FORT GARLAND — The Community Museum Division of History Colorado recently added a new philanthropy officer as part of the recent expansion of Community Museum programming and services.

Eric Carpio joins History Colorado as philanthropy officer for Community Museums. He brings with him more than 20 years higher education experience, most recently as Assistant Vice President of Student Services at Adams State University in Alamosa. At Adams State, Carpio and his team received more than $2.5 million dollars in different grants for several different programs. In his new position, he will design and implement fundraising strategies across the state to support Community Museum initiatives.

“The Community Museums are lucky to have Eric as we continue to work toward sustainability in our communities. The grants he will help us earn will have a direct impact on the educational and cultural programs we can offer in rural Colorado,” said Chief Community Museum Officer Dawn DiPrince.

Carpio's office will be at Fort Garland Museum in Fort Garland, and he will serve the eight properties of the Community Museum Division – the Byers-Evans House and Grant Humphreys Mansion in Denver; El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo; Healy House and Dexter Cabin in Leadville; Trinidad History Museum in Trinidad; Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center in Fort Garland; Fort Vasquez in Platteville and the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose.

In 2017, the Colorado General Assembly increased funding to strengthen the Community Museums of History Colorado. The new resources will allow the museums to expand programs that support economic development, bridge gaps in educational access, and engage communities in nurturing local roots and civic pride.