Jason Medina is a man on a mission.
As a fourth-generation San Luis Valley native, Medina intimately understands his home region’s rich cultural landscape. This is why, despite being recognized as one of Colorado’s most socio-economically challenged areas, Medina has made it his purpose to change the way people perceive his home region.
“We are very rich here — we just don’t have money,” says Medina, paraphrasing a quote he attributes to his longtime friend, Aaron Miltenberger, president & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley.
As the first, full-time executive director of the Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley, Medina is dedicated to transforming challenges into opportunities by connecting resources, empowering rural nonprofits, and amplifying voices that have long been overlooked.
From an early age, Medina was exposed to service. His mother, who was a social worker, and his father, a firefighter, inspired him to pursue a life of service.
“They have always been very service-oriented in everything they did,” said Medina. “Growing up, I knew that it was kind of my duty to follow those footsteps and help people as much as I could.”
This strong foundation would serve Medina as he took on the unique challenges of rural philanthropic work. Since being named the executive director in early 2023, Medina has been challenged with the immediate task of building funding to sustain the foundation’s work. His strategy for this has been to foster relationships, build trust, and make the case for his community to potential funders across the state.
Fortunately, Medina and his team’s efforts have paid off. With support from statewide partners like the Colorado Health Foundation, the Boettcher Foundation, and various anonymous donors, the organization has secured significant financial support. These contributions support and expand the essential work of more than 300 nonprofits across the Valley’s six counties, many of which operate on small budgets and in non-traditional ways.
“A lot of nonprofits are very small and are actually run on a kitchen table or in somebody’s basement,” Medina said.
In his role, Medina has been able to highlight the Valley’s unique strengths, even in the face of economic hardship. He sees the Valley as rich in history, culture, and agricultural potential, yet constrained by limited resources.
Rural communities within the San Luis Valley often face challenges such as limited access to health care, childcare, and fresh produce. Meeting residents’ needs can be difficult, but these challenges have only fueled Medina’s resolve to serve the community he calls home.
The community foundation acts as a vital bridge, connecting rural nonprofits with essential financial resources and skills. By collaborating with the Rural Funders Learning Network, an initiative of Philanthropy Colorado, the foundation facilitates a deeper understanding of community challenges, paving the way for more responsive and equitable philanthropy in Colorado’s rural areas. This partnership allows funders to learn from the community and understand its unique challenges, creating pathways for more responsive, equitable philanthropy.
Another unique and innovative success of the community foundation has been supporting the creation of a local mushroom cooperative. When the Valley’s only mushroom farm closed, hundreds were left unemployed, many of whom were migrant workers who faced language barriers. With support from multiple funders and community organizers, Medina played a key role in launching the Sand Dunes Mushroom Cooperative. The cooperative enables workers formerly employed at the mushroom farm to apply their skills, gain a sustainable livelihood, and experience a new sense of empowerment.
“These families don’t have to wait for a savior,” said Medina. “They are part of a solution they created themselves.”
This grassroots approach is a key principle of Medina’s work. Under his leadership, the foundation has engaged in numerous collaborations and has worked to build and mend relationships across the community. From veterans programs that connect with young people and schools to the Boys and Girls Club branching into youth entrepreneurship, the foundation is fostering a culture of collaboration that amplifies the work of every organization in the Valley.
Medina, who is in the 2024-25 cohort of the Boettcher’s Doers & Difference Makers Fellowship, acknowledges his participation in the program as both an honor and an opportunity to expand his impact.
“This fellowship is not just about making one person better,” said Medina. “It’s about strengthening communities and the state as a whole.”
Through the fellowship, Medina has found a supportive community that shares his vision and values, and he is looking forward to helping guide future leaders from his community into the program to continue the impact.
“Our community deserves to thrive,” said Medina. “We don’t want to be defined by our lack of resources. We want to be recognized for our culture, our history, and our determination to create a better future.”
When it comes to community support and resilience, the resources are abundant, and the possibilities are endless for the San Luis Valley.
That’s the spirit of Boettcher.
