Background Statement
The development of Illuminate Colorado was the result of careful consideration, strategic planning, and due diligence. The thorough planning and implementation process would not have been possible without the generous support of our Board of Directors, the Denver Active 20-30 Children's Foundation, and Social Venture Partners Denver.
In October 2014, the Board of Directors of the Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (Colorado DEC) voted to explore a partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Colorado (PCA Colorado) and the Colorado Chapter of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS Colorado) following years of close collaboration.
In January 2015, Colorado DEC was selected as one of two inaugural investees in a Social Venture Partners Denver and Denver Active 20/30 Children's Foundation Capacity Building Project. This project focused on uniting the work of the three organizations, and after a year of careful consideration, strategic planning, legal research, and financial due diligence, Illuminate Colorado was formed in December 2015. Governed by a single Board of Directors and operating under a joint services agreement, programs are fully integrated to leverage resources and increase capacity to implement powerful programs to keep kids safe.
Beginning October 1, 2016, Illuminate Colorado added a fourth agency to the strategic partnership - Sexual Abuse Forever Ending (SAFE). SAFE works to educate and empower children and adults to reduce stigma and prevent child sexual abuse.
Full consolidation of the four organizations was complete on January 1, 2017 to leverage resources and increase capacity to more effectively prevent child maltreatment in Colorado. Since then we've grown exponentially to a staff of more than 50 employees working to strengthen families, organizations and communities.