$10,000 in grants go to organizations serving BIPOC Women and Children
In 2022, a small group of local women had a vision to create a fund that would uplift and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women and children in Boulder County. Now, 4 years later, the BIPOC Women’s Fund has made its first three grants totaling $10,000 to three well-deserving organizations. The BIPOC Women’s Fund has grown to a 40-woman collective that made the decision to formally become a giving circle in December of 2025 — the first giving circle at Community Foundation Boulder County. “I love the idea of a giving circle, because circles don’t have a head,” says Ann Cooper, founder of the BIPOC Women’s Fund. “The idea may have started with a small group, but immediately it became a collective.”
The giving circle model is rooted in collectivism, community wisdom, and shared decision-making. Members pool resources (a minimum of $100 per year) to make a greater collective impact. Led by a rotating, 8-person steering committee, all members have an opportunity to participate in grantmaking decisions.
The BIPOC Women’s Fund mission statement is to empower women and children who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who live and/or work in Boulder County, Colorado, through collective giving, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and collective progress.
“When Ann invited all of us to join, we recognized the importance of this fund being from the BIPOC community for the BIPOC community,” said L’Shawn Howard, member of the BIPOC Women’s Fund Steering Committee. “It was very important to us to be the ones who were contributing because we wanted to send that message that BIPOC Women and BIPOC individuals are contributors to society. We are resourceful, we are strong, and we get together and support each other.”
This month, the BIPOC Women’s Fund made its first grant distributions totaling $10,000 to three organizations in Boulder County.
February 2026 BIPOC Women’s Fund Grantees:
Explorando Senderos – $2,500
Family Learning Center – $5,000
Harvest of All First Nations – $2,500
“The giving circle model is a growing trend in philanthropy and for us, it’s exciting to see it being led by Women of Color in our community,” said Sarah Harrison, Vice President of Programs at Community Foundation Boulder County. “We know that this is where philanthropy is headed, and in a moment where nonprofits are struggling with instability and so much that has changed at the local, state, and federal levels in terms of funding, this giving circle has the opportunity to be responsive and get funds to nonprofits doing good work quickly.”
Learn more about the BIPOC Women’s Fund.
Donations to the BIPOC Women’s fund are welcome from all community members.
