About the BCH Foundation
Established in 1978, the Boulder Community Health Foundation is a 501(C)(3)
nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to enhancing quality and
availability of health care services in Boulder County. The Foundation
generates and administers all charitable gifts to our nonprofit community-owned
hospital system to innovate and stay at the forefront of medical advancements
and technology and provide full access to emergency care to all.
The generosity of our community has led to more than $60 million raised
in support of BCH. During this time, over $50 million has been directly
contributed to BCH and an endowment close to $40 million has been established.
On average, the Foundation has granted $2.6 million annually to BCH in
recent years in support of various capital and programmatic priorities.
Our Mission
The Foundation exists to enhance the quality and availability of health
care services in Boulder County by generating and administering charitable
gifts to our nonprofit, community-owned hospital and health system.
Our Vision
We aspire to be a significant contributor to assist BCH to maintain its
role as a premier provider of health care in the Boulder Valley. Through
public education and information exchange, we encourage philanthropic
giving that is used to enhance patient and family care. We help enable
our locally-owned and governed nonprofit health care system to innovate
and stay in the forefront of medical advancements and technology and provide
full access to emergency care to all Boulder County citizens.
Through fundraising coupled with diligent management of the Foundation’s
endowment, we award meaningful grants to the health system for enhancing
health care. Through community involvement, Boulder Community Health will
continue to be the area's most caring, inviting and well-equipped
health care system.
Our Values
- We believe a nonprofit, community-owned and governed health system is a
valuable resource and we pledge to further strengthen Boulder Community
Health’s important purpose in the community.
- As Foundation trustees and in alliance with our partner, the Boulder Community
Health Ambassadors, we envision our role as ambassadors and we pledge
to inform and educate our fellow citizens about the merits of this strong
and innovative community-owned health system.
- We value access to the community health system for all in need, regardless
of ability to pay.
- We pledge to be effective stewards of Foundation funds and will carefully
manage the investment portfolio.
- We seek to annually grant an appropriate amount of the Foundation’s
net worth to meaningful programs that enhance quality health care initiatives
provided by Boulder Community Health.
- We value the timely and accurate dissemination of information to the community
on health care trends, challenges and opportunities.
- We will keep the community advised, both formally and informally, about
opportunities for giving in order to meet the health system's goals,
needs and challenges.
- We pledge to set an example in the community by our own giving and our
presence and support at fundraising events.
- We value all gifts, regardless of size, and we recognize each gift in a
timely and appropriate manner.
- We value each donor’s wishes and needs and enjoy individualizing
donor agreements to accomplish personal wishes.
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We value our employees and volunteers by:
- Encouraging educational interaction with the board.
- Encouraging grant requests and giving them fair consideration.
- Sharing positive donor feedback.
- Encouraging and recognizing employee giving.
Grant Besser, BCH Foundation President
Grant came to BCH from Teach for America, a national nonprofit organization
dedicated to strengthening equity and excellence in education. As Chief
Marketing Officer, Grant was instrumental in expanding that organization’s
national brand presence, developing key partnerships and supporting the
organization’s teacher recruitment and fundraising efforts. Prior
to Teach for America, Grant served in senior management positions at Warner
Bros. and Yahoo.
Grant lives in Boulder with his wife and three sons.
Ona Wigginton, BCH Foundation Director
Ona Wigginton is a Colorado native who has worked in the non-profit sector
for more than 20 years. Ona began her nonprofit work as a counselor at
Gemini House, which is part of Family Tree, Inc. While most of her non-profit
career since then has been spent in museums (Denver Art Museum and Denver
Museum of Nature & Science), Ona has held leadership positions and
fundraising positions in higher education, human services, and healthcare
as well. Ona joined the BCH Foundation as Director in September 2017.
Ona is the daughter of Lithuanian immigrants and grew up in Adams County.
She currently lives in Mead with her husband Joe and daughter Holli. An
animal lover to the core, Ona has three dogs (all rescues) and two miniature horses.
Beth Smith, BCH Foundation Program Manager
Born and raised in Hampton, VA, Beth lived in Virginia Beach, VA before
moving to Boulder in April of 2013. Beth currently serves as the Foundation
Program Manager for the Boulder Community Health Foundation. Before joining
the Foundation, she worked at the Dairy Arts Center for 5 years as Development
Director where she helped lead their transformative Capital Campaign,
created a children’s program for Title I kindergartners called Kids
at the Dairy, and formed many relationships within the community. Prior
to the Dairy Arts Center, Beth worked as a mentor/lifeguard at the Boys
and Girls Club of the Peninsula and served as a Development Coordinator
at CHIP of South Hampton Roads.
Beth lives in North Boulder with her husband Andy and their cat Mitzi.
Paige Schwartz, BCH Foundation Coordinator
Paige has been the Foundation Coordinator since October 2018. She obtained
her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Communications from North Dakota
State University in May 2018. During her collegiate career, she interned
for Sanford Health in Fargo, ND and the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO.
As the Foundation Coordinator, Paige is responsible for providing support
to other staff members and working in the Foundations database systems.
Carroll Christman, BCH Foundation Development Officer
A native of greater Chicago, Carroll began her development career at a
small community hospital in suburban Chicago after earning her BA degree
from Marquette University. Her ensuing experience brought her to non-profits
both large and small for 28 years in Boulder; largely at the University
of Colorado at Boulder in development and leadership positions. In 2015,
Carroll accepted an offer to lead the development efforts of the division
of arts and humanities at the University of California Berkeley where
she grew the team from just herself to a group of five professionals.
Carroll joined BCHF in 2020, returning permanently to Colorado from California.
Carroll and her husband Doug live in Superior and are parents to 5 adult
children and 5 grandchildren.
View previous Foundation Board of Trustees.