Golden Civic Foundation

Background Statement

The Golden Civic Foundation (GCF) began when several business owners came together in the late 1960s to address concerns about the depressed economy in downtown Golden. Vacant storefronts and blight made it difficult for small business owners to attract customers, and these business owners believed this town had much greater potential. They chose to invest in stimulating the downtown economy by establishing a nonprofit organization that could assist local businesses through small business loans. Business loans were used to purchase buildings, clean up vacant parking lots, and support small businesses to stay afloat. Over time, the work expanded to include supporting nonprofits and schools through grants, and the development of activities to promote positive civic engagement.

Since its founding in 1970, GCF has played a significant role in nearly every facet of Golden. When you walk around Golden today, you see evidence of our support through public art, thriving businesses, renovated buildings, and strong nonprofit organizations and schools. Through our grants and loans, GCF has invested over $19 million in Golden because of the generosity of the community. GCF also supports civic engagement, community building, and strives to ensure that the community maintains its special, one-of-a-kind character. Our work has varied and adapted over time, ranging from one-time capital investments to providing swift emergency loans during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many projects in between.

We aim to be here for as long as Golden is here. Together, we can deepen our impact in Golden, and we can secure a bright future for those generations who will come after us.