New & Next: Our Future in the Making

The Denver Foundation begins each week with a 9 a.m. all-staff meeting the Community Room -- named for its function and for the wide and picturesque view of the Denver community it displays. Quite often, something very special happens in that room as we gather: We hear a story that illuminates the ways in which our staff, trustees, donors, community partners, and grantees are working to improve the lives of our community.

On a given week, it may be a story about a donor who was moved to invest in Common Sense Discipline in the school she attended as a girl, to help keep the next generation of kids in school and learning. We may learn about the powerful University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Center partnering to engage and provide economic opportunities to its vulnerable neighbors through the Community Campus Partnership. It could be a reflection on the way a grassroots network of concerned residents are working through the Resident Leadership Institute to improve their own communities and sharing strategies with others who have the same goal.

As the largest and longest standing community foundation in Colorado, The Denver Foundation is steeped in stories. Founded in 1925, the Foundation has spent 90 years growing and nurturing strong roots and expanding branches in every aspect of life in metro Denver. In my role as director of communications for the Foundation, I hear stories at every turn that move, inspire, motivate, and, yes, even change me. It's my job to help share those stories with the public, so we all see what wonderful things can happen when we combine resources, work together, and give of ourselves.

In honor of the Foundation's 90th birthday, which we celebrate this fall, we want to hear your stories and ideas! To that end, we've launched "Our Future in the Making Contest," an online community storytelling contest that highlights your visions for Denver's future. We want to hear from you. Using the contest hashtag #DenverNext90, answer: What are you doing -- or what do you have plans to do -- to make Denver better for everyone over the next 90 years?

Each week through Nov. 30, we'll collect stories, images, and videos via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a mobile-friendly application on our website.

All entries will be displayed on our website and reviewed by a panel of community leaders (including Confluence Denver's Rebecca Saltman); winners will be awarded a $90 gift certificate to The Women's Bean Project online store.

Contest themes vary by week and include Education/Youth Development (Oct. 5-11), Arts/Culture (Oct. 12-18), Inclusiveness/Equity in Giving & Philanthropy (Oct. 19-26) and Community Leadership (Oct. 26-Nov. 1).

We can't wait to hear from you -- and to share your stories with the community. Thank you for celebrating our birthday with us -- and we look forward to the next 90 years!

Angelle Fouther is currently the Director of Communications for The Denver Foundation. Fouther has worked in the nonprofit sector for close to 20 years, primarily in the areas of philanthropy, social services and the arts.