Mateo's Giving Project Fundraiser

Why Give?

My name is Mateo Manuel Vela, and I am a first generation Latinx educator, spoken word artist, & community organizer from Southwest Denver.  This Spring, I will be fundraising for the Chinook Fund Giving Project, a collective mobilizing resources for grassroots social justice organizations across Colorado.

I joined this year’s Giving Circle because I believe fundraising is organizing.  In the face of federal funding cuts and political attacks on BIPOC communities, I believe it is on the people to organize our money & push for the solutions we want to see in the world.  Now is the time to show up with our dollars to sustain the initiatives doing vital work in our communities.

I’m committed to raising $1,500—join me with a gift of $5, $25, $50, $100, or more. Every contribution directly supports grassroots organizations building a better future in Colorado.

Past grantees include the Globeville-Elyria Community Investment Fund in Denver, which funds community-led projects for generational wellbeing, and El Movimiento Sigue in Pueblo, advancing Chicano empowerment through storytelling and media—as well as many more.

Since 1987, Chinook Fund has distributed over $5 million to grassroots groups advancing racial, economic, immigrant, disability, and LGBTQ+ justice.  Learn more about Chinook.