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As we begin the new year, the Sachs Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 Alumni Board Equity Grant recipients, continuing our commitment to supporting Black-led and Black-serving organizations across Colorado.

The Sachs Foundation Alumni Board was launched to advance Black leadership in philanthropy and center alumni voice in resource decisions.

Last fall, this alumni-led grantmaking initiative awarded funding to organizations advancing equity, opportunity, and well-being for Black communities statewide.

The Alumni Board is proud to share the following organizations received funding:

The Alumni Board Equity Grant reflects our belief that those closest to the work are best positioned to guide philanthropic decisions. Sachs Foundation alumni serve as stewards of this process, bringing lived experience, care, and accountability to every stage of grantmaking.

As one grantee shared:

“Our work is only possible because partners like you believe in the power, brilliance, and healing of Black families in Colorado, and we’re grateful for your continued investment in our community.”

To every organization that applied- thank you for your trust, your vision, and your continued commitment to our collective future.

Pictured: Jazmyne Peters, Ben Ralston, Anthony Sanford, Akua Pokua-Nuako, Elisabeth Booze, Ruth Woldemichael, Keturah Kiper, Amber Clifford, Tera Jones, Joseph Graves

The Sachs Foundation has launched its inaugural Alumni Board, a bold initiative placing Black leadership at the center of philanthropic decision-making. Composed entirely of former Sachs Scholars, the Alumni Board will guide discretionary grantmaking and contribute to shaping the Foundation’s strategic direction, marking a new chapter in alumni engagement and community-led impact.

The newly formed Board brings together a cohort of accomplished alumni, each with over eight years of experience in fields such as global marketing, education, STEM, counseling, finance, and nonprofit leadership, who previously received Sachs Foundation scholarships. These leaders will take on responsibilities well beyond advisory roles, from designing the grant application process to evaluating proposals and making funding decisions.

“This Board is transformative for the philanthropic space,” says Ben Ralston, Sachs Foundation CEO. “By placing grantmaking decisions in the hands of Black alumni, we move our funding power into the hands of the community we serve. The goal is to dismantle the inherent gatekeeping that exists in philanthropy by empowering grantees to become grantors.”

The initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to equity and accountability by moving away from top-down philanthropy toward a reimagined community-driven model rooted in lived experience.

To ensure a meaningful experience, the Board members will receive training in nonprofit governance and long-term opportunities for professional development. This ensures that alumni are not only participants, but leaders at every level of organizational impact.

For Alumni Board Member Elisabeth Booze, the opportunity to lead and give back is deeply personal: “Serving on this Alumni Board has given me and my peers the opportunity to give back to the Black Colorado community, a community that has shaped each of our journeys in profound ways. I am thrilled to do this philanthropic work in community with such an incredible group of fellow alumni, and I am grateful for professional development, deep connections, and community impact we have access to through our alumni board work together.”

The launch comes at a critical moment in philanthropy, as Black communities across the U.S. increasingly call for not only investment, but leadership, representation, and decision-making power. The Alumni Board answers that call by embracing a trust-based model that shares power with those who bring both lived experience and professional expertise, ensuring solutions are driven by communities most impacted.

“We’re not just engaging alumni—we’re following their lead to drive systems change. This Board demonstrates what it looks like when Black leadership is prioritized, not as a statement but as a practice,” says Ruth Woldemichael, Director of Communications and Alumni Engagement, reflecting on the strategic alignment behind this initiative.

Through this new initiative, the Sachs Foundation reinforces its commitment to expanding opportunities for Black Coloradans by cultivating Black leaders who can influence long-term structural change. From guiding grant investments to shaping broader programming, the Alumni Board will play a central role in building a more just and representative philanthropic landscape.

This milestone affirms alumni are not just beneficiaries of the Foundation’s mission—they are active collaborators, changemakers, and architects of its future.

To learn more about the Sachs Foundation, the Alumni Board, and this work, visit www.sachsfoundation.org.

About the Sachs Foundation
Founded by Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs in 1931, the Sachs Foundation provides programming designed to help Black Coloradans overcome systemic inequity. Over the decades, the Foundation has helped thousands of talented Black students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at universities throughout the United States, supported Black youth through mentoring programs and developed educator recruitment and retention programs to place more Black educators in Colorado classrooms. Learn more about the Sachs Foundation, student success stories and how to apply for scholarship grants at www.sachsfoundation.org.

Media Contact: sachs@nextpr.com

53 Black Scholars to Be Honored at Annual Celebration Featuring Keynote Ta-Nehisi Coates — A Testament to Resilience, Not Retreat

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., — Today, the Sachs Foundation has announced the selection of 53 outstanding Black scholars who will receive more than $1.9 million in scholarships. The students will be honored at the Foundation’s Annual Celebration this spring at Colorado College, featuring keynote remarks from renowned author and activist Ta-Nehisi Coates. Sachs Foundation Board Member Aisha Praught-Leer, a two-time Olympian and Jamaican record holder, will also speak in celebration of the students’ achievements.

At a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and race-conscious admissions face mounting legal and political challenges nationwide, the Sachs Foundation continues to stand firm in its 94-year legacy of investing in Black students across Colorado with scholarships, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.

“This moment belongs to our scholars. Their brilliance, their ambition and their future,” said Ben Ralston, CEO of Sachs Foundation. “In a moment where many institutions are retreating from their commitments to equity, we’re proud to stay firm in ours. The work we do is not just about scholarships – it’s about ensuring access, opportunity and belonging for Black students who are too often excluded. We are overjoyed to invest in such an exceptional group of scholars and can’t wait to see everything they accomplish.”

Founded in 1931 by Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs, the Sachs Foundation has awarded more than $44.6 million in scholarships to over 3,300 students, alongside millions more over the years in broader community, youth, educator and health programs. The Foundation’s flagship undergraduate and graduate scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic achievement, financial need and character. Beyond financial aid, Sachs Foundation offers a range of wraparound programming for Black Coloradans, including mentorship for students in grades 8-12, youth college and career development and educator-focused initiatives.

The 2025 Annual Celebration will recognize the achievements, leadership and higher ed journeys of this year’s scholarship recipients. With reflections from Coates on education, legacy and liberation, the event will underscore what the Sachs Foundation has always believed: investing in racial equity in education is investing in the future.

Black Colorado residents can apply for scholarships each year from January 1 to March 15. Learn more at SachsFoundation.org/scholarships.

Those interested in supporting the Foundation’s mission can visit SachsFoundation.org/donate/ or contact sachs@nextpr.com for information on partnership and giving opportunities.

About the Sachs Foundation 
Founded by Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs in 1931, the Sachs Foundation provides programming designed to help Black Coloradans overcome systemic inequity. Over the decades, the Foundation has helped thousands of talented Black students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at universities throughout the United States, supported Black youth through mentoring programs and developed educator recruitment and retention programs to place more Black educators in Colorado classrooms. Learn more about the Sachs Foundation, student success stories and how to apply for scholarship grants at SachsFoundation.org.

A message to our community:

The Board of Directors of the Sachs Foundation reaffirms our mission of uplifting Black communities through educational and community programs. More importantly, the foundation stands alongside our students, scholars, educators and families in the face of questions raised by new federal policies. Questions that have led our constituents and our partners to ask: “What is the Sachs Foundation going to do?”

The Sachs Foundation was created nearly 100 years ago, not to navigate the political reality of any administration or any particular time, but to address historic inequity and injustice that has persisted throughout time.

In America today:

• The median white household holds $240k more than the median Black household.
• Black undergraduate students carry, on average, $25k more student loan debt than white classmates.
• 71.7% of white American families own their homes while only 41.7% of Black Americans do.
• School segregation has increased by 64% since 1988.

Until these wealth and opportunity gaps are erased, there is work to do.

So, in response to the question: “What is the Sachs Foundation going to do?” – We will continue.

We will continue to support the excellence of our Elevated students and families, we will continue to invest in our undergraduate and graduate scholars, and we will continue to recruit and build social capital for our educators. We will continue this work without deviation or temper and will stand in solidarity with those who do the same.

Prosperity Denver Fund and the Sachs Foundation share a commitment to equity and opportunity for the communities of Colorado. Together, we are tackling systemic economic barriers and nurturing pathways to prosperity for Black Coloradans through educational opportunity and economic empowerment.

Since its inception in 2018, Prosperity Denver Fund has supported over 6,000 of Denver’s students to follow their dreams to college. The ordinance, a 0.08% sales tax distributed to scholarship organizations, increases the Foundation’s capacity to award scholarships and invests in the long-term success of Denver’s high school graduates.

At the core of the Sachs Foundation’s mission is a commitment to furthering racial equity for Black Coloradans through educational opportunity. Our partnership with Prosperity Denver Fund has allowed us to expand on this mission by providing additional resources and avenues for growth to our scholars.

“With the help of Prosperity Denver Fund, we are able to provide more scholars with increased awards and comprehensive support, including mental health services and emergency assistance. Our partnership makes higher education access more accessible and equitable.” – Ben Ralston, Chief Executive Officer, Sachs Foundation

Beginning in 2024, Prosperity Denver Fund is augmenting its impact by extending its support to organizations that fund college preparatory programs, enabling the Foundation to expand its Elevated program across Denver. The Elevated program provides mentorship, financial support, and educational access to 8th to 12th grade students and their families. The partnership between Prosperity Denver Fund and Sachs Foundation will now support Black students starting in 8th grade through graduate studies.

To make lasting change, we are partnering with mission-aligned organizations to foster dialogue and inspire collective action that remove barriers to post-secondary education attainment and generational wealth-building opportunities for the Black Coloradans. Together, we’re creating a future where education is accessible to all, and every student has the opportunity to thrive.

To learn more about Prosperity Denver Fund visit their website and join us in our mission to transform the racial equity landscape in Denver and unlock the full potential of Colorado’s youth.

Despite persistent obstacles and systemic inequalities amid Affirmative Action setbacks, the Colorado-based foundation celebrates the awarding of scholarships to 50 Black students

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 10, 2024 — The Sachs Foundation, an organization that has supported Black Coloradans since 1931, today announced it has awarded over $1.7 million in scholarships and aid to Black students in Colorado over the past year. This year’s 50 scholarship recipients and their academic achievements were recognized at the foundation’s Annual Celebration event this past weekend – a cause for celebration at a time when racial educational equity programs are being rolled back nationwide.

This substantial investment underscores the foundation’s commitment to supporting the educational opportunities of Black students. The role of organizations like the Sachs Foundation becomes more critical as policies to address the racial inequity in education are under attack nationwide.

“The success of this incredible group of scholars demonstrates the importance of investing in Black talent and excellence,” said Ben Ralston, CEO of the Sachs Foundation. “Our 93-year commitment to supporting Black students in Colorado has never been more important. We will continue to work to deconstruct traditional power structures, address the racial wealth gap, and empower our students to pursue their educational goals without the weight of historical inequities.”

Since Henry Sachs created the foundation in 1931, it has given more than $45 million and over 3,200 scholarships and has funded other educational and community programs to support Black Coloradans. In addition to undergraduate support, the Sachs Foundation provides graduate funding to remove financial barriers that limit opportunity for students pursuing leadership roles where Black professionals are historically underrepresented, such as medicine, law, education and international policy. Through its Sachs Elevated Program and Teacher Development Program, the foundation also funds youth mentoring and the training and recruitment of Black educators.

The Sachs Foundation Scholarship is open to Black Colorado residents each year from January 1 to March 15. The foundation encourages eligible students and their families to apply at sachsfoundation.org/#scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, financial need and character. Learn more about ways to support the foundation’s work through donations or partnerships at sachsfoundation.org/donate or reaching out to katie@sachsfoundation.org.

Colorado Springs, May 29, 2024—In light of recent events surrounding the decision by the El Paso County Board of Commissioners to withhold funding from Peak Education, a member organization of the Pikes Peak College Access Partnership (PPCAP), we feel compelled to address the concerns raised and reaffirm our collective stance on supporting educational opportunity and economic empowerment for underserved students.

PPCAP was established in the Fall of 2021 to enhance college access and support for all students in the Pikes Peak region. Our partnership, comprised of a collective of eight educational nonprofit organizations, extends reach and impact beyond individual program boundaries to strengthen the college access and counseling network throughout the Pikes Peak region.

The Board of Commissioners’ decision to reduce Peak Education’s funding comes at the expense of students in need. It is important to clarify that our partnership does not endorse racism, as Commissioner Geitner suggested at a recent board meeting. Rather, we recognize the systemic inequalities within our current education system, provide a more robust college access safety net, and advocate for lawmakers to address the systemic barriers that disproportionately affect underserved youth.

The Pikes Peak College Access Partnership serves a diverse student population of 873 students and families, with a commitment to providing equal opportunities for all students. Many of the low-income students we serve consist of families from historically marginalized communities. Our collaborative efforts aim to support underserved students and promote positive educational outcomes for all. In doing this work, addressing historical injustices, and dismantling systemic barriers that impede underrepresented students’ access to higher education are essential for progress towards policies and systems that support educational equity.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to championing policies that acknowledge the ongoing effects of systemic racism in higher education access. We urge policymakers and stakeholders to reject regressive efforts that favor partisanship over community and to support collaborative efforts like ours that empower and uplift marginalized communities through positive educational outcomes and economic opportunity. Together, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape where college is accessible, attainable, and affordable for all students in the Pikes Peak region.

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact us at (719) 633-2353 or email Anna Taniguchi, Director of External Relations, at anna@sachsfoundation.org.

The Sachs Foundation is dedicated to sharing the stories of Black Coloradans year-round. This Black History Month, our Chief Operations Officer, Pamela, sat down with our partners at MENTOR Colorado to share insights on creating equitable and inclusive programming.

The Sachs Foundation is a MENTOR Colorado Partner. We collaborate to make Colorado a place where everyone has the supportive relationships they need to grow, connect, and thrive.