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.

Mission, Vision & Values

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.

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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.
• 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.

Ties with BCH Ambassadors

The Foundation works closely with and strongly supports the efforts the BCH Ambassadors (formerly Auxiliary), and the president of the Ambassadors serve as a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees. The Ambassadors sponsor fundraising events throughout the year and dedicate the proceeds to important health care initiatives.

These have included giving monies for the Mante, Mexico Medical Mission, breast cancer treatment, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a Gamma Camera, heart catheterization labs, as well as significant financial support to the Cancer Center and the Stroke Center.

Leadership

The BCH Foundation is under the leadership of a 19-member volunteer Board of Trustees. Trustees are members of the local community who donate their time to support our local health system. Members serve a three-year term and may be reappointed for a second term.

The Foundation’s president is Grant Besser. 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.