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…
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,…
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…
The Pianos About Town program brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins. Donated pianos are transformed into a…
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…
Moving is hard. Moving across states as a young adult is even harder. Rebekah Lwanga, a 19-year-old self-taught artist, moved to Colorado from Southern California at the age of 14. “I remember moving from California and feeling very disconnected,” said Lwanga. “California was an incredibly vibrant place to grow up, and I felt a great…
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 as part of the program’s 2024 painting season. A cohort of 12 artists or artist teams were selected by the City of Fort Collins Art in Public…
Centering youth voice is a critical component of Give Next, a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students in Larimer County. Since 2021, The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) has done just that, by providing a student perspective on the Give Next curriculum. What is YAC? YAC was created as one way Give…
It’s the season of giving thanks, and Give Next wants to recognize the nonprofits who play a vital role in Give Next. Give Next is a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students in Larimer County. We are grateful for the time, effort and expertise these nonprofits provide. For youth participating in…
Painting a piano is personal for Fort Collins artist and teacher Natalia Popham. Natalia is painting a piano through Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, Colorado. Taking inspiration from Greek pottery, the main features of Natalia’s design follow the Greek myth of Orpheus…