Dace West Email & Phone Number

As Chief Impact Officer, I am part of the executive leadership team for The Denver Foundation, which just reached $1 billion in assets. I also oversee the Impact Group, focused on the full range of the foundation's philanthropic and community leadership activities.*Led team who raised $300MM in assets, a 33% increase over the previous year.*Served as Interim Executive Director from January 2022 - March 2022.*Fully integrated grantmaking and donor relations functions in… Show more As Chief Impact Officer, I am part of the executive leadership team for The Denver Foundation, which just reached $1 billion in assets. I also oversee the Impact Group, focused on the full range of the foundation's philanthropic and community leadership activities.*Led team who raised $300MM in assets, a 33% increase over the previous year.*Served as Interim Executive Director from January 2022 - March 2022.*Fully integrated grantmaking and donor relations functions in innovative new organizational structure.The Denver Foundation seeks to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. More information at www.denverfoundation.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

As Vice President of Community Impact, I am part of the senior leadership team for The Denver Foundation. I also oversee the Programs Department, focused on the Foundation's nonprofit and community-facing activities. *Manage department of 13 - 17 staff members and $13 million in annual grantmaking.*Executive project manager for key initiatives including impact investing, policy advocacy, internal racial equity work, and building the organization's strategic framework.*Oversee 8… Show more As Vice President of Community Impact, I am part of the senior leadership team for The Denver Foundation. I also oversee the Programs Department, focused on the Foundation's nonprofit and community-facing activities. *Manage department of 13 - 17 staff members and $13 million in annual grantmaking.*Executive project manager for key initiatives including impact investing, policy advocacy, internal racial equity work, and building the organization's strategic framework.*Oversee 8 grantmaking funds, as well as technical assistance, leadership development, capacity building, and community relations programming.The Denver Foundation seeks to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. More information at www.denverfoundation.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

I served as Executive Director in this organization under the fiscal sponsorship of The Denver Foundation. This role's primary focus was managing a highly complex, multi-sector collaborative focused on the intersection of transit, affordable housing, economic opportunity, education, and health in Metro Denver.*Grew Mile High Connects budget by 38% over a two-year period, resulting in over $3,000,000 in revenues.*One of three sites selected nationally by Kresge Foundation to build… Show more I served as Executive Director in this organization under the fiscal sponsorship of The Denver Foundation. This role's primary focus was managing a highly complex, multi-sector collaborative focused on the intersection of transit, affordable housing, economic opportunity, education, and health in Metro Denver.*Grew Mile High Connects budget by 38% over a two-year period, resulting in over $3,000,000 in revenues.*One of three sites selected nationally by Kresge Foundation to build program to align capital resources for development efforts near transit. This included the creation of coordinated pipeline of 110 housing and commercial development opportunities across the region.*Worked intensively with cross-sector partnership resulting in reduced fares for low-income transit riders and students and three new or preserved bus routes for low-income neighborhoods.*Conducted over 80 national and local trainings on successfully building collaboration, transit equity, affordable housing, and impact investment.*Published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Nonprofit Quarterly, and interviewed for Colorado Public Radio and multiple other publications.Mile High Connects mission is to ensure that the Metro Denver regional transit system fosters communities that offer all residents the opportunity for a high quality of life. More information at www.milehighconnects.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

I had the opportunity to run this office, created by John Hickenlooper, across two mayoral administrations. The role focused on building broad based government-community partnerships, driving government innovation to make the city more accessible to nonprofits, and using city resources and assets more strategically for improved community outcomes.*Secured $1.9 million grant from Living Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch new programming*Awarded one of six Government… Show more I had the opportunity to run this office, created by John Hickenlooper, across two mayoral administrations. The role focused on building broad based government-community partnerships, driving government innovation to make the city more accessible to nonprofits, and using city resources and assets more strategically for improved community outcomes.*Secured $1.9 million grant from Living Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch new programming*Awarded one of six Government Innovation Fellows nationally through Harvard Kennedy School and Rockefeller Foundation*Created five cornerstone programs including Denver Shared Spaces and Financial Empowerment Centers, and authored all curricula for targeted training series to enhance government-nonprofit connections.*Led annual allocation and management of $2,000,000 to be distributed in the community for energy efficiency efforts and managed multiple government contracts*Conducted over 70 local and national trainings on successfully building collaboration, government contracting reform, shared office space centers, and public-nonprofit partnershipsDOSP’s purpose is to serve as an intentional bridge between the City of Denver and the nonprofit sector. DOSP holds the core belief that by working collectively, the public and nonprofit sectors can be more efficient and effective in strengthening Denver’s communities has remained. More information at www.denvergov.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

I took over running this organization from the founder and built all organizational infrastructure and systems, hired staff, enhanced programming and built relationships throughout the western United States.*Grew budget by 60%, with earned revenue comprising 40% of annual resource development.*Expanded service numbers from 234 program participants to 1,203 in one year period.*Conducted over 35 intensive, experiential trainings on secondary trauma across Colorado.*Increased… Show more I took over running this organization from the founder and built all organizational infrastructure and systems, hired staff, enhanced programming and built relationships throughout the western United States.*Grew budget by 60%, with earned revenue comprising 40% of annual resource development.*Expanded service numbers from 234 program participants to 1,203 in one year period.*Conducted over 35 intensive, experiential trainings on secondary trauma across Colorado.*Increased training corps from 3 to 10 people to meet demand of multiple sectors for secondary trauma training.*Built all organizational infrastructure including strategic plan, financial management and tracking, fundraising strategy, evaluation tools, human resource policies, and development of a strong governance board.The HealthBridge Alliance sustains care providers whose daily work involves high levels of emotional stress. The FIRST Workshop: Finding Inner Resiliency for Secondary Trauma provides caregivers with support and tools to prevent against burnout and compassion fatigue, feel more enriched in their daily lives, and more effectively serve the people they help. Secondary trauma is a phenomenon that occurs when those who are working with people who have experienced trauma or are in crisis begin to internalize the experiences of their clients. HBA's training curriculum was acquired by the State of Colorado in 2010 and the organization no longer exists. Show less

Greater Denver Area

I served as the first Development Director for Colorado Bright Beginnings, building a full fundraising strategy that included grantwriting, individual donors, corporate sponsorships, and special events.*Exceeded annual budget goal by 24%, placing Colorado Bright Beginnings in its strongest financial position in seven years.*Enabled organization to increase its operating reserve by 35%, growing the account for the first time in eight years.*Turned a projected $160,000 year-end… Show more I served as the first Development Director for Colorado Bright Beginnings, building a full fundraising strategy that included grantwriting, individual donors, corporate sponsorships, and special events.*Exceeded annual budget goal by 24%, placing Colorado Bright Beginnings in its strongest financial position in seven years.*Enabled organization to increase its operating reserve by 35%, growing the account for the first time in eight years.*Turned a projected $160,000 year-end deficit into an actual $45,000 surplus as a brand new employee by raising $252,000 of a $550,000 budget in the final quarter of of the fiscal year.*Developed and coordinated special events generating between $30,000 and $160,000 in revenue, including gala dinners, golf tournaments, and “Raising More Money” breakfast events.Bright Beginnings mission is to provide a bright beginning for all Colorado children by helping families support their children's physical, emotional and intellectual development during the critical first three years of life. More information at www.brightbythree.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

I came to this organization as it was just beginning to emerge from its founding and incubation under the Denver Area Labor Federation. This was a good place to put my new nonprofit management degree to work, as I built systems and structures, conducted all fundraising, and managed the community organizing staff.*Developed and facilitated comprehensive strategic planning process, including three year goals for new, growing organization. *Developed and executed program evaluation… Show more I came to this organization as it was just beginning to emerge from its founding and incubation under the Denver Area Labor Federation. This was a good place to put my new nonprofit management degree to work, as I built systems and structures, conducted all fundraising, and managed the community organizing staff.*Developed and facilitated comprehensive strategic planning process, including three year goals for new, growing organization. *Developed and executed program evaluation process, including outcome measures, development of measurement tools, and comprehensive year-end analysis.*Managed organizing department responsible for extensive community and labor organization outreach and running coalition campaign with over 40 organizational endorsers.*Initiated and developed FRESC Strategy School for Community Leaders, a six-month program designed to give community members and organizations analytic skills in economic policy and its impact in the Denver metro area.United for a New Economy (UNE) envisions vibrant, strong communities where all community members have a voice in the decisions that impact them, access to economic security; which includes affordable housing and good jobs and the ability to live free of racism and fear. More information at www.unecolorado.org. Show less

Greater Denver Area

There was no better place to cut my fundraising chops than at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I had the opportunity to work with the Museum's high level donor clubs, organize special events, and get my feet wet in planned giving. Plus we got to see new exhibits and IMAX movies before the workday started.The Denver Museum of Nature & Science envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world. More information at www.dmns.org.

Greater Denver Area

This was my first "official" nonprofit job. I worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week, and loved the many community members who were standing up for their rights and for their children. While the AFDC Coalition no longer has a community organizing component, the informal network of dozens of service providers engaging in policy advocacy at the state capitol is still going strong.*Developed new relationships and engaged in coalition building with 60 local organizations around poverty, health… Show more This was my first "official" nonprofit job. I worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week, and loved the many community members who were standing up for their rights and for their children. While the AFDC Coalition no longer has a community organizing component, the informal network of dozens of service providers engaging in policy advocacy at the state capitol is still going strong.*Developed new relationships and engaged in coalition building with 60 local organizations around poverty, health care, affordable housing, and child care issues.*Expanded and developed AFDC Coalition community organizing program by building two new county chapters. Managed two successful year-long organizing campaigns and several successful legislative campaigns.*Developed, organized, and conducted trainings for AFDC Coalition Leadership Institute, a year-long program of introductory and advanced campaign skills training for community members.*Conducted over 150 trainings and educational presentations in the local Denver metro nonprofit, for-profit, and government organizations and community members on low-income and economic policy issues and provided technical assistance on policy and organizing techniques to organizations and community members across the state.The All Families Deserve a Chance (AFDC) coalition is an all-volunteer network of direct service providers and policy experts that educate, strategize, lobby, support, and inform the community on issues impacting low-income families. Show less

Masters, Nonprofit Management

Ba, Political Science

Political Science