About Us February 9, 2010 Who We Are History Mission and Values Anti-Discrimination Policy Volunteering The Denver Foundation helps generous people like you build charitable legacies that make a difference today and in the future. The mission of The Denver Foundation is to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. As Colorado's oldest and largest community foundation, we provide the expertise and leadership to help people give back to Metro Denver in ways that are meaningful -- to them and to the community.  The Denver Foundation has two roles: Stewarding your legacy The Foundation stewards the Community Endowment, which helps meet the changing needs of the community now and for generations to come.  The Community Endowment is made up of gifts from thousands of donors over the course of the Foundation's history.  Earnings from the endowment help local nonprofits through the Community Grants Program. Helping you make a difference today The Foundation helps Metro Denver individuals, families, and businesses accomplish their charitable goals by establishing customized, flexible donor funds.  Donor Advised Funds give donors the power of a private foundation without the administrative burdens. The Foundation helps donors and families design personalized charitable giving strategies.  Through its Philanthropic Services Group, the Foundation offers expertise and experience in family philanthropic planning, provided free of charge or obligation. The Denver Foundation stewards more than 800 such funds.  Together, the Foundation and its donors distributed $73 million to hundreds of nonprofit organizations in 2008, thus helping those most in need. Nearly everywhere you look, you can see an impact The Denver Foundation has had on the Metro Denver community. About Community Foundations Community foundations are charitable organizations created through gifts from thousands of people who care about a particular geographic area.  Anyone can contribute any amount of money to a community foundation, which invests these gifts for growth and income.  A community foundation then uses that income to make grants that strengthen their community. Community foundations operate in perpetuity, meaning that gifts made to them will continue to grow and provide resources for their own community forever. There are more than 700 community foundations throughout the United States today.