For 100 years, The Denver Foundation has connected generosity to impact. The transformative gifts we’ve received and grants we’ve distributed over time represent the various people, organizations, and ideas that have shaped our communities.
This story is part of our 100th series, highlighting how, together, we are building a stronger, thriving Metro Denver, Colorado, and beyond.
For Beverly Haddon, giving goes beyond financial contributions. “My best advice,” says Haddon, “is to stay involved with the community so that your philanthropic decisions are improved by learning from and evolving with the community.” Haddon learned that lesson throughout her childhood and career in banking.
“My husband and I decided that we wanted to put together a legacy gift. We wanted to make certain that we were supporting the organizations that we thought were very important to us today and to make certain that was continued in the future.”
- Beverly Haddon, fundholder and former trustee
In 1963, Haddon entered the workforce as a secretary at United Banks of Colorado. Despite having degrees in business and journalism, this was the only position offered to her since women weren’t allowed into management training programs at the time.
But Haddon was determined to change what was possible for herself and others. Within nine months, she’d earned her first promotion, and from there, she ascended steadily through the banking ranks, eventually becoming the bank’s first female senior executive vice president.
At the time, locally owned banks saw themselves as community stewards, allowing Haddon to serve on several boards across women’s leadership organizations, civic clubs, and higher education institutions. But as banks merged and decision-making moved out of state, their focus on local engagements faded. While the bank’s priorities shifted, Haddon remained committed to her community, eventually leading her to The Denver Foundation.
A lasting partnership
Haddon’s journey with The Denver Foundation began in the early 1990s when she served on our Civic and Education Committee. “From the very beginning, I was extremely impressed with The Denver Foundation. The staff was and continues to be exceptional. They are professional, knowledgeable, and quite passionate,” said Haddon.
Her committee work gave her insights into our community outreach efforts. “I learned in the first year or two within the Civic and Education Committee that The Denver Foundation was a hidden jewel in the Denver community because they have always reached out to the community. They are on the ground, going out and talking to people in nonprofits, government organizations, and community organizations just to get information. So, you always know when they report on the pulse of the community, it is a pretty good bet they are right!”
Haddon went on to serve on various committees at the foundation, eventually becoming a board member and later the board chair. During her time on the board, she led efforts to launch the Strengthening Neighborhoods program, a community-led initiative that still thrives today.
The shift from private foundation to community foundation
In addition to the time Haddon generously contributed to The Denver Foundation and across the community, she and her husband, Hal, also ran their own private foundation.
Having a deep understanding of The Denver Foundation’s investment capabilities and having worked closely with its staff, Haddon and her husband decided to close their private foundation and transfer the assets to a donor-advised fund at The Denver Foundation in 2000.
“Because of my experience at The Denver Foundation, I went to my husband and said, ‘You know, I don’t know why we have our own foundation,” Haddon recalls, “If we close our foundation and move it to a fund within The Denver Foundation, we don’t need to worry about legal fees, nor accounting fees. And the investment returns are utterly spectacular.” Once they established the donor-advised Haddon Fund, they were able to set aside administrative tasks and concentrate on their philanthropic goals and gifts.
Investing in the community’s future
A few years ago, they began to reflect more on the future, wanting to ensure their commitment to the community would continue while recognizing that they couldn’t predict what the needs would be in 10, 50, or even 100 years.
“My husband and I decided that we wanted to put together a legacy gift,” says Haddon, “We wanted to make certain that we were supporting the organizations that we thought were very important to us today and to make certain that was continued in the future.”
Their longstanding relationship with The Denver Foundation and our 100-year history of investing in community-driven solutions gave them confidence that we would steward their gift wisely and make thoughtful decisions that respond to the community’s evolving needs over time.
Customizing a legacy plan to align with values and vision
The Haddons wanted to direct portions of their legacy gift to specific organizations they’ve long supported, like the Legal Aid Foundation, and to broader areas of impact they cared about, like early childhood education and single-parent support services.
With these goals in mind, they worked with us to include an endowed law school scholarship fund, an endowed field of interest fund, and an endowed designated fund in their wills, ensuring that the funds would be used in alignment with their values and would support the community for generations to come.
They also chose to leave a substantial percentage of their gift to The Fund for Denver—our permanent endowment designed to meet the evolving needs of Metro Denver, generation after generation.
“It’s a decision that just makes us smile and feel very comfortable. We know that we have made an important investment in the future,” said Haddon.
Join us in shaping the next 100 years
The Haddons’ journey reflects their commitment to strengthening local organizations and building a lasting legacy that will shape the community for years to come through endowed planned gifts.
As we look ahead to the next century, you, too, can become part of this legacy of giving. Whether you’re giving time, money, or expertise, we can help you make a lasting impact on the causes that matter to you. To learn more about opening a fund or creating a charitable legacy, contact our team at information@denverfoundation.org or 303.300.1790.
