Photo by AJ Canaria.

Since our inception, Greenhouse has been lucky enough to receive generous donations from organizations and individuals alike. Few, though, have been as significant as our latest investment. 

Greenhouse recently received a $250k gift from The Reisher Foundation, one of the largest in our organization’s 20-year history.  For us, this investment represents so much more than a financial milestone. It’s a vote of confidence in our Scholars, our Community Change Model, and our mission to create a global community of change makers.

The Reisher Foundation is best known for the Reisher Scholars Program, a Colorado-based initiative that’s quickly becoming one of the largest private scholarship providers in the state. They’ve distributed more than $40 million in need-based and merit-based aid since 2001, and, like Greenhouse, many of the youth they support are first-generation college students.

Whole Person College Program Director Jacob Sorum represented Greenhouse at this year’s Reisher Scholar’s program retreat, a two-day event for local leaders in educational equity.

“I loved being surrounded with leaders in the education space across Colorado, discussing how we can better achieve our missions and collective goal of making higher education accessible for all Colorado students.”

Jacob Sorum, Whole Person College Program Director

Sorum and other attendees exchanged a variety of ideas and best practices. Notably, they discussed ways to leverage university partnerships, understand workforce trends, and provide innovative pathways to long-term success.

Recent, sweeping financial aid policy changes have created additional barriers for many of our Scholars. Greenhouse scholarships and Flex Funding (special grants for school equipment purchases, unpaid internship stipends, etc.) help to lessen financial hurdles. In 2024 alone, Greenhouse distributed more than $342k scholarship awards and $133k in Flex Funding grants.

Thanks to this $250k cash infusion, as well as potential Reisher Scholarship awards, Greenhouse is better-equipped to absorb creeping costs and continue to provide world-class programs for Scholars and Alumni alike.

Opportunities for Scholars

Reisher Scholarships are now available for Greenhouse Scholars who are currently attending, or plan to attend, the following in-state institutions. Among other requirements, applicants must be Colorado residents, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and be working towards their first four-year degree.

Click any of the logos below to access school-specific applications.


Colorado Mesa University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University Pueblo

Fort Lewis College
Metropolitan State University of Denver
University of Colorado Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Denver
University of Northern Colorado
Western Colorado University

More from Greenhouse:

Stay in Touch