Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC)

Since its founding in 1999, CNDC has supported 300 projects and managed more than $250 million in project revenue, ⁴ including several projects focused on the critical race theory-influenced concept of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). ⁵

History and Leadership

Colorado Nonprofit Development Center was formed in 1999. ⁴

Melinda Higgs is the president and chief executive officer of CNDC. Higgs first joined the organization in 1999 and is on the steering committing of the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors ⁶ and a member of the LGBTQ+ Commission of Denver. ⁷

She previously participated in professional training programs led by the Rockwood Leadership Program, the Center for Creative Leadership, Stanford University’s Design Thinking Bootcamp, the Pomar Foundation, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, and others. ^{4 7}

NDC’s board of directors includes representatives from Philanthropy Colorado, Caring4Denver Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, and the Colorado Trust. ⁸

The organization is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. ⁹

Activities and Funding

Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC) supports and funds nonprofit organizations in Colorado with a focus on “harm reduction,” defined as a set of “practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use.” ^{10 2} CNDC has focused its activities on the on the critical race theory-influenced concept of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) ⁵ and include professional services for other nonprofit organizations. ²

Since its founding, CNDC has supported 300 projects and managed more than $250 million in project revenue, including those focused on health equity, civil rights, education, housing and community development. ⁴ As of December 2024, CNDC supports at least 70 projects across Colorado. ¹¹

CNDC claims to be the largest fiscal sponsor and supporter of nonprofit organizations in Colorado. ¹² In 2022, CNDC spent at least $1,686,676 on the Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC), ¹³ which has opened and operates a supervised injection site to help drug users use drugs more safely. ^{14 3} That same year, CNDC spent $3,219,137 on the Attainment Network, $999,833 on the African Leadership Group, and $14,061,965 on “nearly 100 other programs and services.” ¹³

According to a report published by the city government of Denver, Colorado, CNDC has also done business as the Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC). ¹⁵ CNDC has also done business as the Denver Colorado AIDS Project. ¹⁵ The Education News Network also operates under the same Internal Revenue Service tax identification number as CNDC. ¹⁶

Partnerships

As of December 2024, Colorado Nonprofit Development Center’s list of partner organizations includes the following: The BIPOC Alliance of Larimer County, California Center for Civic Learning and Engagement, Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, Colorado Inclusive Economy, Colorado Mad Moms, Colorado Open Space Alliance, Community Investment Fund, Culturally Responsible and Equitable Evaluation, Defend our Protectors, Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council, Denver’s Resilience Coalition, the Efshar Project, Embracing Nonviolence, The Encore Network, Families Forward Resource Center, The Ganas Network, Girls Rock Denver, The Grove, the Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC), Growing Up Boulder, The Inclusive Dener Project, JBS Awareness Foundation, Latinx Therapist Project, Neighborhood Resilience Corps, One Chance to Grow Up, RFL, Secure Futures Colorado, Sheridan Rising Together for Equity, Small Capitals, SVP Denver, Sustainable Neighborhood Network, TheChangeProject, Unrestricted Revolution, and others. ¹⁷

Grantmaking

In 2022, the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center made grants worth $3,087,809 to 17 organizations. The grants included $540,000 to Denver Public Schools, $325,770 to Aurora Public Schools Foundation, $234,280 to Community College of Denver Foundation, $140,000 to New Legacy Charter School, $123,633 to Metropolitan State University of Denver, $122,166 to the Regents of the University of Colorado, and others. ¹⁸

In 2021, CNDC made grants of $1,991,686 to 29 organizations. These grants included $540,000 to DPS Career Connect, $229,280 to Community College of Denver Foundation, and $12,233 to Metropolitan State University of Denver. ¹⁸

Funding

Colorado Nonprofit Development Center receives funding from individual contributions and grants. ¹⁹

In 2023, CNDC reported revenue of $19,599,711 and expenses of $18,413,458 in its annual reporting documents. ⁵ CNDC reported revenue of $19,209,657 and expenses of $22,493,527 in 2022. ²⁰

In 2023, CNDC received support from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Aspen Community Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, Barr Foundation, Bohemian Foundation, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Boys and Girls Club Metro Denver, Caring for Colorado, Center for Civic Education, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Chinook Fund, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, City of Denver, Colorado Bar Foundation, Colorado Gives Foundation, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, $50,000 from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, ²¹ Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Gary Philanthropy, Gates Family Foundation, ²² J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund, John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation, John R. Woods Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Margulf Foundation, RK Foundation, Robert Hoag Rawlings Foundation, Schwab Charitable Fund, AJL Foundation, Anschutz Foundation, Armstrong Family Foundation, Caring for Denver Foundation, Chicago Community Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Columbus Foundation, Denver Foundation, Frank E. and Seba B. Payne Foundation, Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation, Recovery Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Tides Foundation, Tower Family Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), United Way of Larimer County, US Bank Foundation, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Walmart Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and others. ⁵

In 2022, CNDC received $1,390,000 from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, $990,000 from the Walton Family Foundation, and $931,237 from Energy Outreach Colorado. ²³

CNDC received $225,000 from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in 2017 for the CNDC’s Colorado Statewide Afterschool Development Center. ²⁴ In 2016, CNDC received money from AIDS United to create and run safer injection sites. ²⁵