Our Story
Founded on a tradition of philanthropy, we strive to create positive, sustainable, systemic change for our community.
Mobilizing values-driven philanthropy to strengthen communities, expand opportunities, and address critical needs in Greater Denver and beyond.
Across its history, the Foundation’s grantmaking has been both responsive – making grants to support nonprofit programs, services and capacity – and proactive, creating initiatives to meet emerging or longstanding community needs. We provide an array of philanthropic services work, stewarding donors’ philanthropic assets and supporting their grantmaking, while helping nonprofits sustain their missions through the creation and growth of endowments. While serving the community-at-large, we have continued to be informed by Jewish history and traditions, enumerated in our values and strategic priorities.
Our Mission
We mobilize values-driven philanthropy to strengthen communities, expand opportunities, and address critical needs in Greater Denver and beyond.
Our Vision
A thriving region strengthened by its diversity and generosity.
Our Values
Universal in aspiration and anchored in the Foundation’s Jewish roots and legacy, our values guide the work we do and how we do it.
We support fair and equitable access to the resources and systems people need to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives. | Petach
We promote partnerships and collaboration, build trusted relationships, and bring people together for greater community impact. | Kehillah
We address systemic barriers and strengthen community resilience for the future. | Tikkun Olam
We pursue innovative solutions, adapting our philanthropy, learning as we go, and evolving our approaches to meet changing needs and future challenges. | Chadshanut
We act with empathy, kindness, and compassion; giving strategically to improve the lives of people and communities. | Chesed
We honor the infinite worth of every person and their right to be included in the decisions that impact their lives. | B’tzelem Elohim
General Rose and the Creation of the Foundation
The seeds for Rose Community Foundation were planted in the late 1940s, when Jewish doctors returning from World War II could not find employment in Denver due to antisemitism and discrimination. The community came together to build General Rose Memorial Hospital. When Rose Medical Center was sold in 1995, the proceeds formed the corpus of Rose Community Foundation. In 2023, a statue of General Maurice Rose – the namesake of both the hospital and the Foundation – was unveiled on the grounds of the Colorado State Capitol honoring the legacy of the Denverite who was the highest-ranking Jewish military officer killed in battle.
Don Kortz
Don Kortz served as the Foundation’s founding president and CEO from 1995 – 1998. Kortz was chairman of the Rose hospital board of directors when its members made the decision to sell the hospital. Kortz agreed to take a leave of absence from his career in commercial real estate to lead the new Foundation. Following his term as president and CEO, Don served on the Foundation’s board of trustees, health committee and philanthropic services committee.
Sheila Bugdanowitz
Sheila Bugdanowitz was Rose Community Foundation’s second president and CEO. She stewarded the organization from 1998 until her death in 2016. Sheila embodied the Foundation’s values of philanthropy, justice and nondiscrimination and its mission to make the Greater Denver community a better place. She supported and encouraged her staff to invest in programs that were based on clear-eyed understanding of community issues and embraced innovation.