We asked staff to share a little bit about what they do and how they see their work contribute to the greater work of The Denver Foundation. Maritza Gutierrez, administrative specialist, reflects on her unexpected path into philanthropy, the care behind her day-to-day work, and what it has taught her about people in the Denver community.
Before I came to The Denver Foundation, I was working at a bank and preparing for a future in investment banking. Then I heard about an opening for a bilingual front desk coordinator at The Denver Foundation. It was not part of my career plan, but I remember reading about all the great things the organization was doing, and I decided to follow that curiosity.
When I first walked into The Denver Foundation, I had this feeling that this was where I wanted to come to work every day. Working at the front desk, I got to meet nonprofit leaders, donors, and community partners, and learn about so many wonderful organizations doing important work across Metro Denver. I also got to work with staff across the organization and learn more about how a community foundation works, including the fund administration and grantmaking processes that help turn our fundholders’ charitable goals into community impact.
Joining the Finance, Infrastructure & Technology (FIT) team
After about a year, I had the opportunity to transition to the Finance, Infrastructure & Technology (FIT) team as the administrative coordinator. Since then, I’ve continued to grow in my role and was recently promoted to administrative specialist. As part of the FIT team, I help process gifts that come into The Denver Foundation and grants that go out to the community. Much of my work happens behind the scenes, where careful research, review, and documentation help ensure charitable dollars are managed responsibly and reach the organizations they’re intended to support.
Beyond gift and grant processing, my role touches many parts of the organization. On any given day, I might be preparing materials for committee meetings, coordinating documentation for impact investing and loan closings, or supporting quarterly reporting and other projects that keep our work running smoothly. It’s a role that gives me the opportunity to collaborate across teams and contribute to many different aspects of the foundation’s work.
One of the many things I’ve come to appreciate is the opportunity to continually learn about nonprofits in our community and the unique ways they support people.
One experience that stayed with me was during an Impact Investment Committee meeting with an organization expanding access to affordable homeownership. Because of my banking background, the loan structure felt familiar, but it has a cool twist. It wasn’t driven solely by financial return; it would also help create pathways to ownership for first-time buyers and strengthen neighborhoods, where finance is used for the greater good.
What I’ve learned along the way
As a single mom, I’ve been working and going to college to build a career that provides stability and opportunities for my family. Before joining The Denver Foundation, it was hard to balance work, school, and family life. At the previous company I worked for, if I asked to leave a few minutes early to pick my child up from school, the answer was an automatic no. At The Denver Foundation, it’s different. People want to support both my professional and personal life. That support has made it possible for me to show up for my family, keep going to school, and continue growing my career.
In May 2026, I also got the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona through the University of Colorado Denver Business School, something I never thought I’d be able to do. That experience taught me a lot about intentional living, slowing down, and checking our biases. Those lessons connect to what I see every day at The Denver Foundation: colleagues who build relationships beyond the transactional work, who seek a deeper understanding of community issues, and who remain mindful of how their own perspectives and assumptions shape decisions.
Working at The Denver Foundation has taught me so much about the place that I live in and the place I call home. I wasn’t involved in the philanthropic world until I joined The Denver Foundation, and it’s inspiring to see an organization that has been running for more than 100 years that cares about Denver and everyone who lives here.
You hear about leaders all over the world making a real difference, but when you hear it so close to home, it makes me proud to be from Denver and to work for The Denver Foundation.
