POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Sparking change is essential, but it’s only the first step. Public investments are often required to scale up interventions and broaden their impact, making advocacy and policy grantmaking one of the most powerful tools available to funders.
THE BELL POLICY CENTER
The most respected progressive policy think tank in Colorado
The Bell Policy Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy center dedicated to making Colorado a state of opportunity for all. Merle Chambers was a founder and long-time board member of the Bell. Chambers Fund provided start-up funding and continues to provide general support as a key means to advance the foundation’s commitment to equity, inclusiveness and well-being. Since 2001, the Bell has researched and advocated for progressive policies on a wide array of issues, ranging from predatory and payday lending to state budgetary and fiscal matters, family economic security, workforce development and strengthening civic engagement.
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CAMPAIGN
The leading voice for child well-being, health and education in Colorado
Since 1985, Colorado Children’s Campaign has been at the forefront of hundreds of policy wins for children. Key reforms and advances have resulted in increased funding for preschool and an effective, coordinated state system of early care and education. Chambers Fund played a key role in helping the nonpartisan nonprofit secure the broad-based general funding needed to be an effective advocacy organization and supported the creation of an endowment to help ensure its future.
Visit Colorado Children’s Campaign
DENVER WOMEN’S COLLABORATIVE
Increasing the advocacy capacity of women-serving nonprofit organizations
Since 2013, Chambers Fund and Rose Community Foundation have supported Denver Women’s Collaborative to advocate on behalf of the women they serve. An initiative of nine direct service organizations serving women, the collaborative has increased its understanding of how to effectively and actively engage in advocacy and policy in partnership with nonprofit advocacy organizations. Through this initiative, education and training support has been provided by the Alliance for Justice to the boards and staff of the nine organizations and the collaborative has successfully changed policies that positively impact their clients.