Pictured above: Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO) Fellowship Program, Civic Fabric Fund grantee.
In 2024, The Denver Foundation awarded $267,250 to 13 organizations working to advance and implement local and state policy change in alignment with the foundation’s policy principles.
In 2022, the foundation funded nine organizations and partnered with them to advance policy change at the local and state levels. In 2024, we are proud to continue funding those same nine institutional policy partners and award grants to four additional organizations.
We recognize the increasing importance of funding in sustaining the work of organizations leading campaigns to advance systems change through policy advocacy and implementation, which is why we established the Civic Fabric Fund in 2021. This is a dedicated fund for grantmaking to promote a healthy and equitable Metro Denver through policy change.
We look forward to working with these organizations in 2025:
Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO)’s mission is to empower Latinos through leadership development, advocacy, and policy research to strengthen Colorado. CLLARO’s vision for the future is a State of Colorado where Latinos can thrive and reach their fullest potential. CLLARO works with grassroots organizations across Colorado, emphasizing a non-hierarchical structure that gives power to individuals and the community, not special interest groups.
Good Business Colorado (GBC) works with values-driven business leaders to formulate, refine, and advocate for state and federal policies that raise the bar and level the playing field to build a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable Colorado. By elevating the voices of its members, GBC provides a perspective that is often different from traditional business chambers and organizations on the most pressing issues of our time.
Colorado Fiscal Institute provides credible, independent, and accessible information and analysis of fiscal and economic issues facing Colorado. They aim to inform and influence policy debates and contribute to sound decisions that improve the well-being of individuals, communities, and the state as a whole.
Colorado Children’s Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization committed since 1985 to realizing every chance for every child in Colorado. They advocate for the development and implementation of data-driven public policies that improve child well-being in health, education, early childhood, and family economic prosperity.
Community Economic Defense Project (formerly COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project) partners with low-income and working people to build economic and racial equity. They do this by confronting economic abuse and investing in community wealth, and using an ever-evolving set of legal, economic, and advocacy tools to challenge and dismantle unjust systems, building quickly toward a world where all people have what they need to live and thrive.
Conservation Colorado works to protect Colorado’s climate, air, land, water, and communities through organizing, advocacy, and elections. They have a long and successful history in Colorado of collaborating on key environmental issues, working collectively at the State Capitol, and establishing strategic partnerships.
Denver Streets Partnership is a coalition of community organizations advocating for people-friendly streets in Denver. They work to connect decision-makers and Denver residents with diverse perspectives, timely information, and practical solutions to reduce our city’s dependence on cars and design communities that prioritize people.
Faithbridge is committed to bridging relationships and resources to ensure a high-quality education for every child. They boldly aim for a reality where 100% of children receive an equitable and excellent education that prepares them for the choice of college without remediation. Faithbridge cultivates informed representation of “School leaders, Parents, Educators, Advocates, and Kids (SPEAK)” to influence and lead the co-creating of conditions.
Healthy Air and Water advocates for public policy that focuses exclusively on the growing public health threats posed by climate change. They know that worsening air quality, rising temperatures, and threats to water availability and quality – all products of climate change – have profound impacts on human health, particularly for our most vulnerable community members like those with existing health issues and children.
Sims-Fayola Foundation’s mission is to improve the life outcomes of young men of color through direct programming and catalyzing systems change by addressing the root causes of educational inequities and institutional barriers. Through collaborative partnerships with schools, community organizations, city agencies, and policymakers, they aim to collectively transform policies, practices, and resources to create an inclusive and supportive environment for these young men and boys.
STAND for Children Colorado launched 15 years ago, focusing on improving educational outcomes for children, particularly those most often overlooked and underserved. For the last decade and a half, they have championed efforts to improve early literacy, advance equitable school funding, develop community leaders and parent advocates, and increase the number of students graduating on time, ready for college or career, and more.
The Bell Policy Center’s research and advocacy work provides policymakers, advocates, and the public with reliable resources to create a practical policy agenda that raises the economic floor, builds a diverse and thriving middle class, and sparks innovative ideas to prepare us for the future. Over the years, the Bell Policy Center has done this by fighting for TABOR reforms, new programs in our education system, higher wages for workers, advances in human services, and better consumer protections for Coloradans.
Together Colorado is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-faith community organization comprised of 220 congregations, schools, clergy, and faith leaders across the state working to place human dignity at the center of public life in Colorado. Faith drives them to organize for a better world for our children and our children’s children. Leaders with Together Colorado organize to create a society where everyone can thrive without exception.
