3rd Annual State of the Sector
On Thursday, January 25, the Community Resource Center and the Colorado Association of Funders hosted the 3rd Annual State of the Sector. The event gave nonprofit leaders, foundation staff, elected officials, and stakeholders the opportunity to discuss Colorado’s nonprofit sector and potential opportunities within the field. Lisa Duran, Executive Director of Grassroots Grantmakers, received the honorable Community Trailblazer Award. Lisa has devoted her work in organizing to addressing the imbalances that exist among power and privilege throughout the community and within the nonprofit realm. Panelists from the Colorado Health Foundation, Aspen Community Foundation, and Hunger Free Colorado engaged the audience in discussion revolving around nonprofit challenges, successes, and goals for this year.
The David & Laura Merage Foundation presented at the poster session for this event, highlighting the way in which the foundation provides seed funding for newer nonprofit organizations. As witnessed with RedLine, Early Learning Ventures, Equitas, and Black Cube, venture philanthropy is important to the foundation. By supporting organizations while they are in their infancy, this provides them with the stability and resources they need to prosper.
Other prominent nonprofits across Colorado, including GRID Alternatives, Center for Improving Value in Health Care, Grand Challenges, and more, also presented during the poster session. The event provided a great opportunity to learn from our nonprofit colleagues and further explore opportunities for innovation, advocacy, and the creation of equity within our sector. A big thanks to the Colorado Association of Funders and the Community Resource Center for hosting such an impactful event.
