(DENVER) Rose Community Foundation welcomes Kristy Bassuener as Vice President of Communications and Outreach and Jill Henden as Director of Nonprofit Funds and Legacy Giving.
“From our trustees to our committees to our staff, Rose Community Foundation is fortunate to work with talented, engaged and values-driven people who care deeply about our region,” said Rose Community Foundation President and CEO Lindy Eichenbaum Lent. “We continue that tradition by adding Kristy and Jill to our team, both of whom bring unique and important skills and experiences to the Foundation’s work.”
As Vice President of Communications and Outreach, Kristy Bassuener leads the Communications team, driving efforts to elevate the Foundation’s mission, highlighting the impact of donor and grantee partners and strengthening thought leadership on key issues and policy matters. She also oversees media relations and storytelling efforts to increase engagement in the Foundation’s work.
Bassuener joins the Foundation following a distinguished 17-year career at the Denver Art Museum in ascending communications roles, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs. In this role, she led a team responsible for internal and external communications, media relations, crisis communications, public affairs, fundraising support and community engagement.
Prior to her tenure at the museum, Bassuener was a Senior Communications Counselor at Peter Webb Public Relations, leading media and visibility campaigns for various organizations. She began her career as a journalist, reporting for The Aspen Times, Colorado Springs Gazette and Wireless Week. Bassuener holds a bachelor’s degree in English with an environmental policy minor from University of Florida and a master’s in journalism and mass communications from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
A dedicated community leader, Bassuener has served on the board of the Golden Triangle Creative District since 2017, including a term as board chair. From 2015-2024, she was also a board member of The Collaborative, a nonprofit membership organization comprised of organizations funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
“I am thrilled to join Rose Community Foundation’s team at such an important moment for both the organization and the people it serves,” Bassuener said. “I look forward to collaborating with grantees, fundholders and partners to amplify stories of impact and hope to inspire further action in support of our Greater Denver communities.”
As Director of Nonprofit Funds and Legacy Giving, Jill Henden is a member of the Foundation’s Philanthropic Services team and oversees the Foundation’s four endowment building pathway programs, supporting nonprofit sustainability and planned giving. She also oversees the strategy and implementation behind the Foundation’s legacy program, the Rose Community Legacy Circle.
“I am honored to join Rose Community Foundation’s wonderful team and to take part in the important work they do in the Greater Denver community,” says Henden. “I look forward to supporting their existing nonprofit partners and inspiring legacy giving, ensuring we have the resources needed to serve our local communities now and for generations to come.”
Henden brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience, having served for 13 years as the Executive Director of the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation (CCSF) where she led initiatives that supported teachers through classroom grant programs, awarded scholarships and expanded mental health services for students. As a former participant in our nonprofit endowment-building cohort, she established CCSF’s endowment and designated fund at Rose Community Foundation, implementing communications and fundraising plans to increase legacy gifts and grow both funds.
A passionate advocate for education and workforce development, Henden played a key role in the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, a program that connects high school students with work-based learning opportunities. She was instrumental in building partnerships between industry and education, securing funding and job opportunities for students. Her efforts have earned recognition at the state, national and international levels.
Before leading CCSF, Henden served as Director of Annual Giving for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation in Chicago and as Major Gifts Officer and Event Planner for JEWISHcolorado. She remains actively engaged in the community, serving on the steering committee for the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and participating in Leadership Aurora’s Class of 2024-25. She recently concluded her term as Chair of the Colorado School Foundation Association and is involved with the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. Henden holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University.