Community Investment Fund
Round up your on-campus purchase to support our neighbors!
The National Western Center Community Investment Fund is a dedicated resource to support and strengthen the neighborhoods surrounding the campus – Globeville Elyria and Swansea. Funds are collected primarily through round-ups at points of sale and donated to the Globeville, Elyria, Swansea Community Investment Fund (GES CIF), which is governed and managed by community members. Grants are donated from the GES CIF to local organizations and projects that advance community priorities such as education, workforce development, health, culture, and small business growth. The goal is to ensure the benefits of the National Western Center extend well beyond its boundaries, creating lasting, positive impact for North Denver residents.
Authority CIF contributions to-date:
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- May 2023: $400,000 grant for technical assistance
- July 2023: $86,000 unrestricted 1-year grant
- July 2024: $90,000 unrestricted 1-year grant
- July 2025: $196,000 unrestricted 1-year grant
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About the Fund
In 2017, as part of formalizing their partnership, the National Western Center partners agreed to create a fund that would benefit the local communities of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea. Proceeds for the fund are funded — at least in part — by offering retail customers an opportunity to “round up” their purchase at the center.
The 2022 National Western Stock Show marked the debut of the first new buildings at the National Western Center and the first use of the “round up” to benefit the Community Investment Fund.
Fund Leadership
In 2022 then Denver City Council members Candi CdeBaca and Debbie Ortega appointed a group of community members to explore possibilities for the fund. This Community Investment Fund Committee established a committee to provide oversight and structure for the fund, identify how dollars are distributed in the community, and explore other potential sources of revenue. The National Western Center Authority Board’s Community Benefits Committee is supporting this community-led effort.
The Globeville, Elyria, Swansea Community Investment Fund (GES CIF)
The Globeville, Elyria, Swansea Community Investment Fund (GES CIF) supports people impacted by harmful policies by funding community projects that help build healthy, thriving neighborhoods for generations to come.
