The Story of the Julia Fitz-Randolph Queer+ Giving Circle
A Legacy Giving Circle Honoring Love, Justice, and Community Power
Love Boldly, Act Justly: A new giving circle at WFCO focused on the queer community
Named in honor of Julia Fitz-Randolph – a founder of The Women’s Foundation and tireless advocate for social justice – the Julia Fitz-Randolph Queer+ Giving Circle was created by her wife, Bourge Hathaway. Officially launched June 24, just in time for Denver PrideFest, the giving circle is more than just a grantmaking initiative. It’s a reminder of the essential work that’s been done, is being done, and yet to come to advance LGBTQ+ rights and support the queer community. Recently, Julia and Bourge shared their journey, the work that brought them here, and their vision for the future of the Queer+ Giving Circle. This is their story.
Dedication to community, from the very beginning
In 1975, Julia Fitz-Randolph and Bourge Hathaway were introduced by a mutual friend when they were both working and volunteering for the Colorado Feminist Federal Credit Union (CFFCU). Julia was a founder of the CFFCU, which allowed women to access their own credit at a time when women could not open a credit card, bank account, or loan without the signature of a man.
When Julia and Bourge met, Julia was working in public relations in Denver, and Bourge worked in graphic design and advertising. They each brought their skills to the Colorado Feminist Federal Credit Union in efforts to expand women’s access to credit.
As a lead marketing voice, Bourge pitched the creation of CFFCU logos, bumper stickers, buttons, business cards, and other branding assets to grow awareness of the credit union. While some didn’t see the value in such assets, as a public relations professional Julia was supportive of Bourge’s ideas. The two “bonded over buttons and bumper stickers,” beginning a lifetime of political advocacy, friendship, and love for the two of them—one that would ignite change and further it, for women and the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado and beyond.
The start of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
In 1979, the Colorado Feminist Federal Credit Union closed and was turned into the Women’s Bank of Denver. In 1981, Julia and Bourge moved to Boston, where Julia became the assistant vice president of public affairs for State Street Bank. There, Julia managed the corporate contributions program, which she described as a “real joy,” distributing money to organizations working to better the community.
While in Boston, Julia and Bourge learned of the Dallas Women’s Foundation, which inspired the idea to build a women’s foundation in Colorado. With the CFFCU closed, a women’s foundation could reignite direct support for gender equity in the state by gathering and distributing funds to women in need.
After returning to Colorado and discussing the idea of a women’s foundation with a small but dedicated group of Colorado women, it was agreed that The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) would be formed. Over the two years leading to WFCO’s launch in 1987, individuals made generous gifts and pledges totaling $2 million. The founders of The Women’s Foundation (Julia included) used that money to create permanent funds and a dedicated endowment supporting women living in poverty across the state.
Women’s advancement, community organizing, and authenticity: A balancing act
Julia served on the board of The Women’s Foundation for several consecutive terms. Julia was the only lesbian on the board, at a time when the feminist movement was becoming increasingly averse towards them. “I had to really balance my own hurt, is about the best way to put it,” said Julia, on balancing her commitment to feminism with the women’s liberation movement’s attempts to exclude lesbians.
After serving on The Women’s Foundation board, Julia moved to the board of the Human Rights Campaign in Denver, where both she and Bourge became very involved in political advocacy with a focus on advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Over many years, their philanthropic and social justice activism only grew, with LGBTQ+ advocacy and the queer community at the forefront.
A philanthropic legacy of LGBTQ+ advocacy
Years after Julia’s move to the board of the Human Rights Campaign, and with a history of LGBTQ+ advocacy behind the two of them, Bourge started a donor-advised fund at The Women’s Foundation of Colorado called The Julia Fitz-Randolph Lesbian Innovations Fund. The fund addressed issues lesbians face in achieving economic self-sufficiency, including discrimination, aging, pay discrepancy, and access to health care.
“I didn’t want anyone to forget there was a lesbian founder [of The Women’s Foundation],” said Bourge, on her motivations to create the fund in Julia’s name. With the creation of the Lesbian Innovations Fund, Julia and Bourge reconnected with The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, this time focusing their philanthropy on LGBTQ+ community support.
Today, the Lesbian Innovations Fund has now officially been shifted into the Julia Fitz-Randolph Queer+ Giving Circle. Bourge and Julia have transformed the individual fund into a giving circle that harnesses collective power, at a time when expanding support of the queer community has never been more vital.
What the Queer+ Giving Circle can do for the Queer community in Colorado and beyond
Julia’s vision for the giving circle is that Queer+ will “educate, beyond itself” starting directly with the feminist women’s community. Julia envisions the giving circle as a space for education and collaboration between the LGBTQ+ community and allies creating change in Colorado.
Beyond education, Julia hopes the giving circle can “create a conversation within The Women’s Foundation, where we follow what the leadership of the LGTBQ+ community tells us is needed.” Julia wants the giving circle to lift up leaders that are doing the work to protect Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community through grantmaking, investments, and more.
Julia and Bourge’s message to young queer people and those considering joining the Queer+ Giving Circle
“It’s forever,” said Julia, about homophobia and the work being done to dismantle it in our communities. “There are not going to be quick solutions, but if we come together as a community, there is hope.” Both Julia and Bourge believe that the path forward is to be in community, not only with other LGBTQ+ individuals, but with allies and partners. The Queer+ Giving Circle at The Women’s Foundation of Colorado provides a space to do just that.
Julia and Bourge’s visions for the future of the Queer+ Giving Circle, and for the LGBTQ+ community
“My hope is that [the giving circle] becomes irrelevant, that we don’t need it anymore,” says Bourge. Speaking more broadly, Julia says her hope for the future is that a woman has a right to “control her own body, her own gender identity, her own sexual orientation.” To “shatter the patriarchy,” in Julia’s words, would be an ultimate goal.
A legacy of love, justice, and community power
The effects of early feminist acts, of lesbian feminist acts, still ripple positively throughout Colorado and our country. Across the state, people still recognize Julia as the woman who gave them their first loan through the Feminist Federal Credit Union, and Julia is sure stories like this are “embedded all throughout Colorado [and tied to] The Women’s Foundation.”
The Julia Fitz-Randolph Queer+ Giving Circle continues The Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s legacy of community power, while strengthening WFCO’s commitment as an advocate and ally of the LGBTQ+ community. As of June 24, the Julia Fitz-Randolph Queer+ Giving Circle has officially launched, with a community of members prepared to create positive change for the LGBTQ+ community across Colorado and beyond.
Learn more and join Queer+
To learn more about the Queer+ Giving Circle, how to join, and how to stay involved, email Jaime Marston Cook, major gifts officer.
A special thank you to Julia and Bourge for sharing their incredible story. The work you’ve done—and continue to do—to create a safer and more accepting world for our queer community is so important.
