Questions Surface Over Colorado Trust Approach To Equity And Grant Funding

By Debbie Kelley | The Denver Gazette

A redirection in grantmaking that began two years ago for The Colorado Trust, a 40-year-old Denver-headquartered funder, has led some employees to now voice concerns, which has reportedly put their jobs in jeopardy.

The vice president of communications for the private health equity foundation says the course has been set for years, with this being the third year of a strategic plan to primarily focus on three “social determinants of health:” food, housing, and mental and behavioral health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines social determinants of health as nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as environmental, educational, economic and employment-related conditions arising out of where a person is born, grows up, works and lives.

But those familiar with the changes say they’re concerned that equity — the heart of the organization — will get lost.

That hasn’t happened and won’t happen, said Julian Kesner, vice president of communications.

“The bottom line is we’ve been doing the same work now with the same focus areas for three years; we have not changed anything,” he said.

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