About
Caring For Denver
We’re on a Mission
To address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs by growing community-informed solutions, dismantling stigma, and turning the community’s desire to help into action.
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| Founded by and for Denver | Independent, non-profit foundation | Addresses Denver’s mental health & substance misuse needs |
The ballot initiative was simple, yet powerful. For every $100 spent in Denver, 25 cents goes toward addressing mental health and substance misuse needs in our city. With this enduring investment, our vision is a vibrant Denver where all communities are strengthened by the mental health and substance misuse support they need.
We cannot
thank you enough
To the community organizations, partners, and residents who provided support and feedback throughout this process, thank you. This work is as much a reflection of you as it is us. Driven by the voices of community, Caring for Denver Foundation will work through our grantmaking, evaluation, community engagement, and communication initiatives to push impact together in the pursuit of equity. We will seek guidance, perspective, and insights always.
We are honored to serve you.
Lorez Meinhold
Executive Director
Leslie Herod
State Representative, Board Chair
Our values guide our actions
Community-Authored & Driven
Caring for Denver is viewed as an important partner for supporting our community solutions and voice. We identify strategies that help us engage communities, communicate our impact, and align with our partners.
Equity & Inclusion
Philanthropy has shaped and been shaped by systems of privilege and power that contribute to inequities. In our pursuit of equitable outcomes, Caring for Denver is committed to prioritizing collaboration, learning, and listening with our community to ensure mental health and substance misuse supports fit and honor individuals’ place and identity.
Iterative Innovation & Impact
We begin with community-informed practice. We use co-created outcomes to continually improve impact and ensure we are achieving results for Denver communities.
Visionary Leadership
Caring for Denver is a leader locally, statewide, and nationally in funding and promoting mental health and substance misuse supports and systems. The strength of our governance practices reflects our leadership and being a role model for others wanting to be in this space.
Stewardship & Integrity
Caring for Denver stewards its resources responsibly and strategically to implement our mission in an equitable and high-impact manner. We continue to pursue avenues that would bring additional funding to strengthen our work.
If you or someone you know is in crisis...
Please reach out for free, confidential, professional, 24/7 support:
- Colorado Crisis Line – (844) 493-TALK (8255) or by texting TALK to 38255
- Crisis Text Line – Text DENVER to 741741 to reach a trained volunteer Crisis Counselor for free 24/7 confidential help in English or Spanish.
If you are looking for community resources, United Way’s 2-1-1 Help Center is available for calls, live chats, texts, or database search. Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211. Live chat or database search is available at http://211.org.