Jan
Kobu Foundation Rebrands
Kobu Foundation evolves into a community-driven philanthropy platform, empowering members to direct impact through transparent contribution cycles.
Big change starts surprisingly small.
501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN: 85-3189251
Our mission is to empower people to take small, consistent actions that create meaningful community impact.
2019
It started with people showing up.
Kai started Kobu in 2019 with small food drives and volunteer events, nothing more than friends and neighbors showing up for each other. When COVID-19 hit a few months later, that same circle didn't disappear; it turned into a meal delivery program for families who couldn't get to a food bank anymore.
That's ultimately how we've delivered more than 300,000 meals across Colorado, and how the Angel Rose Youngdog Scholarship came to award over $20,000 to students pursuing their education.
None of it started as a plan to build a platform. It started as small, consistent actions, showing up again and again, and that's still the whole idea behind Kobu today.
Where we're headed
We're building toward a world where anyone can strengthen their community through small, consistent acts of generosity. Today that means transparent contribution cycles and intentional programming.
FoodEducationChangemakers
Since 2019, we kept showing up.
2026
2024
Nov
10th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
A decade of fighting hunger during the holidays, marking ten years of community-powered meal distribution.
Aug
$20,000 in Scholarships Awarded
Angel Rose Youngdog Scholarship program doubles its total impact, supporting students pursuing higher education.
2023
May
300,000 Meals Donated
Reaching a major milestone in our fight against food insecurity, providing nutritious meals to families in need.
Apr
200th Volunteer Event
Celebrating 200 community volunteer events, powered by dedicated individuals making a difference.
Mar
500 Volunteer Hours
Community volunteers surpass 500 total hours of service, doubling our volunteer engagement.
2022
Oct
200,000 Meals Donated
Doubling our meal distribution impact as community need and volunteer support continued to grow.
Apr
Established 501(c)(3) Status
Kobu Foundation becomes an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, enabling tax-deductible donations and expanded partnerships.
2021
Oct
100,000 Meals Donated
First major meal milestone achieved through food bank partnerships and community food drives.
Aug
$10,000 in Scholarships Awarded
Angel Rose Youngdog Scholarship reaches its first major milestone, supporting students pursuing their educational dreams.
Jan
250 Volunteer Hours
Community volunteers log 250 hours of service, establishing the foundation for our volunteer-powered model.
2020
May
100 Meals Donated
Our first meal delivery milestone, marking the beginning of our rapid response to COVID-19 food insecurity.
Mar
Meal Delivery Program Established
In response to COVID-19, we launched our meal delivery program to reach families unable to visit food banks.
2019
Nov
Kobu Foundation Founded
We started with small food drives and volunteer events before COVID-19 inspired our meal delivery program.
The people keeping it moving
Driven by purpose and powered by community, our team ensures that every contribution makes its way directly to meaningful impact.
KS
Kai Suematsu
Founder & Executive Director
Started Kobu during COVID-19 with a simple goal: make giving back easy for everyone. Now leading the vision to build a new model for community-driven philanthropy.
SK
Sydney Kheng
Operations Director
Believes small, consistent actions can change lives. Dedicated to keeping Kobu's mission moving forward and growing its impact every day.