By Kristin Todd, President and CEO, NoCo Foundation 

What makes someone a philanthropist? 

For some, the word may bring to mind a major gift, a family foundation, or a name on a building. Those are meaningful expressions of generosity. But philanthropy often begins somewhere much closer to home: with the values we learn from our families, the needs we notice around us, and the decision to offer what we can. 

That is the story Ginger Graham shares in a recent episode of NoCo Voices, conversations with neighbors strengthening Northern Colorado. 

Ginger's professional journey has been remarkable. She grew up on a family farm in Arkansas, built a career across agriculture and health care, led biotechnology and medical-device companies, taught at Harvard Business School, and became a passionate advocate for women's leadership and women's health. She later brought that experience, and a deeply personal love of food and hospitality, to the restoration of a historic Fort Collins grain mill and the creation of Ginger and Baker. 

Yet the thread connecting those chapters is surprisingly simple: work hard and help others. 

The People Who Show Us How to Give 

Long before philanthropy became something Ginger could practice through charitable funds or community partnerships, it was something she witnessed. Her parents worked hard, cared for their neighbors, and taught their children to do the same. Her mother, Earlene, expressed that care through baking and hospitality, creating the kind of kitchen where food, family, friendship, and generosity naturally came together. 

Those early examples matter. Many of us learn generosity before we have language for it. We see a parent prepare food for someone going through a difficult time. We watch a neighbor step in without being asked. We experience the welcome of a table where there is always room for one more person. 

Philanthropy grows from these everyday choices. Over time, it may take new forms, but its roots often remain the same. 

A Business Can Create Belonging 

Ginger and Baker is often described as a food hub, bakery, restaurant, and event destination. It is all of those things. It is also an investment in place. 

By restoring a historic mill and filling it with food, classes, celebrations, and conversation, Ginger helped preserve part of Fort Collins' story while creating a place where new relationships could form. That sense of connection is not incidental to the business; it is part of its purpose. 

Perhaps that is why, despite an extraordinary résumé, Ginger can still be found working behind the bakery counter and talking with customers. Staying close to people keeps generosity personal. It reminds us that community is built through presence as much as through programs. 

Giving With Intention 

Ginger and her husband, Jack, also use a donor advised fund at the NoCo Foundation to organize and guide their charitable giving. A donor advised fund offers flexibility; donors contribute to one charitable fund, then recommend grants to nonprofit organizations over time. It can help individuals and families respond to immediate needs while also thinking carefully about the impact they hope to make in the years ahead. 

The vehicle is useful, but the values behind it are what give it meaning. Thoughtful philanthropy begins by asking questions: What do we care about? Where can our support make a difference? What have we learned from the people closest to an issue? How might our time, experience, voice, or relationships strengthen the financial contribution we make? 

There Is No Single Way to Be Generous 

At the NoCo Foundation, we believe philanthropy belongs to everyone. It is not defined by the size of a bank account or reserved for a particular stage of life. 

You can volunteer. Mentor someone. Introduce two people who should know each other. Serve on a board. Shop locally. Share professional expertise. Support a cause with a recurring gift that fits your budget. Ask a nonprofit what it needs most and listen carefully to the answer. 

The most meaningful place to begin is often with something you already care about. Generosity becomes sustainable when it reflects who we are, what we value, and how we hope our community will grow. 

Ginger's story reminds us that a life of impact is built across many moments: a lesson carried forward from childhood, a door opened for another leader, an investment in a place, a grant to a trusted organization, or a conversation shared across a bakery counter. 

Each act may look different. Together, they create a culture of care. 

Listen to the Conversation 

Listen to "Pie, Purpose, and Philanthropy: Ginger Graham on Giving Back" on NoCo Voices to hear Ginger reflect on the people and values that shaped her, the many forms philanthropy can take, and how each of us can make an impact in our own way. 

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