Welcome to the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) media kit. Find essential background on GOCO’s purpose, funding, programs, partnerships, and statewide impact; access data and visual assets; and connect with our team for interviews, story ideas, and additional information.

Media Contact

Rosemary Dempsey, Director of Marketing and Communications, rdempsey@goco.org, 303-226-4530

Contents

About GOCO Leadership and Spokespeople Grant Programs and Partnerships Data and Publications Visual Assets Latest News

About GOCO

About GOCO

Our Role 

  • GOCO is a government organization that invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces.  
  • Our independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  
  • Created by Colorado voters in 1992 through a constitutional amendment, GOCO has since invested $1.8 billion in more than 6,000 projects across all 64 Colorado counties. 
  • Colorado voters approved Proposition 137 in November 2026, directing existing state sales taxes on sporting goods purchases and rentals (an estimated $175 million annually) to wildfire resilience, conservation, outdoor recreation and Colorado’s outdoor economy. Beginning as early as July 2027, GOCO will receive 47.5% of those funds to advance our mission.
Fast Facts

Fast Facts

Organization type 

Public trust 

Established 

1992, through a voter-approved constitutional amendment 

Mission 

To preserve and enhance Colorado’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces 

Funding sources 

A portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds and, starting as early as July 2027, 47.5% of the state sales taxes collected each year on certain sporting goods and equipment purchases and rentals.

Investment approachCompetitive grants and strategic investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife
ImpactMore than $1.8 billion invested in 6,000 projects across all 64 Colorado counties 

Governance 

An independent, 19-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate 

Staff 

23 staff members working across the state 

Leadership and Spokespeople

Leadership and Spokespeople

Jackie Miller

Jackie Miller
Executive Director
Bio

Topic areas:
Organizational leadership, strategic plan, board governance, organizational priorities, statewide conservation and outdoor recreation investments 

Josh Tenneson

Josh Tenneson
Deputy Director
Bio 

Topic areas:
Finance, operations, administration, human resources, public accountability 

Chris Yuan-Farrell

Chris Yuan-Farrell
Director of Programs
Bio 

Topic areas:
Grant programs and awards, program and project impacts, community partnerships, Colorado Parks and Wildlife partnership 

Rosemary Dempsey

Rosemary Dempsey
Director of Marketing and Communications
Bio 

Topic areas:
Generation Wild campaign, public engagement, campaign communications, storytelling, outreach 

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Grant Programs and Partnerships

Grant Programs
and Partnerships

Base Programs

Funded and administered by GOCO 

  • Community Impact – Invests in projects that enhance a community's quality of life and outdoor access.  
  • Land Acquisition – Supports urban and rural landscapes, waterway, and habitat protection priorities, and improves outdoor access. 
  • Pathways – Addresses pressing issues and opportunities through research, data analysis, tools, and staff capacity-building. 
  • Generation Wild – Invests in community coalitions delivering locally designed, culturally relevant programs connecting kids and families to the outdoors 

Partner Programs  

Funded by GOCO, administered by partner 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partnership  

  • Annual investment – Each year, GOCO invests half of its funding through Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for conservation, recreation, and wildlife management efforts.  
  • Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy – Statewide framework advancing coordinated conservation, sustainable outdoor recreation, and climate resilience through shared goals, guidance, data, and tools. 

Resources

Data and Publications

Data and Publications

Annual Reports
Strategic Plan
Funded Project Finder
Finances

Visual Assets

Visual Assets

Logos 

Request Other Assets

Latest News

Latest News

 

GOCO Awards $14.5M for Parks, Land Conservation, and Wildlife Habitat

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2026 GOCO Roadshow: Regional Officers Launch Statewide Tour

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GOCO Awards $25.5M for Recreation, Stewardship, Land Conservation, and Regional Collaboration

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GOCO Invests $24M in Outdoor Programs for Kids and Families Statewide

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GOCO board awards $9.9M for recreation, conservation, stewardship

Read More