We invest in the power of community
Founded and funded by and for Denver, we turn our community’s desire to help into action to address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs.
News + Events
The park ranger, the mental health worker and the endless hurdles they face to help people on Denver’s streets
A program pairing mental health clinicians with the rangers who field complaints about camping in parks aims to get people into therapy, if they’re willing by Jennifer Brown Denver park ranger Caronia DiStefano and Kayla Bauer, a WellPower mental health clinician,...
Speaking openly about mental health and substance misuse
The city of Denver is working to create a culture where people can speak openly about mental health and substance misuse. Last week grantees of Caring for Denver Foundation spoke about their lived experience in a session hosted by Denver City Council Member at Large,...
Denver Park Rangers to perform patrols with mental health clinicians
Clinicians will assist park rangers with connecting people to resources they need https://youtube.com/watch?v=TiL11Af1DXA By: Danielle Kreutter Posted at 9:01 PM, Jan 19, 2023 and last updated 11:09 PM, Jan 19, 2023 DENVER — As those with...
What we’ve accomplished together so far
Without you there is no us. Since 2019, we’ve funded organizations that serve every City Council District and neighborhood in Denver to transform mental health and substance misuse care.
$98+
million granted to address mental health & substance misuse
70%
reduced substance misuse
(across grantees reporting)
83%
improved mental health
(across grantees reporting)
Where
we work
We listen to Denver’s communities, those with lived experience, and those doing the work to understand how mental health and substance misuse show up in our lives. Together, this knowledge, experience, and collaboration reveal what reports and metrics alone can’t, and guide our funding priorities.
Alternatives to Jail
Community-Centered Solutions
Youth
Denver’s Stories of Progress
CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness)
“The hospitality industry is rough. (With CHOW) I had the ability to share my story and where I was at mentally at that time…which was broken. It’s more than just going to a therapist. You have to build this network of people who you can be vulnerable with and share what you’re going through.”– Brother Luck, CHOW participant.
CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness)
“The hospitality industry is rough. (With CHOW) I had the ability to share my story and where I was at mentally at that time…which was broken. It’s more than just going to a therapist. You have to build this network of people who you can be vulnerable with and share what you’re going through.”– Brother Luck, CHOW participant.
Star Girlz Empowerment, Inc.
“As young women, we’re always taught to be strong women, and we’re always looked upon as superheroes. But the things that we go through, the trauma and stress of everyday life really weigh us down.”
Women’s Wilderness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLjmI08gFN0 Women’s Wilderness supports girls, women and LGBTQ+ people in accessing their power and improving their health through connections to the outdoors and community. Caring for Denver funded the Women’s Wilderness Outdoor...
Colorado Village Collaborative
“Something very powerful when you recover is you want to help other people going through the same thing.”
– Cuica Montoya, Colorado Village Collaborative
From grant opportunities to community listening sessions to sharing your stories of impact, let’s find a way to collaborate.
Meet
our team
