Celebrating Our 2025 Fall Nonprofit Grant Winners

Twice a year, we have the privilege of partnering with outstanding nonprofit organizations that dedicate themselves to helping financially disadvantaged students pursue their dreams. This fall, we proudly awarded over $50,000 in grants to four remarkable organizations: Impact on Education, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation, the Five Star Education Foundation, and Collegiate Crossings. These grants will directly support their missions to provide over 250 students with the resources and opportunities needed to access and succeed in skill-based career paths that matter.

This post highlights the work of each nonprofit, the impact these grants will have, and why supporting skill-based education is vital for students facing financial challenges.

Students participating in a skills-based career workshop

Impact on Education: Building Foundations for Future Careers

Supporting the Boulder Valley School District, Impact on Education focuses on creating pathways for students to gain practical skills that lead to meaningful employment through CTE courses at Apex, Boulder Valley School District’s Career and Technical Education Center. Their programs emphasize hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experience in fields such as manufacturing, technology, and healthcare.

The grant awarded to Impact on Education will fund nearly 70 students, providing funding for required items such as tools, uniforms, consumable supplies, lab supplies, and personal protective equipment.

By investing in these areas, Impact on Education helps students across Boulder Valley overcome financial barriers and prepares them for careers that offer stability and growth.

St Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation: Supporting Students in Our Community

The St Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation works within the SVVSD school district to provide resources that enhance educational opportunities for students from low-income families. Their focus includes funding for Career Elevation and Technology Center (CETC) programs, which equip students with skills in areas like information technology, automotive repair, and culinary arts.

With the grant funds, the foundation will support 100 students through microgrants to purchase tools and materials needed for hands-on learning such as scrubs, chef’s knives, stethoscopes and lab supplies, and personal protective equipment.

The grant will also fund:

• Expand awareness and access to families of CTE programs in SVVSD

• Offer career counseling and industry mentoring to help students plan their futures

  
  

This support is crucial because many students face financial obstacles that limit their ability to participate fully in these programs. A 2024 BPI grant winner, the foundation’s efforts have already helped nearly 70 students, demonstrating great impact in helping students stay on track in a skills-based education.

The Five Star Foundation: Empowering Students Through the FutureForward program

The Five Star Education Foundation works closely with the Adams 12 Five Star Schools by forging partnerships and raising money to invest in student success. In collaboration with the district and business community, they fund the FutureForward program that inclusively prepare students for a variety of options after high school, ranging from post-secondary education to directly entering the workforce or military. Their approach combines financial support with guidance from professionals who help students navigate educational and career challenges.

The grant will enable the foundation to eliminate the costs of fees, materials, and tuition for nearly 70 financially disadvantaged students in the FutureForward program.

Students in FutureForward:

• Explore opportunities that prepare them for high-demand careers and give them an edge entering college.

• Engage in authentic, hands-on learning.

• Equip themselves with relevant, rigorous and practical skills.

These initiatives help students stay motivated and focused on their goals.

Collegiate Crossings: Guiding Foster Students Toward Career Success

Collegiate Crossings provides career coaching and support services to students, especially those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and foster youth. Their mission is to help students identify their strengths, explore career options, and eliminate the barriers to skills needed to succeed in the workforce.

The challenges facing young adults aging out of the foster care system are significant from living independently to navigating financial aid and education options. The grant will pay extraordinary costs for 20 foster youth, age 17-19-years-old, enrolled in CTE courses at Colorado community colleges or technical schools.

• Career assessment tools and personalized coaching sessions

• Workshops on resume writing, interview skills, and job searching

• Support in completing applications, financial aid requests, acquiring needed essential materials and tools

  
  

By focusing on career readiness, Collegiate Crossings helps students transition from the foster system to education to employment. Their programs have helped hundreds of students find meaningful work, reducing the financial stress that often accompanies the job search process.

Why Supporting Skill-Based Careers Matters

Many students from low-income families face barriers that make traditional college paths difficult to pursue. Skill-based careers offer an alternative route to financial independence and personal fulfillment. These careers often require less time and money to enter, provide hands-on learning, and lead to jobs in high-demand fields; all without the burden of debt.

Supporting nonprofits that focus on these pathways ensures that students have access to:

• Affordable training and certifications

• Mentorship and career guidance

• Real-world experience through internships and apprenticeships

  
  

This support creates a stronger, more inclusive workforce and helps break cycles of poverty by opening doors to stable, well-paying jobs.

How You Can Help

The success of these nonprofits depends on community support. You can contribute by:

• Donating to BPI or organizations that support skill-based education

• Volunteering your time or expertise as a mentor or workshop leader

• Advocating for policies that increase funding for career and technical education

  
  

Every effort counts in helping students overcome financial challenges and achieve their career goals.