Impact Investing

Mission-aligned investments that support nonprofits, generate returns, and strengthen local initiatives.

At The Denver Foundation, we believe in using every tool available to create lasting, meaningful change in the communities we serve. That’s why we have been actively investing in impact investments that align with our mission and values.

These investments allow us to support local initiatives while generating both financial and social returns — a powerful combination that strengthens our place-based work across Metro Denver.

Impact investing enables us to go beyond traditional grantmaking by directing capital toward projects and organizations that are building affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and promoting environmental sustainability — all within the neighborhoods we know and care about.

This approach reflects our commitment to equity and economic opportunity, ensuring that more resources stay within the community and benefit those who need them most.

We started the Impact Investment Pool in 2013 with an initial investment of $1 million and additional gifts from donors.

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By the numbers

Data is from 2013-2024.

*Catalytic dollars are investments that helped attract or leverage additional funding from other investors for a project.

How to engage

Our impact investments are supported by The Fund for Denver, our permanent endowment, and made possible by our partners who trust and work alongside us. Many of these opportunities come from organizations we’ve supported through our Community Grants Program, The Denver Foundation’s signature grantmaking strategy. These long-standing relationships in our community are what make our approach unique. Our investments are deeply rooted in Metro Denver.

From investment to impact

“With strong leadership and a strong track record of providing high-quality health care for marginalized residents, the Tepeyac Community Health Center is exactly the kind of mission-aligned, program-related investment The Denver Foundation is committed to supporting. The Denver Foundation is honored to invest in this highly visible project, which transformed an empty lot into an essential community anchor.”

– Ben Perry, the foundation’s senior director of impact investing

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Impact Investment Committee

Thanks to these individuals who volunteered their time and expertise to help make this work possible:

RANDY ROBERTS, Committee Chair, Partner, Armada Venture Partners

KEVIN ARNOLD, Managing Director, Pathstone

SARA BOYD, Retired Wealth Advisor

JESSAMINE FITZPATRICK, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Alder Point Capital Management

ALAN H. FROSH, Founder and Managing Director, SECTOR

JERRY GLICK, Founder and President, Columbia Group LLLP

DAN HARRIS, Former National Director of Philanthropic Services, U.S. Bank Wealth Management

KENNETH HO, Trustee, The Denver Foundation, Chief Operating Officer, Fitzsimons Innovation Community

BROOK KRAMER, National Managing Director of Family Wealth, Fifth Third Bank

CEYL PRINSTER, President and CEO, Colorado Enterprise Fund

LESLIE SABIN, Vice President for Finance, Administration, and Impact Investing, Gates Family Foundation

PHILIP PERRY, SVP, Senior Relationship Banker, First Western Trust