LIFT Fund awards first grants to Northern Colorado organizations

GREELEY — A Latino-led philanthropic fund in Weld County has awarded its first round of grants, distributing $18,000 among five organizations serving Latino communities in Northern Colorado.

The  Latinos Investing in the Future Together Fund of Weld County was created by Greeley community leader Cristóbal (Chris) Garcia. More than 20 individuals, families and organizations have contributed to the fund.

LIFT was established in November 2025 as a field-of-interest fund at the Weld Community Foundation. It includes an endowed fund intended for long-term investment and a spendable fund used to make grants.

The fund focuses on youth engagement and success, economic vitality and small-business support, and community-led research and innovation.

LIFT received 19 applications during its first grant cycle. Grant recipients are:

• Al Frente de la Lucha — to support development of El Museo del Pueblo, a planned community museum in north Greeley. The museum will draw from more than 60 years of artifacts and archives related to Chicano and Latino history and advocacy in the area.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County — for after-school programming and leadership development for Latino youth.

• Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition — to support advocacy, education and know your rights training for immigrants and their families.

• The Greeley Dream Team — for programs designed to help Latino students explore and pursue post-secondary education and career opportunities.

• The University of Northern Colorado Latinx Music Program — for a six-performance community concert series featuring Spanish-language and Latine music. The program, directed by Professor Javier Vinasco-Guzman, will create paid opportunities for emerging musicians.

“LIFT is about more than just providing grants,” Garcia said in a written statement. ““It’s about shifting the narrative. Recognizing that Latinos are not solely recipients of philanthropic support. We are the donors, investors, leaders, and changemakers in our communities. When we come together, we can make meaningful investments in the places and issues that matter to us.”

The inaugural grants were announced Sept. 13 during an event at Margie’s Java Joint in Greeley.

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