W.K. Kellogg Foundation Awards $300,000 to The Denver Foundation to Amplify Philanthropy in Communities of Color
Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 02, 2014 -- The Denver Foundation believes that community change can be especially powerful when the people most impacted by issues lead in identifying and implementing solutions. The pervasive disparities in education, health care, affordable housing, and employment are among the many issues that the Foundation addresses through funding initiatives, community partnerships, and connections with generous donors. Because these disparities disproportionately affect people of color, the Foundation leadership has made a pledge to identify and acknowledge their philanthropic contributions (time, talent, treasure, and testimony) and to deepen, leverage, and grow philanthropy among individuals and groups within communities of color. The $300,000 award from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), which will be utilized over the period of two years, will aid in a more robust implementation and evaluation of those efforts.
The Denver Foundation has core commitments to develop philanthropy, engage residents, and advance racial, ethnic, and economic equity. This has been demonstrated over the years through the Foundation’s extensive work in supporting resident engagement and resident leadership through its Strengthening Neighborhoods Program, and in providing resources to help nonprofit organizations become more racially inclusiveness through its Inclusiveness Project – efforts which have both garnered national recognition.
“The values of generosity and giving are deeply embedded in communities of color,” says David Miller, President and CEO of the Foundation. “We simply aim to connect existing and emerging donors to philanthropic vehicles such as giving circles, scholarship funds, donor-advised funds, and business funds to support issues they care about most.”
Through the dedication of staff and partnership with the Community Investment Network (another WKKF grantee), The Denver Foundation became the host to two giving circles comprised of people of color. Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP): Black Men Giving with a Purpose, which launched in May 2012, was the first. It is comprised of 20 African American men of all ages and backgrounds who each not only give a minimum of $365 a year, but also collectively invest their time and talent to positively impact community issues. There are currently more giving circles of color in the planning stages.
“We’ll know our efforts have been successful when more people of color are actively leading and investing – with their assets of time, talent, treasure, and testimony – to address the community issues that they identify,” says Miller. “We envision community leaders from across all sectors and from all racial/ethnic backgrounds visibly working together to help improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and families.”
About The Denver Foundation (TDF)
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that inspires people and mobilizes resources to improve life in Metro Denver. In 2013, the Foundation and its donors awarded over $50 million in grants. TDF has three roles: stewarding an endowment to meet current and future needs for Metro Denver, working with community leaders to address the core challenges that face the community, and managing more than 1,000 charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. For more information, visit http://www.denverfoundation.org.
About The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF)
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work, and life.
About Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP): Black Men Giving with a Purpose
African American men in Denver from all walks of life have found common ground through their passion for community and commitment to giving back. Using the model of giving circles – a cultural and historical way of like-minded people coming together and collectively giving their time, talent, and treasure to positively impact their community. DAAP holds its charitable fund at The Denver Foundation. For more info, visit: ww.facebook.com/DAAP303/info or email daapdenver(at)gmail(dot)com.
Angelle Fouther, The Denver Foundation, http://www.denverfoundation.org, +1 (303) 996-6490, [email protected]
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