Gates Family Foundation Updates | | |
In this issue:
- Celebrating 50 Years of Gates Tennis Center
- Looking Ahead: Strategy Updates
- Our Mission in Action: Program-Related Investment Highlights
- Board Spotlight: Celebrating Rosemary Rodriguez
- Get Involved: Upcoming Events
| | Celebrating Gates Tennis Center's 50th Anniversary | | |
For eight decades, Gates Family Foundation has supported partners and communities building a more equitable and resilient Colorado. Today, we are proud to celebrate a milestone that reflects this commitment: Gates Tennis Center's 50th anniversary.
In 1975, in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation, we founded and funded this facility as a gift to the City and County of Denver, transforming a former landfill in Pulaski Park into the thriving facility it is today. We created an affordable space where everyone could stay active through tennis, pickleball, and community programs. Today, the tennis center is operated through a partnership with The Park People and continues to serve as more than a tennis facility — it is a gathering place, a learning space, and a community hub.
| | Gates Tennis Center, then and now: Five decades of serving the Denver community, one court at a time. Source | | |
As a place-based foundation committed to equity and opportunity, we believe in investing in spaces in Colorado that help people thrive. For five decades, this center has welcomed people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels, promoting health and wellness and supporting both physical and mental well-being. It is also home to programs that open doors for young people, particularly those from underserved communities, building confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging.
Gates Tennis Center is an example of what civic infrastructure can look like when it fosters connection and community. We are honored to celebrate this milestone and reflect on the impact this space has had on Denver. Please join us in congratulating Gates Tennis Center on 50 years of impact and wishing them many more successful years ahead.
Learn more about Gates Tennis Center.
| | Looking Ahead: Strategy Updates | | |
The Foundation’s strategic plan serves as a blueprint for our work, guiding decisions on funding allocation and prioritization of partners and projects. We regularly engage in strategic planning on a three- to five-year cycle.
Since 2022, we have followed a strategic plan aimed at addressing interrelated challenges facing our state, informed by a community engagement process that involved extensive feedback from our partners, grantees, and peers. This plan focused on four key priority areas: Public Education, Natural Resources, Community Development, and Informed Communities.
| | Gates Family Foundation's 2022-2026 strategic priorities, as seen on the website. | | |
As we near the end of this cycle, we have identified opportunities to reflect, grow, and build upon our existing efforts. We are in the process of refreshing and updating strategies in each of our five major program areas including: Public Education, Natural Resources, Community Development, Informed Communities, and Responsive Capital.
The updated approach will guide our work from mid-2026 through 2028, ensuring that our programs remain responsive and impactful amid evolving social, political, and economic conditions. You can expect to see more information in late summer of 2026.
Stay tuned for details — we look forward to sharing how we hope these strategy updates can strengthen our collective impact.
| | Gates Family Foundation's 2026-2028 strategic priorities: Public Education, Natural Resources, Community Development, Informed Communities, and Responsive Capital | | Driving Impact Through Program-Related Investments | | |
Program-related investments (PRIs) are more than financial tools — they are catalysts for change. These flexible, low-cost commitments of capital help nonprofits and mission-driven organizations scale their impact. PRI capital is intended to be recycled and reinvested to spark new projects, multiplying the impact of every dollar.
Why this matters: Impact investing enables the Foundation to support financially sustainable solutions in areas such as public education, climate, conservation, housing, and economic opportunity — while recycling capital to amplify our impact over time and build stronger, more resilient communities.
We aim to deploy 6.5% of non-family fund assets in PRIs, in addition to our strategic and responsive grantmaking. Recent examples include:
Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund: A collaborative fund supported by The Denver Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, Colorado Gives Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, and other funders to help nonprofits bridge cashflow requirements of government grants and contracts where funds follow expenditures or are received on a reimbursement basis.
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Our commitment: Loan $1 million to this fund.
The Rural Homes Initiative: Rural Homes, in collaboration with Buena Vista-based modular home builder Fading West, is raising funds for a second, larger phase of home construction. This initiative creates more affordable for-sale homes in rural communities.
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Our commitment: Extend our existing $200,000 contribution for another five years.
Blueprint Colorado: Blueprint is a skilled public charter school facility developer partnering with the Colorado Schools Fund to provide building solutions for public charter schools across Colorado. Blueprint is raising funds for facility acquisition and development projects that address the critical building needs facing charter schools statewide.
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Our commitment: Invest $2.5 million to help expand access to quality school facilities.
Colorado West Land Trust: The Colorado West Land Trust is purchasing three farms in the Uncompahgre River Valley that are at risk of being bought by investors who could strip away their very senior water rights for resale. Instead, the Trust will restore riparian areas, implement innovative farming practices, place conservation easements on the properties, and sell them to the next generation of farmers committed to keeping the properties in agricultural production.
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Our commitment: Provide a $1.25 million partial loan guarantee for this conservation project (in addition to a $375,000 grant to support the project).
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A note from Foundation President Tom Gougeon:
“At our December 2025 board meeting, we approved multiple program-related investments (PRIs) that reflect our commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions for Colorado communities. These latest commitments join an existing portfolio of more than $20 million PRI commitments made over time by the Foundation. The largest PRI in this recent group is a $2.5 million investment in Blueprint Colorado, an organization dedicated to addressing the critical need for public charter school facilities statewide. This investment builds on our long-standing support for public education and ensures that more students have access to quality learning environments.
We also approved commitments that strengthen housing, conservation, and nonprofit capacity: continuation of our support for the Rural Homes Initiative to expand affordable housing in rural communities; a $1 million loan to the Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund, a collaborative effort to help nonprofits manage cash flow challenges; and a $1.25 million loan guarantee to Colorado West Land Trust to protect farmland and water rights in the Uncompahgre River Valley.
These PRI decisions underscore our belief that impact investing can amplify the work of our partners — recycling capital to create lasting change. These concessionary commitments of capital, along with the mission-aligned market return commitments in our portfolio, expand the total amount of capital we can make available to build stronger, more resilient communities across Colorado.”
| | Looking ahead: All PRI commitments reflect our commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions that contribute to a future in which Colorado communities can thrive. | | Board Spotlight: Celebrating Rosemary Rodriguez | | |
With gratitude and admiration, we honor Rosemary Rodriguez as she retires from the Gates Family Foundation Board of Trustees.
A legacy of leadership and impact: When Rosemary Rodriguez joined the Gates Family Foundation Board in 2021, she reflected on what drew her to the role, recalling her earlier experiences working with the Foundation as a nonprofit leader:
“What I like best about Gates is the accessibility and the openness. When I came to Gates to talk about the importance of the U.S. Census (for Together We Count), I met a whole group of the staff — not just one funding officer. It told me that Gates was taking this really seriously. The support and partnership we received even before we were funded was truly remarkable.”
That spirit of partnership defined Rosemary’s five years of service.
As we begin 2026, we reflect on the profound impact she has had on our organization, our partners, and the communities we serve.
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On our board, Rosemary brought her deep experience, equity lens, and community relationships to every discussion. Her thoughtful questions, practical wisdom, and focus on real-world impact have enriched our work and inspired our team.
We are deeply grateful for her service, leadership, and the example she has set for all of us.
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A champion for equity and representation: Rosemary’s career is a testament to public service and advocacy. She has:
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Founded Together We Count, a nonprofit dedicated to fair census representation for hard-to-reach communities, ensuring equitable resources and political voice for all.
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Mentored hundreds of Latina professionals through Cafecito, a network she co-founded over 30 years ago, fostering leadership, mentorship, and opportunity for women across Colorado.
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Held leadership roles at every level of government, including the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (as a presidential appointee and chair), the Colorado Reapportionment Commission, Denver City Council, Denver Public Schools Board, and as State Director for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
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Received the 2020 Governor’s Citizenship Medal for Public and Community Service, one of Colorado’s highest honors.
Rosemary’s unwavering commitment to equity, democratic participation, and opening doors for others has shaped policy and empowered communities statewide.
We take our mission seriously, and our work requires care, dedication, and strategic thinking. Our board is composed of three Gates family members (Lauren Davis, Rich Gates Kiely, Dane Harbaugh) and four community members (Rosemary Rodriguez, Ernest House Jr., Wesley Brown, Ginny Bayless). With Rosemary’s departure, we will be seeking a new trustee to fill the vacancy. If you would like to recommend a candidate, you can do so by contacting us at info@gatesfamilyfoundation.org.
In the meantime, please join us in thanking Rosemary Rodriguez for everything she has done. Colorado is more representative, more democratic, and more equitable because of her.
Thank you, Rosemary, for your vision, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to a better Colorado.
| | Get Involved: Upcoming Events | |
Reminder: Gates Harvard Fellowship application webinar this week
Don't miss our webinar this Friday, January 9, at 10:00 a.m., on the Gates Harvard Fellowship application process. This three-week leadership program brings together senior executives in state and local government to tackle critical community challenges. The 2025 cohort included Colorado leaders in education, public health, and public service, who worked across the interconnected systems that shape our communities to find innovative solutions. The Foundation typically sends seven fellows to the program each year. Fellows are selected by a panel including alumni of the program and staff from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and Gates Family Foundation.
Why this matters: Throughout the program, participants acquire leadership skills, build cross-sector connections, and develop a network of peers that continues to support them even after the program concludes. Our upcoming webinar will provide essential information about the application process, eligibility criteria, and important deadlines. We hope you leave with a sense of confidence and a clearer understanding of whether this program is the right fit for you.
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Save the Date: Capital Grants Webinar
Are you planning a capital project that could benefit communities in Colorado? Save the date for Gates Family Foundation’s informational webinar on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
Why this matters: During our webinar, you will learn everything you need to know about applying for a Gates Family Foundation Capital Grant before our upcoming March 15, 2026, deadline. We will discuss capital project eligibility, application requirements and deadlines, and tips for submitting your proposal. We will also use part of the time to host a live Q&A session, where we will answer your most pressing questions and provide you with the necessary information to move forward.
How to prepare: If you are planning to attend the webinar, we recommend that you review our Capital Grants Project Guide in advance. This guide is a comprehensive resource designed to help nonprofits plan and execute facility expansion projects. It gives you the opportunity to come prepared with questions and a better understanding of the capital project lifecycle.
Learn more about the Capital Grants program by visiting our website. Stay tuned for more webinar details and how to RSVP.
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