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The Colorado Trust’s grantmaking is about long-term investments – in Colorado, its communities and most of all, its people.
Nearly 15 years ago, The Trust moved away from a more traditional form of grantmaking – responding to individual requests for funding – to an initiative-based approach. This shift has given the foundation the ability to impact needs in a more strategic way by providing for a length and depth of commitment appropriate to address major social issues.
Funding is limited to a dozen or so multi-year efforts, with each initiative addressing different aspects of The Trust’s two goals – advancing accessible and affordable health care, and providing resources to strengthen families.
Ideas for initiatives come from a variety of sources, including needs assessments, literature reviews, focus groups, lessons learned from current and completed initiatives, evaluation findings from Trust initiatives and input from our grantees, staff and board members. Many initiatives also have grown out of, are linked to, or build on previous successfulTrust initiatives.
Each initiative is unique and has its own defining characteristics which almost always include grantee training, technical assistance and networking, evaluation and multiple-year funding. Initiatives are viewed as a catalyst for bringing people together to address critical issues. While elements may exist in communities to address health- and family-related issues, they often are operating independently and aren’t focused on a common vision. A Colorado Trust initiative can provide the spark that galvanizes people at the community level, and links them to broader efforts at the regional or state level.
Grantees often comment that participating in a Trust initiative makes them feel part of a larger movement. The positive effects grantees experience from receiving tailored trainings and assistance, developing new skills and building partnerships translates into providing improved services, connecting to their community and recognizing their part in a statewide effort. And collectively, their efforts serve to advance the health and well-being of the people of Colorado.
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