The Colorado Springs community and the We Fortify organization are mourning the passing of Anna Carmichael, a beloved colleague, friend, and respected leader whose life and work made a meaningful impact on the people and communities she served. Anna passed away on August 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., according to a message shared by We Fortify.
Anna’s professional journey reflected intelligence, ambition, compassion, and a strong commitment to service. After graduating from Georgetown University with an MBA in May 2025, she joined We Fortify on August 1, 2025, taking on the role of Vice President of Strategy and Operations.
Although her time with the organization was relatively brief, Anna made a lasting impression on the people around her. We Fortify described her as someone with extraordinary intelligence and strategic insight, while also emphasizing her humility and unwavering dedication to the people and communities the organization serves.
Her colleagues remembered Anna not simply for her professional abilities but for the energy and warmth she brought into every environment. Her presence was described as contagious, and she was welcomed wherever she went. Those qualities helped her build meaningful relationships with members of the We Fortify team and others connected to the organization’s mission.
Leadership positions can often be defined by responsibilities, accomplishments, and strategic decisions, but Anna’s colleagues emphasized the personal qualities that made her especially valued. Her humility allowed her to work collaboratively, while her strategic abilities helped her contribute ideas and plans aimed at creating a lasting difference.
For the people at We Fortify, Anna was both a professional colleague and a friend. Her passing has therefore created a profound sense of grief throughout the organization. Colleagues are now left to remember the conversations they shared, the projects they worked on together, and the plans they had envisioned for the future.
The organization has also begun discussing ways to memorialize Anna through the work she completed and the plans she helped develop. This effort reflects the belief that her influence does not end with her passing. Instead, the work she contributed to and the communities she cared about can continue to carry aspects of her vision forward.
Anna’s commitment to people and communities was central to the legacy she leaves behind. Those who worked with her believe that the impact of her dedication will continue through the lives of people touched by the work she helped advance.
Her death has also left family, friends, colleagues, and others who knew her facing an enormous loss. During such a difficult period, memories of Anna’s character, enthusiasm, intelligence, and compassion may provide comfort to those grieving.
While her professional accomplishments are an important part of her story, the tributes from her colleagues make clear that Anna was valued for much more than her résumé. She was someone whose presence changed the people around her for the better.
Anna Carmichael’s life was tragically brief, but the influence she made during her time with We Fortify was significant. Her colleagues will continue to honor her by remembering the values she brought to her work and by carrying forward the plans and causes that mattered to her.
As We Fortify and the Colorado Springs community mourn, heartfelt condolences are extended to Anna’s family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who was touched by her life. Her memory will remain closely connected to the people she inspired and the communities she worked so passionately to support.