Trailhead Institute Receives $160,000 Capacity Building Grant from the Colorado Health Foundation
Trailhead Institute is honored to receive a two-year, $160,000 capacity-building grant from The Colorado Health Foundation to support our Administrative Partnership Program, which helps community-based organizations (CBOs) lead solutions to local health challenges.
Through APP, Trailhead supports CBOs with a focus on initiatives that are led by and serve communities experiencing health inequities. This includes communities of color, rural communities, and communities with limited access to economic opportunity, healthcare, and other factors that influence health and well-being. We provide the administrative and operational resources that partners need to access funding and build capacity, allowing them to focus on serving their communities while maintaining leadership over their goals, direction, and impact. New funding from The Colorado Health Foundation will help strengthen Colorado's community health infrastructure by expanding access to training, coaching, peer learning, and shared resources that help CBOs grow their capacity, strengthen partnerships, and advance community-led solutions.
This funding builds on a longstanding partnership with The Colorado Health Foundation, which awarded Trailhead $200,000 in 2021 through the “Enhancement and Building on Community Opportunities for Organizations” project, followed by a $350,000 capacity-building grant in 2023 to expand the program’s reach and services.
These investments from The Colorado Health Foundation have helped more community-led organizations access the infrastructure they need to serve their communities. Since 2021, the number of fiscally sponsored partners we work alongside has doubled, growing from 30 partners to more than 60 today. The program has also expanded access to fundraising tools and technology platforms like ImpactGraph that make financial information more transparent and accessible for partners. This progress demonstrates what is possible when funders invest not only in programs, but also in the infrastructure that helps community organizations thrive.
“When leaders like the Colorado Health Foundation invest in building the capacity of non-profits like ours, the impact extends far beyond a single organization,” said Michele Shimomura, President and Executive Director of Trailhead Institute. “It positions more community-based partners at the forefront of improving health in Colorado and helps build a more equitable public health system.
Today, Trailhead’s partners are leading solutions to some of Colorado’s most pressing public health challenges. From expanding access to healthcare and behavioral health services to supporting youth, families, food security, environmental health, and community well-being, these organizations are helping create healthier communities across the state. This funding will help Trailhead continue supporting these partners and further advance The Colorado Health Foundation’s commitment to bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, policy advocacy, learning and capacity building.