The Denver Foundation continues to grow an exceptional team that reflects our mission, vision, values, and purpose, as well as our diverse community. We are delighted to welcome seven committed professionals whose work will enhance the foundation’s positive impact in Metro Denver and support our strategic framework.
Filling a new position at the foundation, Kirsten Swanson is our first-ever Advisor Relations Officer. Created as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships and collaboration with professional advisors, this role will support the foundation’s efforts to engage professional advisors and their clients to create meaningful, impactful philanthropy that benefits our community. Joining the foundation in late 2022 from Alaska, Kirsten brings nearly a decade of nonprofit development expertise, working with individual and corporate giving. As a passionate and published philanthropist, she helps run her family’s private foundation in Alaska.
Claire Tobin joins our team as our major gifts officer, bringing more than a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising in the Denver Metro area. Before coming to The Denver Foundation, she worked at various nonprofits as a Capital Campaign Manager, Major Gifts Officer, and Senior Philanthropy Officer. Claire works to offer personalized support to make each donor’s philanthropic goals a reality. Claire’s goal is to enhance the community’s philanthropic landscape by inviting all to celebrate in the joy of giving by leaving a lasting legacy to the organizations they love most.
Our engaged philanthropy team welcomes two talented new members. Maureen Millmore joins the foundation as our senior engaged philanthropy officer. Maureen has spent more than a decade working in philanthropy, and works directly with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to create charitable funds and achieve impact in the community. She started her career as a major gifts fundraiser in New York City and then supported personal philanthropy at a private family office in Denver. Maureen also coordinates the economic opportunity and transportation priority areas for the Community Grants Program.
Collin Hiew has joined the team as an engaged philanthropy officer. Before coming to The Denver Foundation, Collin worked at various local nonprofits in water and environmental work, food justice and equity work, and international language and culture exchange. Collin’s role includes working with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to create funds and achieve direct impact in their communities. Focusing primarily on our education and transportation priority areas, Collin works with partners to ensure our Community Grants Program is driving real change.
Our Communications team continues to expand, adding new perspectives and expertise. Gabriela Severino comes to The Denver Foundation from the Dominican Republic, and serves as our bilingual communications coordinator. Before coming to The Denver Foundation, she worked at various advertising agencies as a social media manager, copywriter, and account manager, cultivating client relationships. Gaby plays a critical role in reaching audiences in English and Spanish with effective and culturally considerate communications.
Jess Harvat joins the foundation with two decades of marketing and communications experience in Colorado. Jess has two decades of proven marketing experience in Colorado, serving as a Communications and Marketing Director for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Senior Marketing Manager positions in the ski, and oil and gas industries, respectively. As the Communications Director, Jess will support internal and external communications projects and develop short- and long-term communications strategies.
Finally, we are happy to welcome Lindsay Mott as our newest gifts and grants specialist. Lindsay is responsible for supporting the administration and execution of the foundation’s gifts and grants processes. Lindsay comes to The Denver Foundation after working in the nonprofit sector for the past five years.
To learn more about each of our staff and to read their full bios, please visit our staffing page. If you are interested in joining this diverse, dynamic, and dedicated team, visit the careers page on our website. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and one of the most inclusive and interesting workplaces in the city.
Jess Harvat, Communications Director
As the Communications Director, Jess Harvat believes in the power of connecting with communities through meaningful messaging. Understanding how and where to reach individuals, and what motivates them to take action is a key part of his role. Jess has two decades of proven marketing experience in Colorado, serving as a Communications and Marketing Director for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, as well as Senior Marketing Manager positions in the ski, and oil and gas industries, respectively. He has developed multiple, nationally recognized ad campaigns. This experience provides Jess with a unique understanding of the nuance needed to reach various audiences with authentic, culturally considerate messages.
Collin Hiew, Engaged Philanthropy Officer
As an engaged philanthropy officer, Collin works directly with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to create charitable funds and achieve impact in the community. Collin coordinates the education and transportation priority areas for the Community Grants Program.
Before coming to The Denver Foundation, Collin worked at various local nonprofits in water and environmental work, food justice and equity work, and international language and culture exchange. When he is not supporting donors and nonprofits, he likes to cook and eat; get outside hiking, camping, and biking; and play guitar.
Maureen Millmore, Senior Engaged Philanthropy Officer
As a Senior Engaged Philanthropy Officer, Maureen works directly with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to create charitable funds and achieve impact in the community. Maureen also coordinates the economic opportunity and transportation priority areas for the Community Grants Program.
Maureen has spent over a decade working in philanthropy. She started her career as a major gifts fundraiser in New York City and then supported personal philanthropy at a private family office in Denver.
Lindsay Mott, Gifts & Grants Specialist
As the Gifts and Grants Specialist, Lindsay Mott is responsible for supporting the administration and execution of the foundation’s gifts and grants processes. She has been in the nonprofit sector for five years, was born and raised in Colorado, and plans to live here forever.
Lindsay loves living here and is committed to helping improve the community! Outside of work, she loves to explore the beautiful mountains with her husband, kids, and dogs.
Gabriela Severino, Bilingual Communications Coordinator
As the Bilingual Communications Coordinator, Gabriela Severino plays a vital support role in achieving the communications goals and objectives of The Denver Foundation. Before coming to The Denver Foundation, she worked at various advertising agencies as a social media manager, copywriter, and account manager, cultivating client relationships.
With a degree in Communication and Advertising, she believes in the importance of building relationships with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures through the powerful tools of communication strategies.
Kirsten Swanson, Advisor Relations Officer
Kirsten Swanson supports the foundation’s efforts to engage professional advisors and their clients to create meaningful, impactful philanthropy that benefits our community. Joining the foundation in late 2022 from Alaska, Kirsten brings nearly a decade of nonprofit development expertise, working with individual and corporate giving.
As a passionate and published philanthropist, she helps run her family’s private foundation in Alaska.
Claire Tobin, Major Gifts Officer
As Major Gift Officer for The Denver Foundation, Claire works to offer personalized support to make each donor’s philanthropic goals a reality. Before coming to The Denver Foundation, she worked at various nonprofits as a Capital Campaign Manager, Major Gifts Officer, and Senior Philanthropy Officer.
With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising in the Denver Metro area, Claire’s goal is to enhance the community’s philanthropic landscape by inviting all to celebrate in the joy of giving by leaving a lasting legacy to the organizations they love most.
About The Denver Foundation
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that inspires people and mobilizes resources to improve life in Metro Denver. In 2021, the foundation and its donors awarded $115 million in grants. The Denver Foundation has three roles: stewarding an endowment to meet current and future needs for Metro Denver, working with community leaders to address the core challenges that face the community and managing more than 1,000 charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families, and businesses. To learn more about The Denver Foundation, visit www.denverfoundation.org.