The Colorado Trust is a private grantmaking foundation based in Denver, Colorado, that was created as a result of the sale of PSL Healthcare Corporation in 1985. ¹ It makes grants to philanthropic causes in Colorado including left-leaning causes in the areas of immigration and health care.

History

Founded in 1985, the Colorado Trust was established as a private foundation following the sale of PSL Healthcare Corporation. ² The Colorado Trust seeks to better the lives of Coloradans by expanding “Health Equity” within the state through community partnerships. “Health Equity” is a broad term used by the Colorado Trust that encompasses a variety of left-leaning social, economic, and health care causes. ³

Programs

The Colorado Trust provides grants to partners across the state. Through its Community Partnerships approach, the Colorado Trust funds a range of initiatives aimed at expanding left-of-center social, economic, and health policy approaches in local communities. ⁴ Community members first identify problems within their communities, propose solutions, and later implement solutions using resources and funding provided by the Colorado Trust. ⁵

In addition to grantmaking, the Colorado Trust also organizes a Health Equity Learning Series, an annual speaker series held in Denver. In 2019, the series hosted Andrea Cristina Mercado, the executive director of the New Florida Majority, a left-of-center advocacy group working to expand voting for Democrats in Florida. ⁶

The Colorado Trust also aims to create a field of advocates throughout Colorado through its Health Equity Advocacy program. By partnering with more than a dozen community organizing and policy advocacy grantees, the organizations collaborate and decide on policy targets, communication and outreach activities, and delegating grant funds. ⁷

Finance

The Colorado Trust’s tax returns for 2018 reported over $15 million in revenue and over $20 million in expenses. The organization disbursed a number of grants to left-of-center organizations including over $137,000 for operating expenses to both the Colorado Fiscal Institute and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, as well as over $5,000 to The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado. ⁸

Leadership

Ned Calonge, an associate professor of family medicine at the Colorado School of Medicine and an associate professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health, works as the president and CEO of the Colorado Trust. He also serves as vice chair of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Preventive Services Task Force. ⁹

Don Mares, a Democratic politician and former member of the Colorado State Legislature, serves as the treasurer of the Colorado Trust’s board. Mares serves as the executive director of Denver Human Services and serves as the deputy mayor of the city and county of Denver, serving under Democratic Mayor Michael B. Hancock. He also served as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment in former Democratic Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.’s cabinet. ¹⁰

Wendy Dominguez serves on the Colorado Trust’s board and is the president and co-founder of Innovest Portfolio Solutions. Dominguez was appointed by former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) to serve on the Metropolitan State University Board of Trustees in 2016. ¹¹

1. “Our Story.” Colorado Trust, June 23, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/who-we-are/our-story.
2. “Our Story.” Colorado Trust, June 23, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/who-we-are/our-story.
3. “Our Approach to Health Equity.” Colorado Trust. September 25, 2019. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/who-we-are/health-equity.
4. “How We Fund.” Colorado Trust, September 17, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/what-we-do/how-we-fund.
5. “Community Partnerships.” Colorado Trust, December 15, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/strategy/community-partnerships.
6. “Health Equity Learning Series.” Colorado Trust, September 21, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/strategy/health-equity-learning-series
7. “Health Equity Advocacy.” Colorado Trust, December 1, 2020. https://www.coloradotrust.org/strategy/health-equity-advocacy
8. the Colorado Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018
9. “Ned Calonge, MD, MPH.” Colorado Trust, January 7, 2019. https://www.coloradotrust.org/content/ned-calonge-md-mph.
10. “Don Mares Executive Director.” City and County of Denver. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-human-services/about/executive-director-don-mares.html
11. “Wendy Dominguez.” Innovest Portfolio Solutions. Accessed December 17, 2020. http://www.innovestinc.com/wendy-dominguez/.