The Valley Housing Fund is proud to announce that we’ve established an endowment with Colorado Gives Foundation.
In June 2026, we opened the fund with an initial investment of $150,000 and received a 10% matching grant from the Foundation. Together, these funds create a permanent source of support for affordable housing in the Gunnison Valley for generations to come.
What is an endowment?
An endowment works differently than a grant or an annual donation.
Instead of being spent, the money is permanently held and invested by the Colorado Gives Foundation. As the fund grows, it generates annual earnings that are used to support our operations while the original investment remains intact.
For a nonprofit like ours, that changes how we think about the future. Annual donations and grants help us support the housing work happening today. An endowment allows us to invest in long-term solutions knowing we’ll have a lasting source of support behind them.
Why This Matters for Our Community
Housing stability is the foundation that thriving, healthy communities are built on.
When people know where they will live next year, everyone benefits. Their kids can finish the school year with the same classmates. Employers can retain a skilled and happy workforce. And neighbors can put down roots and invest in the community around them.
Housing stability takes one giant worry off the minds of our friends and neighbors—and less stress can lead to a happier and healthier community. This new endowment will help the Valley Housing Fund support our community with stable housing for years to come.
This endowment symbolizes our long-term commitment to supporting the people of our community. It ensures the Valley Housing Fund can support housing solutions today while building a foundation for the work that remains ahead.
What is the Colorado Gives Foundation?
Colorado Gives Foundation is a statewide community foundation that connects donors, nonprofits, and businesses to strengthen communities across Colorado. Many people know them for Colorado Gives Day, the annual statewide giving day that generates millions for local nonprofits every December – including Valley Housing Fund.
Our endowment is one of more than 140 funds they steward across the state, representing more than $60 million in permanently invested assets. The Foundation oversees the investment management, governance, reporting, and administration of each fund, allowing our team to stay focused on housing advocacy.
Colorado Gives Foundation also supported the launch of our endowment with a 10% matching grant. In welcoming the Valley Housing Fund as a new endowment partner, President and CEO Kelly Dunkin shared:
Thank you for entrusting us with your endowment. We are humbled to be a part of the work of the Valley Housing Fund to ensure affordable housing for individuals and families in the Gunnison Valley. We look forward to working with you!
How to Contribute
The endowment is open to contributions, and every gift supports the long-term health and well-being of our community. If you are interested in making a gift or in exploring planned giving options, we’d love to connect with you. You can contact our Executive Director, Lauren Koelliker, at lauren@vhfund.org.
To everyone who has supported this organization over the years, thank you. This endowment exists because of your investment in our community, and it will continue to grow well into the future.