We are excited to share these stories from our work in 2021. While the risks and disruptions created by the pandemic are not over, we share the collective desire to repair, reconnect, reenergize and reimagine how we as a region might emerge stronger than before.
The past two years shone a bright light on, and exacerbated, a wide range of preexisting disparities in our community. Today, more people and institutions than ever before understand the chasm of inequities and the need for major systems change. Unprecedented times have called for a new level of response, and we are proud of the ways we have evolved our work at Rose Community Foundation to advance a more equitable, just and inclusive future.
Our nonprofit partners continue to meet challenges every day with ingenuity, compassion and resilience. Wanting to lower the barriers to access and open the door to a broader collection of organizations, we launched the Foundation’s first large-scale open Request for Proposals in 2021 – accelerating our pivot toward accessible, competitive and transparent grant cycles. We are excited to have several funding opportunities this year focused on advancing equitable and inclusive communities across a range of issue areas.
As a community foundation, donor-advised fundholders are a key component of our partnership landscape. While our fundholders have always been highly active, increased needs over the past two years provided ongoing opportunities to expand our engagement with donors – from hosting webinars and virtual panels to inviting donors to leverage their philanthropy by aligning their giving with ours and each other.
Looking forward, we remain focused on supporting those most in need while also planning for a stronger future. We remain hopeful that the volatility in international affairs, financial markets and domestic divisions will find optimal resolution and that the months ahead provide continued opportunities for us all to safely reunite and reconnect in person.
Thank you to our community partners for your dedication to the people of Greater Denver. We are grateful and ready to continue our work together.
| Lindy Eichenbaum Lent President and CEO | Steven A. Cohen Chair, Board of Trustees, 2020 – 2021 | Lisa Robinson Chair, Board of Trustees, 2022 – 2023 |
