HMI Receives $75,000 Challenge Grant from Gates Family Foundation

HMI Receives $75,000 Challenge Grant from Gates Family Foundation

September 19, 2008 6:11 pm

The grant is contingent on HMI raising $815,000 for capital projects as a part of Our Campaign for Sustainability by September, 2009.

With this challenge gift, the High Mountain Institute has secured over 1.4 million dollars in pledges, gifts, and challenges toward Our Campaign for Sustainability. The campaign includes funding for both capital projects
and endowment. To date, HMI has reached 84% of our 1.7 million dollar goal.

HMI's Executive Director Christopher Barnes said that the Gates gift shows extraordinary faith in the mission of HMI and its community of supporters.

"We are thrilled to have the support of the Gates Family Foundation. With its gift, the foundation has issued a challenge to all members of the High Mountain Institute community:  over the next twelve months, we
will complete raising the $815,000 needed to meet the Gates Family Foundation challenge because we know how much the High Mountain Institute has meant to our alumni and their families. This is the time to give back to HMI."

Kate Bartlett, HMI's Director of Advancement, said the gift proves that the impact of the High Mountain Institute reaches far beyond our community of students and alumni.

"The Gates Family Foundation has a demonstrated commitment to education, and to organizations that will prepare young adults to be thoughtful and effective citizens. The gift demonstrates a belief that Colorado-and, indeed, even a small, rural town like Leadville-can be a key player in the national experiential education movement, and that organizations like the High Mountain Institute can lead the way," said Bartlett.

The Gates Family Foundation is located in Denver. Last year, the foundation awarded $10,421,265 in grants to 88 nonprofits, half of which are located in the greater Denver area and half outside the Metro region.

Click here for more information on the Gates Family Foundation.

To learn more about HMI's Our Campaign for Sustainability or to contribute to the campaign, visit http://www.hminet.org/alumni/ocs.