Pictured above: Movimiento Poder, photo provided by Armando Geneyro
Recently, we activated our Critical Needs Fund—our most rapid response fund—to address the looming crisis impacting our immigrant neighbors who have come here seeking freedom and opportunity. Earlier this year, our president & CEO, Javier Alberto Soto, invited the community to join The Denver Foundation’s efforts.
We were encouraged by the overwhelming support. Thanks to our generous donors, we raised $231,558. This has allowed us to award a total of $380,000 to 21 grantees—primarily through our Critical Needs Fund, with some support from other funds.
Denver is a growing city that has long welcomed those in search of opportunity, safety, and a better future—values that define strong and thriving communities. Upholding these ideals means ensuring that everyone, including our immigrant neighbors, has access to the resources they need to build stable lives. Yet today, these critical services—across education, public health, and human rights efforts—are at risk of losing federal funding, and their initiatives to expand access and representation to historically marginalized populations are being dismantled. But their important work has not stopped, and they need the community’s support now.
We’re proud to see our community come together, both this year and in 2024, and how our community will continue to show up for each other as we stay committed to this work.
Meet the grantees
The organizations that have received grants are working to support integration, housing, education, public health, mental health, access to legal services, and advocacy efforts within our immigrant communities. We also funded navigator groups facilitating “Know Your Rights” trainings. Every person, regardless of their immigration status, has constitutional rights. Understanding these rights is the first step in protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
- Keeping Families Together Coalition is a coalition of organizations providing legal services, “Know Your Rights” trainings, detention support, and amplifying immigrant voices across Colorado.
- ViVe Wellness works directly with Venezuelan immigrants who are living and being evicted from Aurora apartments.
- Village Exchange Center serves immigrants and refugees in the Aurora/Metro Denver, creating an inclusive environment where residents from all backgrounds interact and grow together.
- East Colfax Community Collective (EC3) supports newcomers in the community with housing assistance. They also lead “Know Your Rights” training and tenant legal rights training to inform people of their rights.
- Denver Metro Tenants Union supports tenants at various apartments in getting legal representation, and they work to improve tenant living conditions through media advocacy and policy work.
- Rocky Mountain Welcome Center (RMWC) is an immigrant-led multi-tenant, shared space for nonprofits. They foster intercultural learning, understanding and integration among immigrants, refugees and Colorado residents.
- The Storytellers Project provides communities with food and household items for families who may be afraid to leave their homes after ICE raids. Their goal is to let communities know that they are cared about and supported.
- International Rescue Committee in Denver (IRC) helps refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to rebuild their lives and thrive in America.
- Project Worthmore provides programs that foster community, self-sufficiency and increase quality of life among Denver-area refugees.
- Juntos Community helps DACA recipients learn how to accurately renew and submit their work permit and remove the fear and uncertainty.
- Colorado Immigrant Justice Fund provides critical legal services, resources, and advocacy to asylum seekers and newly arrived immigrants.
- Re:Vision supports mixed-status families with food and resources shared at its no-cost grocery to help people feel more empowered to protect themselves and their families.
- Edgewater Collective works with Jeffco Public Schools to provide “Know Your Rights” trainings in local schools and community spaces. They’re also developing training for families on how to work through a Family Preparedness plan.
- Movimiento Poder provides “Know your Rights” trainings, in addition to their education organizing and immigrant-rights legislative work.
- Together Colorado provides “Know your Rights” trainings, in addition to working on and winning pro-immigrant legislation at the state capitol.
- La Cocina provides no-cost mental health and social-emotional group support to Colorado’s immigrant communities.
- STRIDE is the largest community health center in the Denver Metro Area and conducts an initial medical screening for all newcomer and immigrant families. Their goal is to continue serving these patients after their initial screening through its medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmaceutical services.
- Servicios de La Raza provides and advocates for culturally responsive, essential human services and opportunities. They also provide comprehensive health support, including behavioral health support, sexual health services, health care access, and a community-led crisis response program.
- Tepeyac Community Health Center offers a wide range of services including primary care, dental, behavioral health, maternal and women’s health, and pediatrics. They also provide counseling, resources, and case management for individuals and families.
- Vuela for Health offers education, resources, and support that strengthen parents’ sense of self-worth, and promotes a healthy change in their families and communities. Its primary objective is to promote public health, and foster economic, environmental, and social well-being.
- Envision:You provides behavioral health provider training to enhance mental health services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ+) Coloradans who are navigating a world where stigma, discrimination, and the fear of harassment or violence persist.
Ways to continue supporting our immigrant neighbors
If you’d like to support our immigrant neighbors and emerging issues in our community, our Critical Needs Fund is an efficient and effective way to support a variety of organizations. The Critical Needs Fund is our fastest and most flexible way to respond to rapidly changing landscapes and crises in our community.
If you are a fundholder at The Denver Foundation, you can support these efforts through your donor-advised fund. If you have any questions, please reach out to your relationship manager or our team at information@denverfoundation.org or 303.300.1790.
