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Frequently Asked Questions

This webpage provides answers to common questions about the Colorado Access Foundation and its work. If your question isn’t answered here, please contact our team at info@coaccessfoundation.org.

General Information

What is the difference between Colorado Access and Colorado Access Foundation?

Colorado Access Foundation and Colorado Access are two separate entities with distinct roles and focus areas. However, they share common goals and a commitment to advancing health equity in Colorado. Here are some key differences between the two organizations.

 

Colorado Access

Colorado Access is the largest public-sector health plan in the state. It partners with providers and community organizations to deliver comprehensive health care services to its members. Colorado Access prioritizes personalized care and measurable outcomes. This commitment is a key part of its work towards health equity and sustainable systems that benefit its members.

Colorado Access Foundation

In the fall of 2021, Colorado Access established the Colorado Access Foundation as a corporate private foundation to help advance the mission of Colorado Access. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and operates independently from Colorado Access. The Foundation’s primary objective is to advance health equity through community investments, policy change, and collaborative learning and action. Our work focuses on two key areas: building a more diverse health care workforce and improving the key conditions that affect health. These efforts aim to address the root causes of health disparities at a systemic level while also responding to specific needs of individual communities.

What principles guide the Foundation’s work?
  • Vision: Colorado is a place where all can achieve their fullest potential for health.
  • Mission: To promote innovative health care, health-supporting services, and community partnerships to advance health equity for Coloradans.
  • Values: The Colorado Access Foundation has three key values:
    1. Local: We champion community-focused initiatives led by Coloradans, for Coloradans.
    2. Transformative: We commit to long-term investments that seed change and promote better health outcomes for Coloradans.
    3. Inclusive: We center the experiences, insights, and hopes of community members when making funding decisions.

Funding Priorities and Eligibility Criteria

What are the Colorado Access Foundation's funding priorities?

The Foundation focuses on two main areas:

  1. Building a more diverse health care workforce.
  2. Improving key conditions that affect health, including housing stability, access to nutritious food, and reliable transportation.
How does the Colorado Access Foundation intend to achieve lasting and meaningful impact in its areas of focus?

Our impact strategy (a theory of change) outlines our process for addressing key social or environmental challenges, identifying opportunities for positive change, and measuring the effectiveness of the Foundation’s initiatives. The visual representation of the impact strategy provides a high-level explanation of how we aim to achieve lasting and meaningful impact in our focus areas.

We encourage you to review our impact strategy, available in English and Spanish.

Who is eligible to apply for a grant?

Eligible applicants are Colorado-based nonprofit organizations and institutions classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). New or emerging organizations without 501(c)(3) status can also apply through a tax-exempt organization acting as a fiscal sponsor. Priority is given to organizations that serve racially and ethnically diverse individuals, people with lower incomes, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and those enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).

Are there specific geographic priorities for funding?

Yes, the Foundation prioritizes funding for projects and programs serving Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties and certain statewide efforts.

What types of projects will be considered for funding?

The Foundation is interested in proposals that:

  • Promote, build, expand, and retain a diverse health care workforce through education, training, and support programs.
  • Ensure access to safe and stable housing, nutritious food, and reliable transportation.
Can you provide examples of eligible uses of funds?

Examples include:

  • Health workforce: Pathway programs, education/training opportunities, mentoring, internships, and financial assistance.
  • Housing: Affordable housing initiatives, supportive housing, and integration of housing with health care services.
  • Food: Initiatives addressing food access inequalities, increasing food assistance program participation, and community partnerships.
  • Transportation: Expanding public transportation, discounted transportation programs, transportation to medical appointments, and promoting walking/cycling infrastructure.

Grant Process

How can my organization apply for a grant?

Currently, grant proposals are accepted by invitation only. Interested organizations can contact the Foundation via the submission form on the Foundation’s website. The Foundation may issue an open call for applications in the future.

Additional Information

What types of projects will not be funded?

The Foundation does not fund political campaigns, voter registration drives, religious projects, operating deficits, or debt retirement. For more details, please review the grant guidelines.

English | Espanól

Does the Foundation fund sponsorships?

The Foundation does not fund sponsorships. For sponsorship requests, please contact the Colorado Access Community Giving Program at cgp@coaccess.com.

Where can I find a list of the Foundation's past and current grant partners?

A list of grant partners can be accessed on the Colorado Access Foundation website.

How can I check if my organization belongs to the Colorado Access provider network or the community-based organization (CBO) network?

If your organization has an active agreement (contract or memorandum of understanding) with Colorado Access, you would be considered part of the Colorado Access provider network or the CBO network.

The Colorado Access provider network includes various health care professionals and facilities that are contracted to offer inpatient, outpatient, laboratory, and all other covered physical and behavioral health care services under Colorado Access programs. The CBO network includes organizations that provide community-based support and services to local populations.

If you have any further questions or need more assistance, please contact the Foundation team for clarification and support.

Foundation Board and Staff

Who is on the Foundation’s board of directors?

Currently, the board of directors has seven members:

  • Alisha Brown, MNM (she/her), senior vice president, The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities
  • Annie Lee, JD (she/her), foundation board chair, president and CEO, Colorado Access
  • Ben Bynum, MD (he/him), senior director, impact investing, Colorado Health Foundation
  • Dawn Matera Bassett MSW, LCSW, PhD (she/her), college of health and human sciences grants director, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  • Jeffrey L. Harrington, MBA (he/him), foundation board secretary, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Leah Pryor-Lease (she/her), director of community & external relations, Colorado Access
  • Lydia Prado, PhD (she/her), executive director, Lifespan Local
Who is on the Foundation team?
  • Cassidy Smith MPH (she/her), executive director
  • Mirella Chavez (she/her), foundation program manager
  • Carrie Jones (she/her), foundation program coordinator

Contact Information

How can I contact the Foundation for more information?

For additional information or to discuss potential funding opportunities, please use the submission form here to contact the Colorado Access Foundation. You can also sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter to receive updates about future funding opportunities.

Address:
Colorado Access Foundation

11100 E. Bethany Drive
Aurora, CO 80014

Phone: 720-744-6286, 888-777-7802

Email: info@coaccessfoundation.org

Website: coaccessfoundation.org

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