The Colorado Health Foundation released a new white paper explaining its decision to create and endow Healthier Colorado, a 501(c)(4) political organization that is free to engage in lobbying and elections.
The foundation transitioned from a public charity to a private foundation in 2011. Under federal rules of the new tax status, the foundation was no longer able to lobby for or against specific pieces of legislation. Through a thoughtful and transparent process with external partners, foundation leadership considered how to continue its long track record of engaging in policy and advocacy through a unique opportunity: to form a separate and independent 501(c)(4) organization that would focus on health policy advocacy, lobbying, and grassroots political activism in the state.
Established in 2013, this new political nonprofit began with $15 million in seed funding from the foundation, over the span of three years, and a mission to build grassroots support for health policy. To date, Healthier Colorado has had significant success. It has rallied Colorado residents in support of legislation allowing local farmers to sell nutritious crops to school food programs. It has partnered with a coalition to improve nutrition standards at the 2,000 licensed child care centers caring for 100,000 Colorado children a year. Most notably, on Election Day in 2016, Healthier Colorado helped secure a sugary beverage tax in Boulder, Colorado.
The white paper, Creating a Healthier Colorado, outlines the foundation’s transition to private foundation tax status and its evolution of policy engagement, as well as the process behind the formation and advocacy work of Healthier Colorado to date.
Read the organization’s blog, white paper, and Healthier Colorado’s companion white paper for additional information.
Contact: Keri Jones
Phone: 303.953.3695
Email: kjones@coloradohealth.org