Chinook Fund

05/14/2026

Join our email list to stay up to date with Chinook Fund and our grassroots leaders. Our monthly newsletter, Seed Notes, comes out the last Tuesday of each month. Sign up at https://chinookfund.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c9f783ccac79d2f9f55a64710&id=96e327973f. .
[Image description: Group of grassroots leaders gathered together for a photo and a call to action to subscribe to Chinook Fund's monthly newsletter, called Seed Notes]

05/04/2026

In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, we'd like to introduce you to two Chinook Fund grantees that are led for and by AANHPI community members..
Colorado Nepalese Community works to provide intergenerational opportunities to experience Asian Nepali heritage and traditions through cultural events, educational programs and community initiatives.
People's Advisory Board for New Educational & Economic Goodwill (PABNEEG) aims to construct a thriving Hmong and BIPOC community by addressing the underlying issues of poverty, racism, and discrimination and providing educational and economic assistance to those in need. .
[Image ID: Photo of each grantee's work in action, with their mission statement.]

04/29/2026

Meet Radiance, a Spring 2026 Giving Project member! Radiance is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Denver, Colorado. As a vocalist, poet, and fabric artist, she is dedicated to preserving access to creative arts through music, creative writing, and textile art..
As the oldest of four and growing up in predominantly white environments, she carries the communal responsibility of caring for those around her and leading by example in the form of social justice and creating spaces where joy and rage and all of the complexities of the human experience can exist. This brought her to creative entrepreneurship and the non-profit space which reignited her passion to create and to grow her social and professional abilities and connect with the people and existing infrastructures who are doing the work to build a more equitable society..
Radiance is the Program Manager for , nonprofit organization that empowers BIPOC youth to find their voice, embrace their culture, become community leaders, and promote artistic expression and collective healing through poetry in the Denver metro area.

04/23/2026

Meet Beverly Grant, a Spring 2026 Giving Project member! Beverly is a life-long Denverite and serial entrepreneur. She is a mother, influencer, educator, activist, urban farmer, small business owner, lobbyist, consultant, public speaker, and KGNU Public Radio Show Host. Beverly has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good of her Denver community..
"The journey of the Giving Project has been a Blessing. I appreciate learning about the philanthropic culture of Chinook Fund and gaining some insight into the wonderful staff that support all the magic to happen! This is a busy time, but, in these times, it's important to "give" and stay connected." - Beverly.
Grant’s recent entrepreneurship includes co-founding Satya Yoga Cooperative and founding of Mo' Betta Green MarketPlace. The 16-year-old Mo’ Betta Green MarketPlace is a Black woman-owned, community-rooted organization cultivating food sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and collective well-being in Northeast Denver. Their mission is to create thriving spaces where residents reconnect with the earth, nourish their bodies and minds, and build local economies rooted in justice and equity. They do this through urban farming, farmers markets, community education, and cultural events that center Black and Brown leadership and heritage..
[Image ID: Photo of Beverly holding a basket of produce in a garden space.]

04/20/2026

Our friends and peers at the AJL Foundation have been selected as a potential presenter at a major global impact conference, and they need our help to get there! Please consider voting for their session and sharing with your network. Voting ends April 26!

How can more institutional investors align their entire portfolio for positive social and environmental impact? This session will explore innovative approaches to drive more institutional capital with positive impact across asset classes, highlighting the AJL Foundation as a case study, with example...

04/14/2026

Sharing for all the donor organizers in our network: AFP is looking for thoughtful, engaging session proposals that explore what it means to lead with courage in our work and how we can move beyond transactional fundraising toward deeper, more collaborative impact. Submit a proposal to present by April 17!

✨ Join us at RMPI 2026 in Boulder, CO on Sept 18! We’re accepting workshop proposals focused on "Creating Community with Courage & Collective Action." Submit by April 17 for a chance to share your insights! Info: https://bit.ly/46RbLBh

04/07/2026

Join us next week to meet three of Chinook Fund's most recent grantees! Meet the Changemakers connects community organizers building power across Colorado and beyond with new supporters like YOU to champion their work! RSVP: chinookfund.org/meetchangemakers.
Ariel Ruempolhamer is the Founder and Executive Director of The Black Girl Advocate, where she creates spaces for Black girls and women in education to lead unapologetically as scholars, creatives, athletes, and changemakers. From college bootcamps to healing circles, Ariel centers joy, culture, and liberation in everything she builds. She is a Black feminist leader who knows that when Black girls thrive, entire communities rise. .
[Image ID: A picture of Ariel, who will speak at a Chinook Fund online event on April 14.]

04/02/2026

Join Chinook Fund on April 14th to hear from one of our grantee leaders! RSVP at https://chinookfund.org/meetchangemakers/. .
Omary Zakwani is the Executive Director of Umoja of Africa Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting and empowering African immigrant and refugee communities. Omary works to strengthen community connections, promote cultural inclusion, and expand access to opportunities through programs focused on youth development, housing stability, and community support. Through his leadership, Umoja of Africa builds partnerships that help African families navigate systems, access resources, and thrive in their communities. .
[Image ID: A picture of Omary, who will speak at a Chinook Fund online event on April 14.]

03/30/2026

Headwaters Fund for Justice, based in Minneapolis, is a sibling fund to Chinook Fund. Co-executive directors Bilal Alkatout and Migdalia Loyola Meléndez recently published a piece titled, Minnesota Is a Victory for People-Powered Movements, and a Lesson for Philanthropy. .
"If philanthropy is serious about defending our democracy, we must fund organizations resisting federal abuses at a scale that meets the moment. That means shifting from risk management to risk sharing; from responsive funding to building civic infrastructure from the grassroots up." ~Headwaters Fund for Justice

03/26/2026

We're thrilled to announce our Spring 2026 Giving Project cohort members! Cohort members have dug deep into the intersections of race and class in our society, and have begun to develop a shared understanding of Social Justice philanthropy. In the coming weeks, we will move into the next phase of the process: engaging in grassroots donor organizing (fundraising), grant application review, and consensus-based decision making..
If you’re interested in joining a future cohort, visit chinookfund.org/givingproject to learn more.

03/24/2026

Join us online on April 14th as Alex Bernat, a Giving Project alum, facilitates a panel discussion with Chinook Fund grantees! RSVP at https://chinookfund.org/meetchangemakers/.
Alex Bernat (they/she) is a white and trans activist passionate about economic healing and systems transformation. Alex is an alum of Chinook Fund’s Spring 2025 Giving Project and joins Meet the Changemakers as the emcee for the evening.