Real Decisions, Real Impact: Give Next Students Take the Stage

This past May, three Give Next students and Poudre School District Superintendent Brian Kingsley took the stage to highlight their experiences with the program during a featured presentation. Their panel—part of the NoCo Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration “Next Gen Thinkers” session—is now available to watch below. The conversation highlights how students across Larimer County aren’t…

Pianos About Town Announces Piano Artists

Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, is excited to announce the artists selected to paint pianos. Selected artists and artist teams are Ben Hatcher, Chloe Cochran, Chyna Mapel, Janet Gilliand, Jess White, Theo Altmaier, Victoria Endsley and RaDean Mynatt (team), and William Richard…

Empowering the Next Generation: Give Next 2025

Give Next empowers young minds to make impactful grantmaking decisions. This spring, 34 classrooms across Larimer County are collectively awarding more than $177,250 in donor contributions and student fundraising to local nonprofits that align with issues students care about most. With 86 nonprofits applying for funding this year, the impact these young leaders make in…

Q&A: Applying to Paint a Piano

What is Pianos About Town? Pianos About Town is an interactive public art program in Fort Collins, Colorado. Community members watch as local artists transform donated pianos into public art. The program is seeking artists or artist teams to paint or artistically decorate pianos in 2025. Placed among 20 locations across town in the summer,…

Student-Led Give Next Grants Help Secure Major Funding for Heart J Center at Sylvan Dale Ranch

In 2022, a seemingly small grant from students sparked significant growth and impact for a local nonprofit. Student-directed grants through Give Next, a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students, have consistently supported nonprofits across Larimer County. One such nonprofit, Heart J Center at Sylvan Dale Ranch, received Give Next student grants…

Aerospace & Art

Fort Collins resident Emily Ku has rekindled her passion for art while pursuing her career aspirations in aerospace engineering. Recently, Ku was selected to participate in NASA’s Psyche Inspired program, which began in 2017 at the University of Arizona. The program invites undergraduate students to creatively share the innovation of NASA’s Psyche mission through musical…