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Metro Denver Talks...The Denver Foundation Listens
Since 1925, The Denver Foundation has been charged with listening to the needs of the community, and using its charitable resources to meet those needs. This fall, the Foundation released the results of a monthslong Listening Campaign that asked nearly 800 residents of Metro Denver what they envision for the community’s future. Visit denverfoundation.org/listening for the full report. In contrast to the contentious national dialogue, the Listening Campaign discovered that Metro Denver residents share a generally unified vision for the future, and an understanding of the challenges that the community faces. When we asked what most contributes to a high quality of life for Metro Denver residents, Listening Campaign respondents let us know that they want to make sure their neighbors have access to:
• gainful employment and economic opportunity;
• assistance in meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, and health care; and
• high-quality education for their children
During 2011, the Foundation’s Trustees and staff used the results of the Listening Campaign to craft new strategic plan. The 2011 – 2021 Strategic Plan focuses funding from the Foundation’s Community Endowment primarily on the three areas identified in the Listening Campaign, with particular attention to the needs of the Metro area’s most vulnerable residents.
“This is part of the Foundation’s long-held tradition of taking our lead from the community and making sure that our grantmaking meets the community’s needs,” says Kenzo Kawanabe, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “It’s important to note, however, that this shift in grantmaking through our Community Endowment will not affect our hundreds of donor-advised funds or scholarship funds. As always, we’ll continue to help current donors meet their charitable goals with grants to nonprofits in Metro Denver and throughout the U.S.”
What will remain and what will change
For 2012, the Foundation’s Community Grants Program will continue with its same processes, grant deadlines, and priorities, as will the Technical Assistance Program, the Nonprofit Internship Program, the Strengthening Neighborhoods Program, and the Inclusiveness Project. Over the course of 2012, the Foundation will define where and how we will put our varied resources to work within each of the three focus areas – education, economic development, and basic human needs.
“We expect to continue giving general operating support, and we also expect to continue funding many of the same organizations,” explains David Miller, the Foundation’s President. “As we define our focus, some elements of the Foundation’s work will change, while others will persist, but in new forms. For instance, The Denver Foundation has been a longtime funder of the arts, and will continue this work, particularly in service to education and economic development. There will be changes, but – as always – they will support the community’s areas of greatest concern. Given the economic downturn and the challenges faced in our schools, the need for us to refocus is not surprising.”
Your input needed
Over the next year, we will reach out to the community for help and advice in numerous ways – and we’ll keep you informed about our progress. Our doors are open and we are listening! You can share your thoughts with us at Listening@denverfoundation.org and visit http://denverfoundation.org/listening. You can link from that page to a website that tracks our progress on implementing the strategic plan, including changes to our grants programs.
