“To Promote Excellence in Health and Education in Weld County”
At The Weld Trust, our mission is clear: to Promote Excellence in Health and Education in Weld County. That mission could never be accomplished by us alone. Real impact happens through the dedication, creativity and tireless effort of the nonprofits, schools and community leaders working to make Weld County a better place.
When we look back at 2025, we see not just grants awarded, but lives changed. Families receiving access to health resources. Students succeeding in school. Neighbors gaining food security. Throughout this report you will see the large impact of grants that concluded in 2025.
As you will see, each of our funding initiatives are designed to create positive, lasting change for Weld County residents. Beyond grantmaking, we have also expanded capacity building opportunities for our nonprofit partners.
By hosting various trainings and creating opportunities for nonprofit collaboration, we are helping strengthen the organizations doing essential work in our community.
The work happening today is helping build an even stronger Weld County for the future. We are honored to partner with so many dedicated organizations and leaders in this important work.
Jeff Carlson Chief Executive Officer
By The Numbers:
Total Grants Awarded in 2025 to nonprofits, schools and government entities:
$16,785,662
In-Kind Rent: $783,078
Community and Healthcare Grants: $781,883.97
Healthcare Scholarships: $141,464
Bright Futures Scholarships: $4,513,070
The Weld Trust Board of Directors
Jeff Carlson, Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Barber, Director of Capacity Building
Meagan Birely, Communications Specialist
Mike Bond, Chief Operating Officer
Ruth DeBoer, Community Impact Coordinator
Margaret Crump, Sr. Development Officer
Doug Elliott, Director of Education Grants
Amy Gomez, Grants Manager
Andrea Hernandez, Health Program Officer
Kyle Holman, Director of Health Grants
Michelle Jensen, Sr. Program Administrator
Jasmine Lunares, Program Support Coordinator
Rhonda Morehead, Chief Administrative Officer
Cori Pearson, Health and Education Program Officer
Rigo Rangel, Education Sr. Program Officer
Anu Shekar, Learning and Evaluation Consultant
Lisa Taylor, Director of Bright Futures & Workforce Development
Ryan Welle, Manager of Evaluation
Andy Yost, Scholar Relations Officer
Jeff Carlson Chief Executive Officer
Tom Grant Board Chair
Michael Simone
Tim Brynteson
Brandon Houtchens Board Vice-Chair
Rose Stoller
Mark Lawley Board Secretary
Vicki Wilson
Travis Gillmore
Bob Murphy Board Treasurer
Jason Yeater
Components of The Weld Trust
The Weld Trust is a philanthropic foundation committed to improving the lives of Weld County residents through a focus on health and education initiatives.
There are three areas of work that The Weld Trust utilizes in addressing fundamental needs to create a widespread community impact.
1. GRANTMAKING- The Weld Trust has a robust grantmaking program that supports projects and components of nonprofits, schools and government entities throughout Weld County in the areas of health and education.
2. CAPACITY BUILDING- The Weld Trust works to build the capacity of the nonprofits and schools we partner with to help them to be more sustainable and effective in the services they provide.
3. BRIGHT FUTURES- The Bright Futures program provides assistance for graduating Weld County high school students with college and career training. Through support of each qualifying student, we aim to help strengthen the entire workforce across Weld County.
Grantmaking
The Weld Trust awards grants focused on improving the health and education of individuals and families throughout Weld County. The Key Funding Initiatives are:
Health Grants
1. Behavioral and Physical Health- The Weld Trust supports programs that promote mental wellness, prevent substance use, and encourage social-emotional well-being for youth and families throughout Weld County.
2. Food Security- We invest in collaborative programs that expand access to nutritious food, maximize purchasing power and increase prepared meal access for those individuals who are experiencing food insecurity.
3. Housing Stability- Our grantmaking supports programs that strengthen homeless prevention, expand affordable housing options and improve long-term housing stability for residents.
Education Grants
1. Access to Resources- The Weld Trust supports the development of career paths, STEM, and vocational/technical training opportunities. We also help collaborative initiatives that provide tutoring, mentoring, and before/after school programs for K-12 students in Weld County.
2. Childhood Literacy- We assist programs that improve childhood literacy education and provide learning resources for families.
3. Workforce Development- We invest in programs that increase reskilling and upskilling as well as access to career opportunities, eventually leading people to satisfying and rewarding careers.
Big Bets
The Weld Trust’s Big Bets represent goals within each of our six Key Funding Initiatives. The Big Bets are intended to achieve community-wide impact over the next decade.
Throughout this report, you will see information about the Big Bets within each Key Funding Initiative.
Explore all Big Bets in full detail at weldtrust.org/insights/learning-evaluation
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Behavioral & Physical Health
The Weld Trust invests in programs that promote mental wellness, support challenges with behavioral health and substance abuse, and expand access to behavioral and physical health services for youth and families in Weld County.
Big Bets: The primary areas of focus in the Behavioral & Physical Health Key Funding Initiative are:
1. Increase the overall behavioral health of Weld County residents by reducing frequent mental health distress and poor mental health days as well as decreasing substance abuse.
2. Improve the overall physical health of Weld County residents through programs that increase physical activity, reduce poor physical health, and increase longevity.
We believe that addressing the community’s need for improved mental and physical health will create a safer, happier, healthier community.
Examples of Grants in Action: Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
North Range Behavioral Health: Peer Counseling
The Weld Trust grant supported North Range’s WINGS Peer Counselor Program which serves women in an in-patient setting who are struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse. The individuals have children under the age of six or are pregnant. The peer counselor programs increase their opportunity for long-term success and sobriety as they transition to out-patient living situations.
Blue Rising Community: Fentanyl Education
Blue Rising Community used The Weld Trust grant to distribute materials, signage and videos about the dangers of fentanyl to more than 15,000 students at the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College. The lack of knowledge surrounding fentanyl is leading to preventable deaths on college campuses.
Overall Behavioral and Physical Health Grants that Concluded in 2025
30,735 Individuals served
24,615 Students received social emotional learning (SEL) lessons
9,625 Individuals provided direct mental interventions that otherwise would not have had access as a result of this grant funding
1,673 Individuals reported increased activity levels since participating in grantees’ programs
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Food Security
The Weld Trust invests in collaborative initiatives that expand access to nutritious food, maximize purchasing and storage, as well as increase prepared meal access for residents experiencing food insecurity across Weld County.
Big Bets: The primary area of focus in the Food Security Key Funding Initiative is:
1. Increase the number of Weld County residents who have consistent access to enough food and do not have to skip meals due to lack of money.
Food security is a foundational need. When people have reliable access to food, they are better able to maintain their health, succeed in school or work, and build stable lives.
Examples of Grants in Action: Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Weld Food Bank: Healthy Food for Students in Need
The Weld Food Bank Backpack Program provided food to school-age children at risk of missing meals over the weekend when free and reduced school meals are not available. A grant from The Weld Trust helped distribute more than 63,000 backpacks of food to Weld County children during the 2024/25 school year.
Coal Creek Meals on Wheels: Nutritious Meal Delivery
The Weld Trust grant supported Coal Creek Meals on Wheels with providing daily, nutritious hot meals to residents in Erie who cannot prepare meals for themselves. They serve older adults, people living with disabilities or chronic physical and cognitive illnesses. The grant also helped fund food and kitchen supplies and ultimately provided 40,000 meals.
Overall Food Security Grants that Concluded in 2025
313,390 Individuals served
1,016,920 Pounds of food distributed
78,438 Premade meals distributed
11 Organizations funded to implement healthy food programs/ distribution across Weld County
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Housing Stability
The Weld Trust invests in collaborative initiatives that strengthen homelessness prevention, expand affordable and supportive housing options, and improve long-term housing stability for residents in Weld County.
Big Bets: The primary areas of focus in the Housing Stability Key Funding Initiative are:
1. Decrease the number of Weld County students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade who are identified as homeless. Stable housing is vital toward student success in school.
According to the Colorado Department of Education, 21,376 Pre-K-12th grade students were identified as experiencing homelessness in the 2024-25 school year. https://ed.cde.state.co.us/studentsupport/homeless-index/homeless-data
2. Decrease the number of renters in Weld County who spend too much of their income on housing. By helping people decrease the amount they spend on housing, this allows them to pay for other necessary living expenses.
Examples of Grants in Action: Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Neighbor to Neighbor: Rent Assistance
With a grant from The Weld Trust, Neighbor to Neighbor provided emergency utility, rent, and move-in assistance to low-income and at-risk households. The grant went to provide direct rental assistance to 130 individuals in Weld County.
Catholic Charities, Greeley Family House, Almost Home and Hope at Miracle House: Homeless Prevention Collaboration
The Weld Trust grant supported this collaborative project involving four organizations to help families facing homelessness due to extreme need and lack of available resources. This grant helped provide rent and utility assistance, case management and mentoring to help 226 households in their home.
Overall Housing Stability Grants that Concluded in 2025
2,259 Individuals served
2,238 Individuals connected to personal care through grantee programs
1,709 Households served
531 Rehoused individuals remained housed 6 months after receiving assistance
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Access to Resources
The Weld Trust invests in K–16 students by supporting programs that provide tutoring, mentoring, career pathways, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), vocational training and enrichment activities such as sports. These programs help students build critical skills including creativity, collaboration, communication and digital literacy, while giving them opportunities to explore their passions, grow and thrive.
Big Bets: The primary areas of focus in the Access to Resources Key Funding Initiative are:
1. Reduce the number of Weld County students who are chronically absent from school as this is one of the strongest predictors of academic failure, grade retention and dropping out. Reducing chronic absenteeism improves not only academic outcomes but also graduation rates, post secondary enrollment rates and long-term success.
2. Increase enrollment into college, university and career and technical education programs so that students can access pathways that are more likely to provide a living wage.
Examples of Grants in Action: Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J: Advancing Access to Arts & STEM
The Weld Trust grant supported this in-school and out-of-school programming in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics across 14 schools in Weld County. The grant provided robotics equipment, musical instruments, curriculum materials and other resources needed to help students access these programs. These activities help students stay engaged in school and improve attendance, as well as be better prepared for college, career and life.
Weld County School District RE-8: Inspiring Hands-On Learning
The grant from The Weld Trust helped Twombly Elementary located in Fort Lupton implement a SmartLab which provides project-based learning in science, math and technology using coding, robotics, snap circuits and more. This interactive learning process helps students learn problem solving, apply STEM learning and introduces them to career paths.
36,151 Individuals served
5,456 Families served
355 Leadership, career exploration, or STEM clubs created, supported or expanded
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Childhood Literacy
The Weld Trust invests in early childhood programs (birth to 4 years) across Weld County to ensure children are kindergarten ready through programs that help them meet key developmental milestones.
The Weld Trust also invests in programs that help school age students develop strong literacy skills to thrive academically.
Big Bets: The primary areas of focus in the Childhood Literacy Key Funding Initiative are:
1. Increase the number of kindergarten students in Weld County who are deemed to be “kindergarten ready”. When a child has met the milestones to be ready to start learning in kindergarten, this is a predictor of long-term academic and vocational success.
2. Increase the number of Weld County third-grade students reading at grade level as measured by state assessments. Research has found that third grade marks the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. When a student is proficient at reading in the third grade, they have a better chance at being academically successful in school long-term.
Examples of Grants in Action: Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
United Way: Providers Advancing School Outcomes (PASO) Institute
The grant from The Weld Trust supported Spanish-speaking childcare providers by helping them improve the quality of care they offer. Through a 15-week program, participants complete 120 hours of early childhood care and education training. This training increases their confidence and income-earning potential and the children the provider cares for have improved development outcomes and are better prepared for school success.
Reach Out and Read: Building Literacy through Healthcare Partnerships
Reach Out and Read Colorado provides free, age-appropriate books to children birth to five years to support early literacy during the child’s well visit. Reach Out and Read currently has 10 partner sites in Weld County. With a grant from The Weld Trust, books were distributed at 21,648 wellness visits.
Overall Child Literacy Grants that Concluded in 2025
133,836 Literacy materials distributed
30,377 Individuals served
21,504 Children served through literacy programs
19,228 Parents received literacy materials/resources
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Workforce Development
The Weld Trust invests in connecting Weld County students, workers and employers to technical, vocational and career opportunities to expand access to career pathways and help individuals pursue rewarding, fulfilling careers.
Big Bets: The primary areas of focus in the Workforce Development Key Funding Initiative are:
1. Increase the number of Weld County high school students with work-based learning opportunities through internships, externships and job shadowing to build connections with employers and enter the workforce more successfully.
2. Increase the number of first-generation Bright Futures* students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, who complete their schooling within six years of high school completion.
* To read about the Bright Futures program, see page 21.
Grantmaking by Key Funding Initiative
Examples of Grants in Action:
Generation Schools Network:
Forward Steps:
Discovering Confidence and a Career Path Through Coaching
The Weld Trust grant supported a robust career development program for 251 at-risk youth and young adults to help them reach their full potential as independent and thriving members of their communities. The funding helped purchase virtual reality headsets for students to experience hands-on career engagement and work-based learning opportunities.
Weld County K-12 Career Exploration
The grant from The Weld Trust helped support 750 rural Weld County students through college and career readiness exploration. Generation Schools partners with four districts in Weld County (RE-2, RE-11J, RE-5J and RE-8) with access to career exploration activities such as guest speakers, facility tours, real-world problem-solving scenarios, and training in the development of durable skills. Early exposure for elementary and middle school students to these activities increased the number of students in grades 9–10 who expressed interest in, enrolled, and successfully completed career and technical education pathways and concurrent enrollment coursework.
Overall Workforce Development Grants that Concluded in 2025
6,382 Individuals served
2,559 Students accessed career and technical education resources
734 Individuals report gainful employment after program participation
616 Work-based learning opportunities including internships, externships, apprenticeships and job-shadows
Grantmaking
Larger Grants Making an Impact in Weld County
Safehouse Building Project
The Weld Trust supported this project with a $1.75 million grant.
The only domestic violence shelter in Weld County, A Woman’s Place, built a new safehouse offering 16 bedrooms. The safehouse includes: ADA accessible rooms, communal dining, kitchen area, laundry room, two children’s playrooms, a secure outdoor play area and overnight staff sleep room.
Over the next 40 years, it is projected that A Woman’s Place will serve more than 20,000 survivors of domestic violence.
High Plains Library District & Foundation: Mobile Workforce Unit
The Weld Trust supported this project with a $830,803 grant.
The Mobile Workforce Unit is a collaboration between Employment Services Weld County, High Plains Library District (HPLD), and the HPLD Friends & Foundation.
This traveling resource will bring employment services directly to rural communities, expanding access beyond the offices in Greeley and Fort Lupton. Trained workforce specialists will staff the mobile unit to help with job searching, resume writing, mock interviews, GED practice test, OSHA certificate training, career coaching, workshops and access to the statewide job database.
This mobile unit will make 25 scheduled stops per month and is projected to serve 2,400 individuals in rural Weld County in the first three years of operation.
Grantmaking
Larger Grants Making an Impact in Weld County
StarRise
The Weld Trust supported this project with a $2.5 million grant.
In December 2025, StarRise opened 58 units of permanent supportive housing in Greeley taking a major step in addressing chronic homelessness. These units provide affordable housing and free on-site services such as case management, mental health assistance, job search assistance and much more. These wrap-around services are intended to provide the supports needed by individuals to maintain their housing.
Hope Springs
The Weld Trust supported this project with a $2.55 million grant.
Hope Springs, located in Greeley, is the first development of its kind featuring 174 energyefficient homes. These homes serve qualifying individuals and families currently living in Weld County with affordable housing. Hope Springs is a mix of 154 attached units and 20 singlefamily detached units. When the community is completed, expected in 2029, an estimated 783 people will be living in these affordable homes.
The University of Northern Colorado continued construction on the new College of Osteopathic Medicine, set to open fall of 2026. This college will address an anticipated shortage of physicians in Colorado and Weld County in the next decade.
The Weld Trust supported this project with a $25 million grant.
Construction as of March 2026
Capacity Building
The Weld Trust strengthens local organizations through intentional, responsive capacity building support. Nonprofits serving Weld County are creating meaningful change, and by investing in organizational health, The Weld Trust helps nonprofits achieve stronger outcomes, long-term sustainability and lasting community impact. Below are a few of the new offerings in 2025:
Capacity Labs
These monthly, interactive, skill-building workshops are designed to strengthen nonprofit effectiveness and sustainability featuring a new topic each month such as crisis communication, grant writing, and AI usage.
Executive Leadership Lab
This nine-month cohort-based learning program is designed to strengthen the growth, leadership and long-term sustainability of nonprofit professionals.
Development Director Roundtable
A peer-driven, professionally facilitated forum where development leaders strengthen philanthropy through connection, strategy and shared success.
To learn more about the Capacity Building services, visit Weldtrust.org/capacity-building.
Bright Futures is a Weld County workforce initiative established in 2015, designed to strengthen the vitality of the local community. By nurturing and supporting the next generation with tuition assistance for post-secondary education or training certification, the Bright Futures program is helping to build a strong foundation for a stable economy.
2024-2025 School Year
$4,047,886 Awarded to Support 1,467 Bright Futures Students
Bright Futures Students may use their award for a post-secondary education or training certificate. Recipients may receive financial assistance of up to $14,000 over the course of eight semesters by attending an institution in Weld County. Recipients may also choose to attend somewhere outside of Weld County in Colorado and the surrounding states for up to $8,000 over the course of eight semesters.
To
Date:
6,688 Students
$26 Million Awarded
2025 Fundraising Events and Programs
Annual Golf Tournament - $32,000
The Annual Golf Tournament in June 2025 raised money for the Heart Safe City Program. The Heart Safe City Initiative supports the placement of AEDs in public gathering locations throughout the community.
Human Bean - $29,334.74
Annual Gala Supporting Bright Futures - $180,000
The Annual Gala held in October 2025 presented by Chevron, raised $180,000 in net proceeds to support Bright Futures, a tuition assistance program for Weld County students pursuing degrees or certifications at post-secondary institutions across Colorado and neighboring states.
Turkey Trot - $75,000+
The 28th Annual Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Race presented by Chevron, raised funds in net proceeds to support the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs at Banner North Colorado Medical Center. These proceeds provide financial assistance to patients of the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs who would otherwise not be able to engage in the rehabilitation program.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Human Bean hosts a one-day event called Coffee for a Cure, where sales are donated to the Breast Cancer Patient Support Fund. This fund supports mammograms, breast cancer education and patient support. Thank you to the Human Bean for their yearly support with this critical fund.
Greeley Stampede/Ranack Cares Foundation - $16,000
The Greeley Stampede and Ranack Cares Foundation raised money during the Stampede’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink night for the Breast Cancer Patient Support Fund. These funds provide patient support for individuals undergoing treatment as well as mammograms and diagnostic services and procedures for underinsured women. Thank you to the Greeley Stampede and Ranack Cares Foundation!
2025 Grants Awarded
60+ Ride
A Little Help (ALH)
A Woman’s Place
Adventure West Council, Inc, Boy Scouts of America
American Legacy Academy
Azteca Boxing Club
Balon USA
Banner Health
Be The Gift Incorporated
Blue Rising Community
Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
Briggsdale Booster Activities Club
BUILT NoCO
Catholic Charities, Inc.
Centennial BOCES
Chef Ann Foundation
Coal Creek Meals on Wheels
Colorado Education Initiative
Colorado Nonprofit Development Center
Colo. State University Foundation
Colo. State University Office of Sponsored Programs
Colorado Youth For A Change Community Foundation of Northern Colorado
Community Grief Center
Cook Center for Human Connection
CrossPurpose
Dayspring Christian Academy
Eaton Public Library
Envision
Finally Home
Forward Steps
Freedom Revived
FYR Mindset Reps
Generation Schools Network, Inc.
Girl Scouts of Colorado
Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity
High Plains Library District Friends & Foundation
Hope House Northern Colorado
I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County
Imagination Library Weld County
Jobs of Hope
Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain
Knowledge Quest Academy
Larimer County Partners, Inc.
Little Willows
Living Grace Baptist Church
Milliken Community Food Pantry
National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc.
Neighbor To Neighbor, Inc.
North Range Behavioral Health
Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center
Northern Colorado Youth For Christ
Project Angel Heart
Project Protect Food Systems Workers
Project Self-Sufficiency of Northern Colorado
Reach Out and Read Colorado
Respite Care, Inc.
Rise Above Colorado
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center
Soccer Without Borders
Special Olympics Colorado
St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J
Startup Colorado
Stepping Stones of Windsor
Success Foundation Serving Greeley-Evans Schools, Inc.
Sunrise Community Health
The Greeley Dream Team, Inc.
Turning Point for Youth & Family Development, Inc.
