Summary
Organization name
Lockwood Foundation
2018
Tax id (EIN)
37-1881911
Category
Recreation & Sports
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
17301 W Colfax Ave #412Golden, CO 80401
CO, US
The Lockwood Foundation exists to ensure that every person, regardless of physical ability, can experience the joy, freedom, and belonging found in the outdoors. We are a Colorado-based nonprofit that opens the trails—and the world—to children, adults, veterans, and families living with mobility challenges. Through adaptive equipment, trained volunteer teams, inclusive programming, and an unshakable commitment to belonging, we make it possible for athletes and adventurers of all abilities to explore mountains, forests, parks, and snow-covered trails that would otherwise be out of reach.
Our work began with a simple, powerful act of love. When founder Jeffrey Lockwood became a caregiver for a person with mobility disabilities, he discovered that traditional outdoor spaces were often inaccessible—physically and socially. He believed the outdoors should belong to everyone. That belief became a movement.
Today, The Lockwood Foundation is recognized across the region for transforming lives through adaptive adventure. Our signature program, Trails of Hope, mobilizes a dedicated community of volunteers who guide adaptive athletes on trail hikes, mountain summits, seasonal hut trips, and safe winter expeditions. These experiences are far more than recreation—they build confidence, connection, family memories, and a profound sense of possibility.
Each adventure is powered by a trained volunteer team and adaptive trail wheelchairs capable of navigating rugged terrain. We provide everything at no cost to participants, because the ability to explore and belong should never depend on someone’s finances.
But the Lockwood Foundation is more than a series of expeditions. We are building an ecosystem of inclusion:
Youth programming that introduces young people to the outdoors and teaches them compassion, leadership, and service.
Veteran-inclusive adventures that support connection, healing, and purpose for those who have served.
Family-centered events that remove barriers and allow families to share meaningful outdoor experiences together.
Adaptive Equipment Redesign initiatives—including our Adaptive Trail Wheelchair Redesign Project—that ensure mobility devices evolve with direct input from the people who use them.
Every mile we travel and every summit we reach is the result of community. Hundreds of volunteers give their strength, time, and heart so that others can experience the independence and empowerment that many take for granted. Participants often describe these moments as life-changing. Parents say they “finally feel seen.” Volunteers tell us they discover meaning and purpose on the trail. Families call these shared adventures “the best days of our lives.”
The Lockwood Foundation is committed to safety, community, dignity, and inclusion. We believe the outdoors is not a luxury—it is a human right. It is a place where people build confidence, connect with others, and find hope.
Your support through Colorado Gives helps us:
Expand year-round Trails of Hope programming
Train and equip more volunteer teams
Provide additional adaptive equipment for athletes and families
Bring more veterans and people with disabilities onto the trails
Continue our innovation in adaptive mobility equipment
When you give, you’re not just funding a program—you’re opening a world of possibility. You’re giving someone the chance to say:
“I can do this. And I belong here.”
Thank you for building a more inclusive, connected, and compassionate Colorado—one trail, one athlete, and one extraordinary step at a time.
Mission
Our mission is to create life-changing opportunities for people with limited mobility to explore trails and mountains once thought impossible.
Background Statement
At The Lockwood Foundation, we envision a world where limited mobility is never a barrier to exploring the mountains. Using adaptive gear, a committed volunteer community, and continuous innovation, we open new routes where none existed—and ensure that every athlete can say, “I belong out here.”
In January 2018, founder Jeffrey Lockwood launched The Lockwood Foundation with a bold, simple belief: mountaineering should be for everyone. He saw that with human-powered adaptive equipment and a compassionate, well-trained team, people with mobility challenges could achieve what many assumed impossible.
Our early seasons were spent fundraising, building community, and testing new frontiers—first in 4×4 terrain, then through small social hikes as we learned what was possible. In early 2019, we purchased our first TrailRider, a single-wheel, human-powered adaptive chair capable of traversing rugged Colorado trails. What followed changed the landscape of adaptive recreation in Colorado.
By 2020, our volunteer team helped Zara summit Mt. Elbert, the highest point in the state—possibly the first wheelchair user ever to reach the peak. In 2021, Christine followed with her own historic climb. Each season brought new breakthroughs and opened doors for more families and athletes who had long been excluded from mountain access. Since then, we have hosted dozens of adaptive hikes across Colorado—from Boulder and Denver to Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and the surrounding foothills—each one powered by volunteers who show up with strength, skill, and heart.
Today, we operate with a fleet of TrailRiders, winter ski adaptive equipment, a rapidly growing volunteer network, and an expanding suite of programs designed to welcome youth, veterans, families, and adaptive athletes into the outdoors.
2024 marked a transformational chapter. A series of high-visibility climbs, powerful participant stories, and widespread media coverage brought unprecedented exposure to our mission. Requests for programming surged—not only from families and adaptive athletes, but also from schools, youth programs, and veteran-serving organizations across Colorado. For the first time, our demand outpaced our capacity, revealing an urgent and statewide need for accessible outdoor experiences.
To meet this momentum, The Lockwood Foundation is entering its most ambitious growth phase.
In 2025, we expanded in four critical directions:
• In Fall 2025, we opened our Community Hub & Learning Center: Providing hands-on adaptive skills training, volunteer instruction, family workshops, and inclusive community events that strengthen confidence and connection.
• Southern Colorado programs: including adaptive hikes, beginner-friendly outings, and community-centered events in regions where mobility-inclusive recreation options are extremely limited.
• Increased youth programming: giving young people—especially those living with disabilities or facing barriers to outdoor access—opportunities for leadership, confidence building, and nature-based experiences.
• Enhanced veteran outreach: recognizing the profound healing, purpose, and camaraderie that adaptive outdoor adventure can provide for those who have served.
From a single TrailRider and a bold idea in 2018 to a statewide movement in 2024–2025, The Lockwood Foundation continues to grow because the need is great, the community is strong, and the mission is deeply human.
We are not just helping people reach trailheads and summits.
We are building belonging, one extraordinary step at a time.
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Organization Data
Golden, CO 80401