On May 21st, the Park Hill Innovation Hub filled with conversation and connection as 50 community members, SVP Denver partners, and nonprofit and social enterprise leaders gathered to celebrate the completion of our Spring 2026 Fundraising Accelerator. Ten powerhouse organizations finished an intensive journey to strengthen their fundraising practice, and we couldn’t wait to celebrate them.

Inside the Accelerator: A Proven Method for Real Results

The Fundraising Accelerator is built on the idea that fundraising is a skill that must be developed, refined, and supported by the right systems. Over the course of eight weeks, the program gives leaders tools to move from reactive scrambling to proactive planning.

Ten organizations tackling tough challenges in and around Denver completed this three-phase process:

1. Organization and Program Goals: Clarifying your theory of change and value proposition.
2. Fundraising Strategy: Setting reasonable annual goals, identifying revenue sources, and building funder profiles.
3. Fundraising Implementation: Designing fundraising calendars, reporting schedules, and practical tactics.

This structure matters more than ever. Nationally, 61% of nonprofit leaders have experienced cuts in government funding, 48% have seen cuts in foundation funding, and 42% report not having enough resources to operate sustainably. Our cohort dove into this challenge head-on, rebuilding strategies, mindsets, and systems for the long haul.

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Reflections from Fundraising Accelerator Graduates

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI): Building the Muscle

For 25 years, CCHI has championed policy, advocacy, and direct consumer assistance, including a Consumer Assistance Program that has saved Coloradans over $13 million in the last seven years. Historically, 95% of their funding came from grants, and active fundraising was uncharted territory. As they launch their “Next 25 Initiative” capital campaign, the Fundraising Accelerator arrived at the right moment.

D.L. Pos Ryant, Director of Strategic Finance shared:

“There’s so much happening in the funding landscape and CCHI is looking to figure out how to be here for the next 25+ years. So I’m really thankful for the program…it was a lot of perspective, and I really appreciated the aspect of “being fundable”. I think a lot of times we go into fundraising and it’s like you just get to doing the work, but you didn’t do the background work to even set yourself up for success. I now think fundraising is like a muscle that you just have to exercise and continue to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, and see where you’re getting results.”

Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy, & Research Organization (CLLARO): Small and Mighty

Since 1964, CLLARO has driven policy advocacy and leadership development, including their recent work on a legislative bill to promote plain language in ballot measures and their capital fellowship pairing students with legislators. With a newly approved five-year strategic plan, “Making Democracy Work for Latinos,” the team entered the Fundraising Accelerator ready to rebuild their revenue strategy.

Gloria Rubio-Cortez, Director of Operations and Business Development, reflected:

“Here at CLLARO, we are rebuilding our revenue sources. Most of our money comes from grants, and we will continue to work on getting more grants from additional folks. What this program has done is enabled us to identify that we are small and mighty and that we have a clear theory of change to communicate to funders.”

Network Coffee House: From Hoping to Planning

For 44 years, Network Coffee House has offered something simple and radical: a space where unhoused neighbors are welcomed as human beings. Executive Director Ian Stitt described the Fundraising Accelerator as a turning point, shifting Network from a “hope for provision” mindset to a sustainable fundability model:

“SVP has been an amazing experience for us. For us to really cement what our fundraising looks like, to cement what our messaging looks like, and to talk about what the future of Network is. We took it with an opportunity to understand and learn how we can create a fundability model, create a system that will work year after year that we can plan and we can coordinate.”

Graduation & Community Celebration at The PHI Hub

The Fundraising Accelerator wrapped with a happy hour celebration at The Park Hill Innovation Hub (PHI Hub), and the room was full of warmth and momentum. Fifty community members, SVP Denver partners, nonprofit leaders, and social enterprise innovators came together to honor the cohort’s work, share stories, and connect across causes.

        

A huge thank-you to The PHI Hub, The PHI Hub Monthly Gathering with True Space, and Working Within for being partners, collaborators, and co-hosts. And thank you to our SVP Denver Partners and Cohort Advisors who walked alongside this Accelerator every step of the way: Margaret Brawley, Alan Frosh, Gaby Trigo, Alisha Harris, and Chloe Mullarkey.

Curious about becoming an SVP Partner or accessing support for your own organization? Reach out anytime at hello@svpdenver.org.

Want to support the Fundraising Accelerator graduates? Click their names below to learn more and give directly.

Blue Channel Therapy improves the quality of life for children, youth, and families through affordable, high-quality mental health therapy to reverse the impact that adverse childhood experiences have on current and future generations.

 

Network Coffee House is a hospitality house supporting our unhoused neighbors where the dignity of all people is clearly affirmed, mutual kinship is encouraged, and healing becomes possible.

 

One Good Turn is building thriving communities through impactful social enterprise, including CAFE 180 serving great food regardless of ability to pay and HearHear Counseling providing accessible counseling and mental health resources to all.

 

Jefferson County Food Policy Council has a mission is to influence policy to increase equitable access to healthy, local, and affordable food and support a sustainable community food system.

 

Orbis Institute empowers young leaders in social impact work through intentional co-living, personal growth, and community engagement.

 

 

Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy, & Research Organization (CLLARO) helps Latinos empower themselves politically, socially, and economically to strengthen Colorado.

 

Museo de las Americas is dedicated to educating the community through collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the diverse Latin American arts and cultures.

 

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative advances the consumer voice to improve access to health care for all Coloradans by working statewide for progress toward equity, affordability, and quality.

 

SustainEd Farms activates gardens on Denver Public School campuses.

 

Soul2 Soul Sisters transforms Colorado through Black women-led programs focusing on Black women’s healing and health, reparations, Black voter engagement, and ending anti-Black racism.