For more than 40 years, Cat Care Society has been a compassionate champion for cats in need across Colorado. Founded in 1981, the Lakewood-based nonprofit was created with a simple but powerful belief: every cat deserves to be valued, loved, and treated with dignity, regardless of age, health, or ability. As one of Colorado Nonprofit Association’s founding members, Cat Care Society has spent decades demonstrating how mission-driven organizations can create lasting change through compassion, innovation, and community partnership.

Unlike many traditional shelters, Cat Care Society offers a unique free-roaming environment where cats can explore, play, lounge, and socialize in enriching spaces designed to reduce stress and support their well-being. Cages are used only when medically necessary, and outdoor catios provide fresh air and enrichment whenever weather allows. This thoughtful approach helps cats thrive while they await loving forever homes and creates a welcoming experience for prospective adopters.

Cat Care Society is also recognized for saying “yes” to cats that often have nowhere else to turn. The organization provides specialized care for senior cats and those living with medical conditions such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), diabetes, and kidney disease. Each year, the shelter cares for more than 1,200 cats, providing medical treatment, nutritious food, enrichment, and individualized attention that gives every animal the opportunity to heal and find a family.

Beyond adoption services, Cat Care Society is a trusted community resource and leader in animal welfare throughout Colorado. The organization partners with shelters and rescue groups across the state, shares expertise with pet owners, and works collaboratively to improve outcomes for vulnerable cats. Entirely funded through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners, Cat Care Society receives no government funding and relies on the support of people who believe every cat deserves a chance to thrive.

Today, Cat Care Society continues to build on more than four decades of service with a commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and transparency. Guided by its vision of a collaborative community where all cats have the opportunity to thrive, the organization remains a beloved resource for both cats and the people who care for them. Their enduring impact reflects the strength of Colorado’s nonprofit sector and the important role founding members like Cat Care Society have played in helping build a more compassionate and connected community.

Visit their website to learn more or adopt: https://www.catcaresociety.org/

For more than four decades, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation has been dedicated to advancing the mission of Children’s Hospital Colorado by inspiring philanthropy that transforms the lives of children and families. Established in 1978, the Foundation serves as the philanthropic partner of the region’s only nonprofit pediatric hospital, ensuring that generous donors, community members, and corporate partners can invest in world-class pediatric care, groundbreaking research, education, and advocacy that improve children’s health across Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region, and beyond.

Children’s Hospital Colorado is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, earning a place among the Top 10 children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report and ranking #1 in Colorado and the surrounding region. With nationally recognized expertise across all pediatric specialties—from cancer and blood disorders, cardiology, neurology, and orthopedics to fetal care, transplant medicine, surgery, and more—the hospital provides exceptional care for children at every stage of life. Every day, its physicians, nurses, researchers, and care teams work to ensure kids have the opportunity to grow, heal, and reach their fullest potential.

As a nonprofit hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado relies on philanthropy to make this work possible. Every gift—whether it comes from a neighborhood fundraiser, a family foundation, a corporate partner, or a lifelong donor—helps fuel innovative research, expand access to specialized care, invest in life-saving technology, and support families during some of their most challenging moments. The Foundation’s commitment to financial stewardship ensures that every dollar donated directly advances the hospital’s mission of caring for and curing children through high-quality patient care, education, research, and advocacy.

Beyond funding extraordinary care, the Foundation builds meaningful connections between the hospital and the community through fundraising campaigns, volunteer engagement, special events, donor recognition, and inspiring stories that celebrate resilience, hope, and generosity. Together with supporters across the region, the Foundation is helping create brighter futures for children while ensuring every family has access to the compassionate, expert care they deserve—regardless of their ability to pay.

As one of Colorado Nonprofit Association’s founding members, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation has long demonstrated the power of mission-driven collaboration and community investment. Their enduring commitment to improving children’s health and strengthening communities reflects the vital role nonprofits play in creating a healthier, more hopeful future for all Coloradans.

Visit their website to learn more and support: https://www.supportchildrenscolorado.org/

We believe in kid-powered learning.

Every day, we work to open doors for our future leaders, innovators, and adventurers to explore, create and learn – on their own terms. Our target ages are newborn through eight years old, but everyone can have a good time at the Museum! Our exhibits are hands-on, interactive and totally one-of-a-kind.

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is a 501(c)(3), private non-profit organization and a Tier II SCFD member. 

Mission

To create extraordinary experiences that champion the wonder and joy of childhood.

History

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus was founded in 1973 (Articles of Incorporation, May 9, 1973) by a group of parents, educators and other professionals who wanted to create an interactive cultural and educational institution for children and families. After two successful traveling exhibitions, the Museum recognized the need for a permanent location to further serve the needs of the community. The Museum leased and renovated a building just south of downtown Denver on Bannock St. and opened its doors in January 1975. Within months of opening, the Museum was drawing record numbers from the metro Denver area and beyond. Planning began for a larger facility, and in 1984 the Museum moved to its current home along the west bank of the South Platte River location. In 2015, the Museum underwent an extensive expansion that doubled its public space and welcomed seven new exhibits and extra amenities.  in 2019, the Museum opened Adventure Forest, it’s iconic 500 ft long outdoor adventure course and immersive art installation and in 2023, it opened Bloom, a groundbreaking space for children newborn – 36 months and their caregivers.

Our Commitment to Our Community

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is a community gathering place. We welcome all children and their adults, regardless of ability, age, color, creed, ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, immigration status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, and invite everyone to learn and explore together.

We celebrate diversity in all aspects of our organization. Through inclusive programming, exhibits, communal spaces and hiring practices, we commit to creating an environment that reflects and respects our community.

Why children’s museums?

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is a member of the Association of Children’s Museums, a trade organization made up of more than 500 members. Children’s museums are one of the fastest-growing segments in United States educational/cultural institutions. Over the last decade, the number of children’s museums has grown by 100% annually, reaching 30 million children and their families. Children’s museums rank only second to zoos among museum-related attractions in their ability to attract ethnically and culturally diverse audiences, and address the developmental needs of young children.

Location

2121 Children’s Museum Drive
Denver, CO 80211

Get in Touch

303-561-0107
www.mychildsmuseum.org

“…every generation of staff, board members, donors, and community partners believed this work mattered—and survivors never stopped showing us why it does.”

The work of Ember Center has never been measured simply by the number of people it serves. It is measured in moments.

The parent who found safety. The survivor who discovered their voice in court. The child who experienced security for the first time. Those moments, repeated thousands of times over four decades, tell the story of an organization that has quietly transformed lives across Colorado.

As one of CNA’s founding members, Ember Center has grown from operating a 24-hour crisis line in 1985 to providing a comprehensive continuum of services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. While its programs have expanded and evolved, its purpose has remained steadfast: meeting people during some of the hardest moments of their lives and helping them build safer futures.

Like many nonprofits, Ember Center has continually adapted to changing circumstances. Economic downturns, shifting funding environments, evolving community needs, and the COVID-19 pandemic each required new approaches. During the pandemic, the organization reimagined emergency shelter models, creating solutions that ultimately improved outcomes for survivors. Every challenge became an opportunity to strengthen both the organization and the services it provides.

Throughout those years, CNA has been a trusted source of connection and support. Whether navigating leadership transitions, strategic planning, or broader sector challenges, Ember Center has valued being part of a statewide community committed to learning and growing together.

Today, the organization draws hope from Colorado’s nonprofit sector itself—one that increasingly chooses collaboration over competition and continues to innovate in service of stronger communities.

Forty years later, Ember Center’s story is ultimately one of people: generations of staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners who believed this work mattered—and survivors whose courage continues to remind us why it does.

Learn more or get help: Visit embercenterco.org to explore Ember Center’s programs and resources. If you or someone you know has been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault, call Ember Center at 303-688-8484 for support.

The needs of a community never stand still, and neither has Jewish Family Service of Colorado.

As one of Colorado Nonprofit Association’s founding members, JFS has spent decades listening carefully, responding thoughtfully, and evolving continually to meet emerging needs. What began as an organization serving families through a core set of services has expanded to include programs such as the Weinberg Food Pantry, KidSuccess school-based counseling, Employment Services, refugee resettlement, and para-chaplain services, each created in response to changing realities facing Colorado families.

Perhaps no achievement reflects the organization’s character more than its ability to respond during moments of crisis. Whether confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting communities affected by the Marshall Fire, helping families through reductions in SNAP benefits, or addressing Colorado’s growing youth mental health needs, JFS has remained agile while ensuring individuals continued receiving the support they depended upon.

That adaptability has also been essential in navigating funding uncertainties and policy changes that often affect the very people the organization exists to serve. Throughout every challenge, JFS has remained focused on helping individuals and families build stability and opportunity.

The organization values its longstanding relationship with Colorado Nonprofit Association as a source of professional development, advocacy, and connection. Access to shared resources—and to a statewide community of nonprofit leaders—has strengthened both the organization and the people it serves.

As Colorado looks ahead, JFS finds hope in the compassion and generosity that define our state’s nonprofit community. Forty years after joining CNA as a founding member, the organization continues to demonstrate that resilience is built through partnership, service, and an unwavering commitment to meeting people where they are.

To learn more about JFS, explore its services, volunteer, or seek assistance, visit jewishfamilyservice.org, contact JFS through its website, or call 720.248.4701.

Project PAVE was established in 1986 in response to a number of violent incidents in the Denver area. Community leaders came together to create a framework for intervening early in the lives of youth and families exposed to relationship violence and to promote alternatives to violence in youth relationships.

Our Approach

At Project PAVE, we believe that every young person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered—in their relationships, at school, and in their community. Our approach blends trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and a deep commitment to meeting youth and families where they are. We partner with schools and community organizations to deliver wraparound support that addresses the full spectrum of needs, from prevention to crisis intervention.

Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered

Everything we do is rooted in the principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trust, collaboration, choice, and empowerment. We understand that violence and adversity impact every aspect of a young person’s life, and our therapists, educators, and advocates are trained to respond with compassion and evidence-based practices that support healing.

Culturally Humble and Responsive

We recognize that healing is not one-size-fits-all. Our diverse team reflects the communities we serve and brings lived experience that allows for authentic connection. We approach every interaction with cultural humility, listening first and adapting our work to affirm each young person’s identity. Services are available in English and Spanish, and we partner with translation agencies to ensure accessibility for all language communities. We also create safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+, male, female, and nonbinary youth.

Meeting Youth Where They Are

We know the best way to reach youth is to meet them in the environments where they already feel comfortable—schools, community centers, sports teams, even at home. Our school-based and mobile service model removes barriers like transportation, cost, and stigma, making it easier for young people to access help when they need it most.

Guided by Youth Voice

Young people are not just participants in our programs—they are co-creators. Through our Youth Community Educators Program (YCEP), youth leaders shape our curriculum, inform program decisions, and ensure our services remain relevant to the real experiences of Denver’s youth. This integration of youth voice keeps our work authentic, responsive, and impactful.

Holistic and Wraparound Support

We integrate prevention and intervention services so that youth receive seamless support. A student might attend a healthy relationships class, connect with a therapist the same week, and have their family linked to resources by our advocate—all within the same trusted network. This wraparound model strengthens protective factors, builds resilience, and supports long-term wellbeing.

Rooted in Equity and Inclusion

Racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are not add-ons—they are woven into the fabric of our work. From intentional hiring to ongoing anti-oppression training, to partnerships with high-need, majority BIPOC schools, we ensure that our programs address both the immediate impacts of violence and the systemic inequities that perpetuate it.

EDUCATION

Path to Healthy Relationships (PATH)

This program is designed to help young people:

• Recognize healthy vs. unhealthy relationship behaviors
• Communicate needs and set boundaries with confidence
• Manage emotions and resolve conflicts in healthy ways

PATH is PAVE’s flagship education program series, taught in middle and high schools across the Denver Metro area. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, PTHR equips students with the knowledge and skills to build safe, respectful relationships in all areas of life—family, friendships, dating, and online. Through interactive lessons, students learn about communication, consent, boundary-setting, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and recognizing unhealthy behaviors. The program is designed to be engaging, developmentally appropriate, and relevant to the lived experiences of the youth we serve, helping them make informed choices and prevent relationship violence before it starts.

Social Emotional Learning Facilitation (SELF)

SELF is PAVE’s small-group program designed to help youth build the emotional and social skills they need to thrive. Offered in schools and community settings, SELF provides a supportive, peer-based environment where students practice self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Guided by trained facilitators, participants explore topics like coping with stress, building self-esteem, managing conflict, and fostering empathy—skills that improve mental health, strengthen relationships, and boost academic and personal success.

This program is designed to help young people:

• Increase self-awareness and ability to manage emotions
• Improve coping skills and stress management strategies
• Develop stronger, deeper, and more positive relationships with peers and adults

True Man

True Man is PAVE’s healthy masculinity program, developed in partnership with the Denver Broncos to engage boys and young men in redefining what it means to “be a man.” Through interactive workshops and honest dialogue, participants examine the impact of gender norms, learn to express emotions in healthy ways, and practice building respectful relationships. True Man fosters empathy, self-respect, and accountability, empowering participants to challenge harmful stereotypes and become positive role models in their schools and communities.

This program is designed to help boys and young men:

• Cultivate awareness of how gender stereotypes and bias influence our behavior in intimate relationships
• Increase empathy and respect for themselves and others
• Identify, process, and express their emotions in healthy ways

THERAPY

School-Based Therapy

School-Based Therapy brings PAVE’s licensed, trauma-informed therapists directly into partner schools, eliminating common barriers like cost, transportation, and stigma. Offered at no charge, therapy sessions provide a safe, confidential space for youth to navigate challenging relationship dynamics, relationship violence, or domestic violence, and help them process the impacts of trauma, violence, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. By working in close collaboration with school staff, our therapists ensure that support is timely, accessible, and tailored to each student’s needs.

This program is designed to help young people:

• Navigate challenging relationships with friends, peers, family and community members
• Heal from trauma resulting from intimate partner violence
• Manage and maintain their mental wellness

CONNECTIONS

Youth & Family Advocacy

Youth & Family Advocacy provides mobile, client-led support to help youth survivors and their families navigate the challenges that often accompany trauma. Our advocates meet clients where they feel safest—whether at school, home, or in the community—to connect them with resources like housing assistance, food security, technology access, and legal support. We also offer court accompaniment, safety planning, and help applying for victim compensation or other benefits. By addressing practical needs alongside emotional support, our advocacy services reduce stressors, remove barriers, and create the stability young people need to heal and thrive.

This program is designed to help young people and their families:

• Increase access to resources that support safety and stability
• Gain confidence in navigating systems and advocating for needs
• Reduce external stressors that impact mental health and wellbeing

EMPOWERMENT

Youth Community Educators Program (YCEP)

YCEP is PAVE’s youth leadership initiative that trains and mentors high school students to become peer educators and advocates for healthy relationships throughout the year. YCEP members—many of whom reflect the communities and lived experiences of the youth we serve—help shape PAVE’s curriculum, co-facilitate workshops, and lead outreach efforts in schools and community spaces. By centering youth voice, YCEP ensures our programs remain relevant, authentic, and responsive to the real challenges young people face, while equipping participants with professional development opportunities and leadership, public speaking, and advocacy skills they can carry into the future.

This program is designed to help young people:

-Become peer leaders and advocates in anti-violence and healthy relationships
-Increase confidence and skills in leadership, public speaking, and community advocacy
-Obtain professional development and college-readiness opportunities