OUR Grantmaking Creates Real Community Movement
Meet Our 23 Statewide Grantee Partners
From Denver to Durango and Fort Collins to Fort Morgan, our WAGES cohort of 23 grantee partners address the needs of women and their children at the same time to build a foundation for family economic security for generations to come.
Eight Denver-based public policy partners will address statewide systems-level changes by advocating for policies that enable and empower women to enter and remain in the workforce. Fifteen direct-service grantees throughout the state will provide services for women that include training for careers in high-growth fields with advancement opportunities, high-quality child care while they pursue educational and training opportunities, and access to additional resources they need for successful career entry and transitions – including food assistance, transportation, and healthcare.
In addition to advancing policy and providing critical resources to move Colorado women and their families from promise to prosperity, the cohort will work together with WFCO for three years to learn and strategize in order to advance more women into careers that enable them to meet the needs of their families and invest in their futures.
Public Policy Grantees
9to5 Colorado
Advocating statewide for workplace flexibility, the safety net, equal opportunity, and taking steps to close the pay gap
Bell Policy Center (Bell)
Examining and prioritizing policy solutions that ensure women can prepare for, obtain, and retain living wage careers, including convening a two-generation work group and leading research efforts for paid sick leave.
Read the research
Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP)
Coordinating an advocacy coalition of multi-sector partners strengthening access to middle skill jobs, and advocating for critical supports, such as child care on college campuses. With a separate WFCO research grant, updating Colorado's Self-Sufficiency Standard and Overlooked and Undercounted, a demographic analysis of Coloradans struggling to make ends meet.
Read the research
Colorado Children’s Campaign (CCC)
Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care statewide through research, policy, and advocacy.
Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI)
Working with partners across the state to engage a coalition of supporters focused on tax reform and fiscal solutions.
Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
Engaging youth leaders to advance policy change that expands young adult access to work supports and education.
Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC)
Working to advance the reauthorization of the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.
Young Invincibles (YI)
Gathering valuable insights from young adult women and sharing solutions with multi-sector partners.
Read the research
Direct Service Grantees
Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities, (CHIC), Metro Denver
Propelling formerly gang-affiliated women out of poverty with job training, including construction apprenticeships, and peer support.
Read Frazier's story
Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE), Metro Denver
Helping single mothers enter livable wage careers and mitigate the cliff effect.
Watch Julia's story
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), Metro Denver
Training women who have experienced homelessness for tech industry careers.
Read our blog with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
CPCD (Community Partnership for Child Development), El Paso County
Providing career-focused training for parents and quality early care and education for children through a two-generation approach.
Watch Arati's story
DualStar Project: A collaborative of Pueblo Community College and Boys and Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, Pueblo County
Moving women and girls toward high-growth careers with cyber security training, mentoring, and hands-on learning
Read our blog with the DualStar Project
Eagle County Government (Department of Human Services), Eagle County
Boosting workforce success through personalized supports for women exiting public assistance.
Read our blog with Eagle County Government
Emergency Family Assistance Association, Inc. (EFAA), Boulder County
Providing basic needs support and work-based learning opportunities in partnership with Workforce Boulder County.
Read Angie's story
Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado, Metro Denver
Offering wraparound support and child care, skills and employment training, and employment navigation for teen mothers.
Mi Casa Resource Center, Metro Denver
Offering job training and wraparound supports to help women building careers in financial services, healthcare, construction, or development small businesses.
Watch Francesca's story
OneMorgan County, Morgan County
Engaging recent refugee and immigrant working mothers and building community leaders with community college support and career guidance.
Project Self-Sufficiency of Loveland-Fort Collins, Larimer County
Providing single mothers moving through postsecondary education with skilled advising, career planning, and tools to support children's success.
Watch April's story
Southwest Colorado Women's Project: A collaborative of the Durango Adult Education Center, Women’s Resource Center, and La Plata Family Centers Coalition, Southwest Colorado
Offering comprehensive career-boosting services to women, including case management, family and parenting support, and career guidance and education.
As part of the WAGES cohort, WFCO has awarded a separate grant to OMNI Institute to lead the cohort’s evaluation and learning. WAGES is made possible with the support of the Women’s Funding Network (Two-Generation Advocacy Cohort); WomenGive – United Way of Larimer County; The Chambers Fund, a donor-advised fund held at The Women’s Foundation of Colorado; and WFCO’s generous donors.
Funding opportunities
Applications for the next WAGES cohort will open in 2020. More information on how to apply for a grant will be released in 2019.
In addition to WAGES grantmaking, Beyond Our Borders and the Vail Valley regional committee also have annual grant cycles. Donor-advised funds do not accept unsolicited proposals.
Sign up for our eNewsletter to stay informed about grantmaking.