Our Team

About Sarah

Sarah Kurz, CO-Chair, is Chief Impact Officer at Rose Community Foundation, where she oversees discretionary grantmaking and policy and advocacy work for the Denver-based institution. Previously, Kurz has served as vice president of operations and strategy for LiveWell Colorado, director of strategic marketing for the City and County of Denver, and as a principal at SE2, providing communications consulting and public policy guidance to a diverse group of nonprofit, foundation, government and private-sector clients. She was a member of the Denver Metro Chamber’s Leadership Denver class of 2020 and the 2008 Impact Denver class. She served as a board member for the New America School for six years and was a mayoral-appointed member of the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs for nine years. She is a Denver native and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University.

About Tom

Tom Gougeon, CO-Chair,is the President of the Gates Family Foundation. He was previously a Principal and Chief Development Officer for Continuum Partners, a developer of mixed-use real estate projects. His prior experience also includes leading a charitable foundation, serving as CEO of the Stapleton Redevelopment Foundation, and working for eight years in the Denver Mayor’s Office.

Tom has served on numerous boards focused on housing, land conservation, and urban redevelopment, chairing organizations like The Nature Conservancy and the Urban Land Conservancy. He is currently a Commissioner of the Denver Water Board and serves on several other boards, including Gary Community Investment/the Piton Foundation. Tom holds a BA from the University of Denver and an MCRP from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

About Teresa

Teresa Gorman is Associate Director for the Public Square program at Democracy Fund, an independent and nonpartisan, private foundation that envision an open and just democracy that is resilient in the face of change and worthy of the American people’s trust. The Public Square Program works to ensure that all people have access to the news and information they need to engage in civic life and use their voices without fear of being harassed, silenced or ignored. This includes the foundation’s efforts to support resilient and sustainable local news ecosystems, more equitable newsrooms, press freedom, and digital spaces that advance democracy, not hate. Teresa manages press freedom and local ecosystem news funding portfolios, which support local news ecosystems in North Carolina, New Jersey, Chicago, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado. She serves on the advisory boards of the NC Local News Lab Fund, Colorado Media Project, and NJ Local News Lab Fund, and on the board of the American Journalism Project.  

About Latia

Latia Henderson is Director of Strategic Communications and Informed Communities for the Gates Family Foundation.

Latia is a strategic communications, marketing, events, and public relations expert with nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management. Born and raised in Colorado, she brings a deep understanding of the region and a wealth of expertise in developing and executing strategic communications, excelling in storytelling, brand development, digital strategy, media relations, and community engagement. 

Latia’s experience includes providing strategic direction and amplifying mission-driven initiatives. Most recently, Latia served as the Chief Engagement Officer for Denver Families for Public Schools. Before joining Denver Families, Latia worked for Denver Scholarship Foundation, Young Americans Center for Financial Education, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and Community Resource Center.

She holds various leadership positions, including serving as the founding board chair of Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado, and is a member of The Communications Network’s local Denver chapter. Latia is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, a Daniels Fund Scholar, and a magna cum laude graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and a minor in Business Administration.

About David

David Proper is senior communications officer for The Colorado Health Foundation.

David brings a vast background in mission-oriented communications to the Foundation. Throughout his career, he has honed his skills in effectively delivering messages that resonate with diverse audiences, aligning them with the vision and purpose of the organizations he serves.

David moved to Denver from Upstate New York. He grew up in an area of continued disinvestment and at a young age saw that not everybody has access to the same opportunities. Resultantly, his personal mission became creating safer and more equitable communities for all. In line with this mission, he has held positions with nonprofit organizations focused on eliminating oppression and promoting justice. Most recently, he oversaw communications and development for The Blue Bench, a nonprofit organization committed to ending sexual violence. Aside from his communications work, David enjoys sharing his expertise with others by regularly teaching at local colleges and always jumps at the chance to mentor less-seasoned nonprofit communicators. 

David is a news enthusiast and spends the start of every day catching up on news articles and staying updated on the latest political developments. His dedication to his personal mission extends beyond his professional life—he actively seeks opportunities to make a positive impact on his community by volunteering to support causes he deeply believes in. When he’s not reading, writing or designing, he finds solace and joy in spending quality time with his beloved dog (Eleanor, a small but mighty shih tzu/poodle mix) and partner, enjoying what he calls “trash TV,” or relishing one of Colorado’s many natural attractions. A self-described pizza aficionado, he’s also always on the hunt for pizza in Denver that is as good as the pies from his hometown.