The Giving Project is a process. It requires a commitment of your time, talent, and resources over a period of six months. The basic Giving Project structure is:

• A diverse group of up to 25 individuals commits to gathering 12 times online over the course of 6 months.
• Through workshops and trainings, the group develops a shared understanding of race, class, and power within society.
• Each person makes a meaningful financial gift — whatever that means for you.
• Each person commits to fundraising from their friends, family, and community to support the financial goal of the group. Chinook Fund’s staff will train you in grassroots fundraising and provide plenty of support.
• Each member is trained in Chinook Fund’s democratic grantmaking process. As a participant, you will read and score proposals, participate in site visits, write site visit reports, make collective decisions, and grant money to some of the most inspiring, effective social change work in Colorado.

Anyone. You do not have to know anything about nonprofits, philanthropy, or fundraising. There is no minimum (or maximum) amount you have to donate or raise as an individual. You should apply if you want to make a difference about issues of injustice in Colorado; learn how to fundraise, make grants, and expand your network; are passionate about building community across race and class lines; and are ready to take on a challenging and transformative experience for 6 months. The Giving Project will be a diverse group. LGBTQ-identified people, people of color, and low-income individuals are especially encouraged to apply.

Our Giving Project members are building the movement! Thanks to their outstanding passion for justice and their dedicated collective effort, the Giving Project has strategically moved hundreds of thousands of dollars and activated hundreds of new donors to support change, not charity.

Members can expect about 100 hours of participation time over the program. Approximately 40 hours are spent in live sessions and 60 hours are spent reviewing materials, evaluating grants, and engaging in site visits.

Schedule of Meetings for Spring 2025
All meetings will be held online via Zoom. Times listed are in Mountain Time.
Saturday February 15, 9am-1pm: Laying the Groundwork
Saturday February 22, 9am-1pm: Introduction to Philanthropy
Tuesday March 4, 6pm-9pm: Understanding Race & Class, Part 1
Saturday March 15, 9am-1pm: Understanding Race & Class, Part 2
Saturday March 29, 9am-1pm: Grassroots Fundraising 101
Saturday April 12, 9am-1pm: Social Justice Giving
Tuesday April 22, 6pm-9pm: Meet the Changemakers
Saturday May 3, 9am-1pm: Screening Applications, Part 1
Saturday May 10, 9am-1pm: Screening Applications, Part 2
TBD: Site Visits (individually scheduled)
Saturday June 7, 9am-1pm: Final Decisions, Part 1
Tuesday June 17, 6pm-9pm, Final Decisions, Part 2
Saturday June 28, 9am-1pm: Celebrate and Evaluate

Register Now!

Tuesday, December 3rd, 6-7:15pm MT; Zoom registration

Saturday, December 14th, 12-1:15pm MT; Zoom registration

Saturday, January 4th, 1-2:15pm MT; Zoom registration

Apply. After attending an Information Session, you can fill out a Giving Project member application here.

Interview. After receiving your application, a Chinook Fund representative will reach out to you for an interview. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with our community, and get clear on the commitments, timelines, and goals.

Chinook Fund accepts applicants using an equity framework on a rolling basis. Any applicants who are not selected within 2 weeks of their interview are placed on a waiting list until recruitment for the cohort ends. Those who were not admitted are first-tier candidates for future Giving Projects. Chinook Fund can admit approximately 25 members with 3 alternates for each cycle.