How might we solve today’s problems today?

03/11/2026

For generations, homeownership has been America’s primary wealth-building tool, yet 44 million renters have been largely shut out of this opportunity.

What if renters could build wealth too?

Together with the The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, we are releasing a new report exploring exactly that question.

"Tenant Equity Vehicle: A Pioneering Approach to Renter Wealth Creation" documents the development of Colorado Renter Rewards, a first-of-its-kind publicly funded program that helps renters build wealth alongside housing stability.

Tenant equity reflects Gary’s broader strategy: expand access to ownership and use policy to scale solutions. The launch of Colorado Renter Rewards was made possible by Proposition 123, the affordable housing measure that unlocked public funding to increase housing supply across Colorado.

For communities investing in affordable housing, the opportunity is clear: public dollars can do more than stabilize housing — they can help build wealth. This report offers a practical framework for how to do exactly that.

Download the report here: https://garycommunity.org/news-insights/building-wealth-for-renters/

03/05/2026

Who’s ready to try something new?

That’s what we asked 40 asset allocators and advisors at Confluence Philanthropy's Practitioner Gathering this week in Asheville.

Gary CEO Santhosh Ramdoss and Director of Strategic Partnerships Emily Williams led an immersive simulation exploring a critical but often overlooked dimension of philanthropy:

Time.

Participants tested how different philanthropic models — perpetual endowments, sunset foundations and spend-down approaches — influence risk-taking, strategy and ultimately the ability to achieve systemic change.

As an impermanent organization, we have been grappling with these questions for years. Our upcoming report, “Impermanence in Philanthropy: The Case for Giving Urgently,” explores how time-bound giving can unlock greater focus, bolder risk-taking and deeper community impact.

Learn more and sign up to receive an advance copy of the report:
https://garycommunity.org/short-film/impermanence/

02/06/2026

Affordable housing + cash back + equity = the nation’s first publicly funded renter rewards program.

Governor Jared Polis launched Colorado Renter Rewards, a first-of-its-kind initiative that allows renters to earn cash back for on-time rent payments and share in a property’s equity as it grows — creating a pathway to greater financial stability.

As Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade put it:

“By pairing affordable housing with cash back and equity payments for renters, we are helping more people love where they live and save money. This is a smart investment in our workforce and families, supporting long-term economic growth and a Colorado economy that works for everyone.”

🌲 The first renters eligible for the program are residents of Fall River Village Apartments, an affordable housing apartment complex owned by Estes Park Housing Authority. Public funding to support this program was made possible by Colorado voters when they approved Proposition 123, which funds affordable housing without raising taxes.

This is what it looks like when housing policy meets wealth-building — and when renters share in the economic upside of real estate.

👓 Read more from CBS Colorado

A new renter rewards program for Colorado residents living in properties financed by the Proposition 123 Equity program is set to begin this month.

02/02/2026

Tax credits are one of the most effective tools we have to help families meet basic needs and build financial stability — and families use them to pay bills, buy groceries and stay housed.

But tax credits only work if families actually claim them. And too often, the process is confusing, time-consuming or hard to access.

That’s why we helped launch two ventures focused on expanding access to tax credits for Coloradans: Get Ahead Colorado and Tax Help Colorado

Together, these efforts have driven real impact:

👪 Get Ahead Colorado reaches hundreds of thousands of people each year by partnering with 440+ organizations and distributing 750,000+ pieces of outreach annually.

💵 Tax Help Colorado files taxes for nearly 8,000 Coloradans annually, securing more than $174 million in refunds and saving families roughly $19 million in preparation fees.

Both initiatives have since transitioned to partners who can sustain and grow their reach — Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Mile High United Way operates Tax Help — ensuring the impact continues long after Gary’s direct involvement.

And the collaboration continues.

Our most recent venture to spin off, MyFriendBen, partnered with Get Ahead Colorado to create a tax calculator so folks can quickly know what they're owed and take the next step toward filing.

Tax credits work, and we’re committed to making it easier for families to get the supports they’ve earned. Explore the full case study to learn more: https://garycommunity.org/case-study/tax-help-get-ahead-colorado/

01/29/2026

Ignite Futures Fund is a new opportunity for Colorado teens to build wealth — and we need your help spreading the word.

Ignite Futures Fund will select 250 Colorado high school sophomores and juniors. 100 students will receive $20,000 investment accounts, and 150 students will earn money through surveys and investment competitions. After senior year, students can use their funds for wealth-building goals like higher education, homeownership, starting a business or saving for retirement.

Students are eligible if they live in Colorado and are covered by Medicaid/CHP+ or have household income under 260% of the federal poverty level. The program is open to all students regardless of documentation status, and it’s completely free. Applications are open now through Feb. 6, 2026.

💡 We partnered with Impact Charitable and funders across the state and country to launch Ignite Futures Fund, because income alone no longer creates economic security. Wages have stagnated for decades while the cost of living continues to rise.

📩 Please share this with students, families, counselors and youth-serving organizations in your network.

Learn more + apply:

Explore the Ignite Futures Fund by Impact Charitable, investing in youth wealth building and opportunity creation through financial education and capital access.

01/20/2026

We are thrilled to partner with First Southwest Bank to help both new and existing child care providers secure properties, expand operations, and renovate outdated facilities to meet the growing demand for services.

At Gary, this work reflects a long-standing belief: Access to quality, affordable child care is foundational to economic stability for families and communities.

Attention Colorado child care providers!⏰

Dreaming of expanding your childcare business? Need to renovate or secure a new property? Our new Child care Capital & Infrastructure Fund can help turn those plans into reality.

-Low-interest rates
-Loans for licensed providers AND Family, Friend, and Neighbor care

Ready to apply? Visit: https://www.fswb.bank/business/childcare-capital-and-infrastructure-fund