COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update from Rose Community Foundation

Rose Community Foundation is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation and is taking proactive measures to support the communities we serve. Read on for an update about how the Foundation is working to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff, guests, partners and grantees.

Continuing Operations Policy

We have closed our physical office space starting today – Monday, March 16 – and our team will continue to operate all functions while working remotely. At this time, we anticipate a three-week closure; however, as the situation continues to unfold, we will extend those plans as necessary. We continue to remain committed to serving the needs of our fundholders, our grantees and the community.

While our office is closed, we will not host or participate in any in-person meetings. If you have a meeting scheduled over the next three weeks with a Foundation staff member, they will be in touch with you about scheduling a virtual meeting or possibly postponing.

We ask for your patience with us as we navigate these uncharted waters.  We will strive to deliver the levels of service to which our stakeholders are accustomed, but please know that our response times may be slightly different than usual.

Flexibility for Our Grantees

This pandemic places a major burden on our community’s nonprofit organizations – in terms of increased demand for their services, increased strain on their staff, and interruption of fundraising activities that further exacerbate the strain on their resources.  As such, we recognize that many of our grant recipients may need to reorient their funds in order to respond to the continuously changing circumstances. We appreciate that you have each responded with great empathy and nimbleness in these unprecedented times. We want to support you in these efforts and in your ability to focus on the big picture, prioritizing the health and safety of our communities.

The Foundation will be flexible regarding grant objectives, activities, reporting and timelines in situations where COVID-19 impacts your capabilities or priorities. Please reach out to your program officer if you have questions about your grant.

Philanthropic Response

We are actively working with peer funders in the Greater Denver region to develop a coordinated plan to address emerging needs for nonprofits in our community. We hope to share detailed information about this with you soon.  In the meantime, our President and CEO Lindy Eichenbaum Lent will be representing the Foundation on the Governor’s Leadership Committee on COVID Relief.  Both efforts will likely yield opportunities to donate to pooled funds to strategically support identified community needs.  Stay tuned for more information on that front.

In the meantime, donors and fundholders interested in supporting our community during this crisis should reach out to our Vice President of Philanthropic Services Sarah Indyk for guidance around your giving.

CPAL Event Postponed

The conversation we were planning to host with Alan Cohen of the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), scheduled for Thursday, March 26, is postponed until further notice. Though Rose Community Foundation and Mile High United Way are sorry to see this important discussion be postponed, we are doing our part to follow the direction of public health experts who caution against large gatherings and advocate for social distancing.

Physical Distancing, Not Community Distancing

Thank you for your understanding and for working collectively with us to support the community we love. Our values for community, empathy, generosity and equity will guide our response to this situation, and we will continue to communicate what the Foundation is doing– and how you can help.

For now, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out to anyone on our team or contact Sarah Kurz, vice president of communications and outreach.


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