Dear Impact100 Metro Denver Members,

I hope this message finds you well and that everyone is enjoying their summer. On behalf of the Impact100 Metro Denver Board of Directors, I am writing to share an important update regarding the 2024 grant awarded to Hope Communities. Hope Communities submitted a proposal to Impact100 Metro Denver for a change in the way services are delivered to their clients.

Since receiving the grant, Hope Communities has encountered several unanticipated challenges, most notably around client safety and accessibility. The original plan involved purchasing and outfitting a mobile office (an RV) to serve immigrant and refugee populations in the Thornton/Northglenn area. However, due to rising safety concerns and difficulties securing suitable and secure parking locations, they have reassessed this approach.

Considering recent developments—both in community needs and in the seismic shifts in the current funding landscape—Hope Communities is proposing to reallocate the grant funds toward securing a stable, secure office space in Northglenn. This location would allow them to better serve clients through scheduled appointments, workshops, and ongoing support while prioritizing safety and privacy. Hope Communities’ request involves a change in the way the services are delivered to clients. It does not involve a change in the core services and target population they plan to serve as described in their original application.

The revised funding allocation would include:

$9,250 for office rent (1 year)
$3,000 for furniture and equipment
$3,600 for client basic needs
$8,000 to match federal SNAP outreach funding
$76,150 to retain program staff serving immigrants and refugees

Dale Skivington and Liz Couture, our grant liaisons, and I met with Sharon Knight and Brenda Roush, members of the senior leadership team from Hope Communities. It was an open and positive communication. It was determined the Governance Committee should meet; discuss the proposal; and make a recommendation to the entire Impact100 Board. The Governance Committee met and recommended the Board accept Hope Communities’ proposal. On Monday, June 16, 20225, the Impact100 Board of Directors met in an Emergency Session and voted to approve the request for the reallocation of funds from a RV to an office space.

This proposed shift reflects a thoughtful, mission-driven response to changing realities and the urgent needs of the communities they serve. It also ensures that resources are used in the most impactful way possible – supporting direct services and maintaining essential staff amid federal funding cuts. We commend Hope Communities for their proactive approach and continued commitment to vulnerable populations in our region. It also demonstrates the strong partnerships established and cultivated between Impact100 Metro Denver and its grantees.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to collective impact. We wanted the entirety of the membership to be kept informed to promote visibility and transparency. Please let me or any other Impact100 Board member know if you have any questions or need any additional information.

Warm regards,

Deborah Brackney
President
Impact100 Metro Denver