Colorado Peer Networks and Affinity Groups

Boulder County Funders Network

The Boulder County Funders Network is an informal group of corporate, community and foundation philanthropic funders of the Boulder County area convened by the Colorado Association of Funders who meet informally to discuss issues and subjects relating to the field of philanthropy and the nonprofit communities they serve. CAF members and non-members are invited to participate at no charge. The group meets bi-annually at various locations hosted by local funders. For more information or for the next meeting date, please contact the CAF office at 303.398.7404 or caf@coloradofunders.org.

CAF Colorado Aging Dialogue

The Colorado Aging Dialogue is an informal group of grantmakers and key community and government funding agencies that address aging issues. The group provides a forum to exchange ideas and explore ways to work together and maximize resources to best address the needs of Colorado's older adults and caregivers. The Colorado Aging Dialogue meets quarterly. There is no fee for funders who address aging issues to join. For more information, contact Therese Ellery at tellery@rcfdenver.org.

CAF Corporate Funder Network

Corporate Funder Network meets regularly to present and discuss issues that affect corporate funders specifically. Meetings are usually held in the late afternoon and are hosted by participating organizations.There is no participation fee. For more information, contact Ellen Sandberg, Vice President Community Relations, First Data, at ellen.sandberg@firstdata.com or Ruth Rohs, Manager of Community Relations, Comcast Communications, at ruth_rohs@cable.comcast.com.

CAF Executive Admin Affinity Group

The Executive Admin Affinity Group is a peer-group of executive admin staff and others who support senior-level executives at CAF member organizations. The group provides a forum to exchange ideas and resources with other like-minded individuals who perform similar job functions. There is no participation fee. The group is co-chaired by Monique Loseke, Executive Assistant at Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and Jenny Lehman, Executive Associate at The Colorado Trust. For more information or for the next meeting date, please contact the CAF office at 303.398.7404 or caf@coloradofunders.org.

CAF Leadership Forum

CAF established the Leadership Forum for the leaders of CAF member organizations. CEO's, Presidents, Executive Directors and heads of corporate giving programs are invited to participate. The Leadership Forum will allow for: more in-depth and consistent discussion at the most senior level; relationship-building; open dialogue and sharing of expertise; and discussion of sector-wide issues that affect grantmakers. Leadership Forum members are asked to refrain from sending a representative if they cannot attend personally. The Leadership Forum meets 3-4 times per year. There is a program participation fee. For more information, contact  the CAF Executive Director at 303.398.7404 or caf@coloradofunders.org.

CAF Small Foundation Network

CAF established the Small Foundation Network for grantmaking organizations with few or no staff. The Network is designed to allow for discussion of sector-wide issues with particular focus on practices unique to smaller grantmaking organizations. CAF Members are welcome to participate. There are no participation fees. For more information, contact CAF staff.

Colorado Funders for Inclusiveness and Equity

Colorado Funders for Inclusiveness and Equity is a voluntary effort of local funders who have a common interest in advancing and promoting inclusiveness and equity. The group believes in building on best practices to increase the effectiveness of philanthropy. The group has two purposes. First, the group serves as a resource to local funders as they challenge their thinking and consider implementing changes within their own organizations regarding inclusiveness and equity. The group will provide ideas, information, and educational opportunities to interested parties. Second, the group will serve as a support network for members as they educate themselves about inclusiveness, equity, diversity, and anti-oppression practices. The group will offer a supportive and trusting learning environment for all where ideas can be shared and discussed openly. Membership is open to all Colorado funders. For more information, contact Adrienne Mansanares at 303-300-1790, ext. 145 or amansanares@denverfoundation.org.

Colorado Foundation Communicators (COFCO)

The Colorado Foundation Communicators (COFCO) is an informal networking group of communications professionals from grantmaking foundations in Colorado. Members of COFCO are employees of Colorado-based grantmaking foundations who perform communications functions as a significant portion of their jobs. COFCO membership is not open to consultants. For more information, contact Christie McElhinney, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, The Colorado Trust at christie@coloradotrust.org.

Denver Funders Forum

Denver Funders Forum represents corporate and foundation philanthropic funders who meet informally on a monthly basis to provide a forum for candid discussion regarding issues and subjects relating to the field of philanthropy and the nonprofit community. There are no fees, but participants are encouraged to host one of the monthly breakfast meetings when it fits their schedule. For more information about membership, contact Suzanne Bruce at suzanne@johnsonfoundation.org.

Early Childhood Education Funders Network

Members of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Funders Network meet regularly to discuss funding issues related to early childhood care and education in Colorado. Members share information, questions, research and ideas focused on helping our youngest children get ready for school and for life. Based on the understanding that quality early childhood care and education help children throughout their lives, the Network recognizes that such programs lead to proven success in school and in the workforce. As a group, the funders look at ECE evaluation, research, trends and models in Colorado and across the country. The members occasionally collaborate on projects such as mapping of resources to inform the community about ECE and its impact. While the members may discuss joint funding opportunities, no commitment of dollars or resources is required for membership in the network. For more information, contact Susan Steele at the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, 303-744-1688, or Elsa Holguin at the Rose Community Foundation, 303-398-7400.

Foundation Tax Group

The Foundation Tax Group is an informal group of mostly foundation financial officers and foundation chief executives. The group meets about four or five times each year to discuss tax, accounting and legal issues specific to foundations. The format of the meetings is usually a light lecture/seminar with group discussion. The meetings are generally held on a Tuesday at one of the foundation offices from 12:00 -1:30, and members are required to pay $15.00 for lunch. Meeting space is limited. There are no membership dues. For more information, contact one of the current program co-chairs, Karen Leaffer at karen.leaffer@leafferlaw.com or 303.781.6899 or Kelly Berg at kellyberg@tuthillhughes.com or 303.243.3104.

Hispanics in Philanthropy

Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) is one of the largest associations of grantmakers in the country. HIP offers a community where Hispanics in philanthropy can encounter others interested in Latino issues, reflect upon their common challenges and brainstorm new initiatives. Membership is open to Latinos and anyone interested in working to strengthen Latino communities. For more information, visit www.hiponline.org.

Housing and Homelessness Funders Collaborative

The Housing and Homelessness Funders Collaborative is comprised of funders who have pooled funds to make grants to support systems change and systemic reform efforts that will lead to: significantly increased access to affordable housing for people who are homeless or low income; resources devoted to ending homelessness and providing affordable housing; community support for efforts to address homelessness and affordable housing and; effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery for people who are homeless or low income. Current collaborative members include: the Anschutz Family Foundation, the Don and Lynn Burnes Family Fund of The Denver Foundation, the Chambers Family Fund, The Colorado Health Foundation, The Denver Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Mile High United Way, The Piton Foundation, Rose Community Foundation and US Bank. Membership in the collaborative is open to any funder interested in working on the issues described above and able to contribute to the funding pool. Grant contributions range from $10,000 to $25,000. The collaborative makes grant decisions through a consensus process and meets monthly at one of the members' offices. If you interested in learning more, contact The Denver Foundation at 303-996-7356.

Mountain Community Foundations Peer Group

The Mountain Community Foundations Peer Group is an informal group of community foundations that meets on a semi-annual basis each year. Current participants in the group primarily represent the resort communities of the central mountains and include the Aspen Valley Community Foundation, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, Grand Foundation, Telluride Foundation, Western Colorado Community Foundation, Yampa Valley Community Foundation, Community Foundation Serving Northern Colorado and The Summit Foundation. The group meets in a different foundation's community and provides an informal support network to share ideas, common challenges and community programs, as well as emerging issues and topics of general interest. There are no membership dues. For more information, contact Paul Major at paul@telluridefoundation.org.

Rocky Mountain Grants Managers Network

The Rocky Mountain Grant Managers Network (RMGMN) is a chapter of the national Grant Managers Network (GMN), an affinity group of the Council on Foundations and a project of the Rockefeller Fund. GMN provides a forum for the exchange of information about grants management and its relevance to efficient and effective grantmaking. The Rocky Mountain Region of GMN was established to support the activities of grantmaking entities in the Rocky Mountain Region and beyond for purposes of supporting the critical functions of administrators and managers; providing an arena to focus on best practices in grants management; building collegial relationships; and increasing the knowledgebase of tracking software and effective grantmaking. The Rocky Mountain Region group meets quarterly. For more information, visit www.gmnetwork.org.