Philanthropiece is a non-profit organization based in Longmont, CO, with additional branches in Quiche, Guatemala, and Baja California Sur, México. We accompany local leaders as they create programs, initiatives, and partnerships that improve their communities.
Our Timeline
Philanthropiece, a private operating foundation, was originally founded in 1987 by social entrepreneur and humanitarian, Libby Cook. In 2006, Libby shifted the foundation’s purpose to reflect a more global perspective, and Philanthropiece began the journey of “piecing together a better world” that it continues today.

We held our inaugural Philanthropiece Advisory Board meeting.

Our courageous and compassionate leaders, Libby Cook and Joanie Knudson, tie the knot, reminding us all of the power of love, commitment, and unity!

Filantropis ONG is founded, creating a Guatemala-based non-profit organization that is fully operated by a local team in Chajul!

Philanthropiece A.C. is founded, now it’s the team in México’s turn!

We commit to becoming an organization that is based upon the values of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, celebration, and integrity!
Our Approach
Cultivate
Co-Create
Sustain

We enter with humility and an openness to learn. Cultivating relationships allows us to understand the power, as well as the needs, of an individual or a community. In this phase of our approach, we build relationships over coffee and via participation, we grow our understanding of a theme or an issue via research and dialogue, we show up and stand alongside those whom we hope to accompany, and we offer initial resources.

We believe in the power of an individual or small group to make big change. And we know that at times all that is needed is a spark, a supportive hand, or a few nudges to create it. In our co-creating state, we collaboratively design a working agreement and commit to dedication of time and resources to develop the mission, approach, strategy, and sustainability plan of an organization, initiative, or movement.

We recognize that real change doesn’t happen in a month or a year. That’s why we commit to the long haul. Our work in Guatemala and Mexico started by listening to local leaders and learning about their community’s assets and needs. From there, projects turned into programs, and programs turned into autonomous organizations. While the Philanthropiece family is closely tied, the work across borders is directed by local teams.

A LETTER FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS
The Philanthropiece Story
The previous founders’ story talked about us being “engaged in community empowerment and development work.” Empowerment and community development were trendy words back then. These days we shy away from the word “empowerment” because our work has challenged our ways of thinking about—and seeing—power and privilege.
And “development”? Well, since our last writing, we have offered financial literacy tools to more than 2000 savings groups members in Baja California Sur, Mexico; we have opened access to university scholarships and personal and professional development trainings to over 40 Mayan youth; we have mentored dozens of indigenous social enterprises in Guatemala; and we have inspired more than 50 youth in Colorado to become leaders dedicated to social justice and equity, just to list a few things. While that all certainly can fall under a general definition of development, over the years we have come to prefer the word “collaboration.” [story continues below…]
What we once called the Community Banks Program is now Philanthropiece Pedazo por Pedazo un Mundo Mejor, a Mexican Asociación Civil. The Philanthropiece Scholars Program is now the Filantropis ONG, a Guatemalan non-profit organization. Both of these organizations, while a part of the Philanthropiece family, are autonomous organizations that are working toward their own sustainability.
Along the way we have strived to be open to learning, growing, and sometimes making mistakes. Today the Philanthropiece family has grown to an incredible team of over 30 of the most dynamic, passionate humans the world has to offer.
While we still fortunately spend a lot of our days Skyping and chatting with our Mexico and Guatemala teams, our focus locally has drawn more inward, toward our own organization and our own neighborhoods. At a time when our communities have become more divided than ever, we ask ourselves, “What do we stand for?” and “Who do we stand with?” We move humbly into this work, awake to the magnitude of the challenge. Our work still centers around catalyzing local leaders to create the positive social change that they feel is most needed in themselves and in their communities. That starts within.
Community will always remain at the heart of what we love and what we do at Philanthropiece. It is a part of who we are. Creating community, being passionate, doing good work, and having fun. That’s the Philanthropiece ethos.
Yours in piecing together a better world,
Elizabeth C. Cook and Joan M. Knudson
Co-Chairs, Philanthropiece Foundation Board of Directors
Our Team

Based in Tucson, Alicia is currently a Master of Social Work student. She has a background in restorative justice, positive youth development, and youth mental health, and has worked with nonprofits in the United States and in Latin America. Alicia believes that human relationships are a powerful vehicle for change; she is humbled by Philanthropiece’s dedication to building relationships across borders, generations, cultures, and beyond. When she's not studying, you can find her playing soccer, writing in her journal, and spending time with friends in the desert Southwest.



JD (he/him/his) joined Philanthropiece in 2019 as the Local Initiatives Intern and has
brought with him creativity the size of an elementary school and a burning passion to fight for
social justice and equitable living for all creatures on this planet. JD is originally from Texas,
moved up to Boulder in 2016 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and plans to
tackle Veterinary school shortly after he graduates from CU Boulder.
When he is not studying or working for Philanthropiece you can find JD out on the
basketball court, listening to or creating music, or at home relaxing with his wife, Kiara, Husky-
Mountain Bernese mix puppy, Sonny, and their bunny Thumper. JD plans to incorporate his
creativity, passion for equality and equity, and marketing expertise to develop a network of
human beings driven to fight for each other’s betterment and who plan to turn this world on its
head.
A quote that inspires JD to keep pursuing this work comes from none other than the
Tupac Shakur: “I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the
brain that will change the world”
















Now, as a recent high school graduate, Boettcher Scholar, and graphic design student at CU Denver, Raye is thrilled to continue their partnership with Philanthropiece as a Design and Communications Consultant. They believe that art is a powerful way to change the world and are looking forward to offering their creative skills as a way to further the mission of Philanthropiece.
When not studying or working, you'll find Raye doing yoga, listening to podcasts, and hammock camping...sometimes simultaneously.








Joan brings her accounting and financial background to the organization, overseeing the unexciting but necessary realities of accounting and tax compliance, among other things. She has been with Philanthropiece since 2005, first as Co-Executive Director and now as Co-Chair, Board of Directors. What really gets her excited at Philanthropiece is the incredibly talented and diverse group of people she is privileged to learn from and grow with. Every day brings opportunities to be awakened and healthily challenged, and she feels she has learned more in less than 15 years with Philanthropiece than in the several decades that came before. Notwithstanding her knack for accounting, Joanie tends to approach life heart first and brings her thoughtful sensitivity to Philanthropiece, always striving to ensure our work remains true to our values. Joan loves spending time with her family and friends, rejuvenating through creative endeavors, horseback riding, and spending time with the earth. She particularly dislikes writing bios.




Tell me with whom you walk, and I will tell you who you are''
For Morning Glory, this Spanish proverb embodies much of the depth, joy, and gratitude she feels in relation to her work with Philanthropiece. Through Philanthropiece, Morning Glory has had the opportunity to live and walk amongst many people, from fishing families in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja, to indigenous Mayan school children in Chajul, Guatemala, and now with open-hearted changemakers in Colorado. In all of these experiences, Morning Glory has deeply valued the chance to learn, grow, and contribute to these communities and to help envision a better world together. She brings a background in journalism and non-profit development, along with a passion for sustainable living practices, resource conservation, exuberant curiosity, and unbridled laughter, to all the work she does with Philanthropiece.


Philanthropiece Foundation

Based in Tucson, Alicia is currently a Master of Social Work student. She has a background in restorative justice, positive youth development, and youth mental health, and has worked with nonprofits in the United States and in Latin America. Alicia believes that human relationships are a powerful vehicle for change; she is humbled by Philanthropiece’s dedication to building relationships across borders, generations, cultures, and beyond. When she's not studying, you can find her playing soccer, writing in her journal, and spending time with friends in the desert Southwest.



"Tell me with whom you walk and I will tell you who you are."
For Morning Glory, this Spanish proverb embodies much of the depth, joy and gratitude she feels in relation to her work with Philanthropiece. Through Philanthropiece, Morning Glory has had the opportunity to live and walk amongst many people, from fishing families in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja to indigenous Mayan school children in Chajul, Guatemala and now, with open-hearted changemakers in Colorado. In all of these experiences, Morning Glory has deeply valued the chance to learn, grow and contribute to these communities and to help envision a better world together. She brings a background in journalism and non profit development, along with a passion for sustainable living practices, resource conservation, exuberant curiosity and unbridled laughter, to all the work she does with Philanthropiece.







Now, as a recent high school graduate, Boettcher Scholar, and graphic design student at CU Denver, Raye is thrilled to continue their partnership with Philanthropiece as a Design and Communications Consultant. They believe that art is a powerful way to change the world and are looking forward to offering their creative skills as a way to further the mission of Philanthropiece.
When not studying or working, you'll find Raye doing yoga, listening to podcasts, and hammock camping...sometimes simultaneously.



Joan brings her accounting and financial background to the organization, overseeing the unexciting but necessary realities of accounting and tax compliance, among other things. She has been with Philanthropiece since 2005, first as Co-Executive Director and now as Co-Chair, Board of Directors. What really gets her excited at Philanthropiece is the incredibly talented and diverse group of people she is privileged to learn from and grow with. Every day brings opportunities to be awakened and healthily challenged, and she feels she has learned more in less than 15 years with Philanthropiece than in the several decades that came before. Notwithstanding her knack for accounting, Joanie tends to approach life heart first and brings her thoughtful sensitivity to Philanthropiece, always striving to ensure our work remains true to our values. Joan loves spending time with her family and friends, rejuvenating through creative endeavors, horseback riding, and spending time with the earth. She particularly dislikes writing bios.
JD (he/him/his) joined Philanthropiece in 2019 as the Local Initiatives Intern and has
brought with him creativity the size of an elementary school and a burning passion to fight for
social justice and equitable living for all creatures on this planet. JD is originally from Texas,
moved up to Boulder in 2016 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and plans to
tackle Veterinary school shortly after he graduates from CU Boulder.
When he is not studying or working for Philanthropiece you can find JD out on the
basketball court, listening to or creating music, or at home relaxing with his wife, Kiara, Husky-
Mountain Bernese mix puppy, Sonny, and their bunny Thumper. JD plans to incorporate his
creativity, passion for equality and equity, and marketing expertise to develop a network of
human beings driven to fight for each other’s betterment and who plan to turn this world on its
head.
A quote that inspires JD to keep pursuing this work comes from none other than the
Tupac Shakur: “I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the
brain that will change the world”




Filantropis ONG








Philanthropiece A.C.







Thanks for reading our story.