As she prepares to embark on her next chapter, Denver Health Foundation (DHF), Executive Director Crystal Potter Rivera reflects on the relationships that define philanthropy, the growth of DHF, and the deep commitment that draws donors to support Denver Health.
In my experience, it’s really about the values of the donor. Denver Health appeals to the type of person who values clinical excellence, health equity, education, and research. Many of our donors don’t receive care here themselves but do recognize the importance of making lifesaving, life-changing care available to others. Some are drawn to Denver Health’s education mission, knowing we’re training the next generation of health care providers. Others connect through our school-based health centers, understanding that health and education are deeply linked. Our research efforts, particularly in serving marginalized populations and improving system efficiency, also resonate deeply. At the heart of it, Denver Health’s excellence taps into donors’ values and inspires lasting commitment.
One classic way donors come to support health care is as “grateful patients.” They experience our health system’s care firsthand and want to give back. However, because many of Denver Health’s patients don’t have the financial means to donate, we at the Foundation also think in terms of building a “grateful world.”
Denver Health staff, volunteers, former medical students, and even some financially well-off patients — people who have had meaningful experiences here — often become donors. The emotional connection they form during their employment, service, training, or care stays with them throughout their lives. So, often the Foundation’s work is about helping people deepen their relationship with the mission through personal connection.
The heart of the shift was relationship-building. Philanthropic fundraising isn’t transactional — it’s relational. Transformational gifts come from deep, authentic connections to the mission and impact of an organization and its people.
At DHF, we built strong partnerships with Denver Health’s providers, researchers, and educators. The Foundation team acts as a bridge, helping donors understand the incredible work happening here and how donors’ support drives greater impact. The trust and alignment between the Foundation, Denver Health, and our donors made this growth possible.
Relationship-building is at the core of philanthropy. We worked closely with Denver Health’s providers to identify potential donors and share an ambitious, deeply felt vision for what’s possible with philanthropic support.
Our DHF team helps translate highly technical information into stories that are accessible and inspiring. Both our partners at Denver Health and our donors believe deeply in the mission, and we help connect them in ways that lead to transformational support. By showing donors the real impact of their gifts and stewarding those relationships carefully, we’ve built a foundation of trust.
One moment that stands out is our partnership with Roots & Wings Foundation. They approached us unsolicited, saying: “You’re a safety-net health system. We hear from others that you’re a national model. We want to support that.”
They provided an unrestricted gift, trusting us to determine where the need was greatest. It was the first time in my experience that a major donor has initiated support in that way. They’ve continued to invest in our mission through unrestricted or loosely restricted gifts, which are incredibly valuable to our system. Moments like that reflect the future we’re striving toward: donors who believe deeply in Denver Health’s mission and trust us to put their investment to its best use.
When I joined the Foundation twelve and a half years ago, I was excited — curious about health care, energized by national changes, and eager to be part of something meaningful in my community.
Over time, witnessing Denver Health expand access through the Affordable Care Act, and seeing the unwavering passion of everyone here, changed me. Denver Health delivers a third of Denver’s babies. We serve about a third of the city’s residents. We catch people who fall through the cracks of other systems.
Leading the Foundation gave me a deeper understanding of how deeply people here care about Denver Health’s mission. I believe in this work with my whole heart.
My biggest hope is that the Foundation continues to be a reliable and significant source of funding for Denver Health, and that more donors move from awareness to deep devotion to the mission.
One measure of success will be the growth of unrestricted giving — because it shows trust. Another measure will be when anyone who wants to make big, transformational change in health care comes to Denver Health because they know we’ll make it happen — and make it happen well.
I trust Denver Health will continue to find ways to be sustainable. And I hope more and more donors discover, engage with, and invest in this work that is vital to the health of our community.
If you’d like to make a gift today, visit Denver Health Foundation’s donation page. Together, we can build a healthier Denver for all.
My biggest hope is that the Foundation continues to be a reliable and significant source of funding for Denver Health, and that more donors move from awareness to deep devotion to the mission.
more on these topics:
share:
