THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF COLORADO

Denver

News: Lauren Casteel, who has served as president of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado since 2015, today revealed that she will retire in January.

The announcement came in a letter to supporters from board chair Tania Zeigler. “With her bold commitment to gender, racial and economic equity, Lauren transformed our statewide impact,” Zeigler said. “As the first woman of color to lead The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, she took us on a learning journey of how to be an inclusive community foundation and operate from a place of joy and abundance.

“Her effortless ability to connect and collaborate with diverse communities as well as her powerful speaking will continue to inspire our work as we pursue change on behalf of all Colorado women.”

Noah Atencio, chief executive officer of Philanthropy Colorado, added that Casteel “Has been a bold an unapologetic champion for equity and has continually inspired Colorado’s philanthropic sector to meet the needs of historically marginalized members of our community. She has been at the forefront of using policy and grantmaking to change lives, communities and systems.”

Prior to joining The Women’s Foundation, Casteel had led two other foundations, the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation and Hunt Alternatives Fund. She had also put in 16 years as president of The Denver Foundation and served on numerous nonprofit boards.

The daughter of the late civil rights leaders Whitney M. Young Jr. And Margaret Bucker Young and mother of artist Jordan Casteel, Lauren Casteel also was the first Black woman to be a television personality in Colorado’s and the first Black woman to be a senior communications advisor to a Denver mayor.

Following her retirement, Casteel plans to continue serving on the board of trustees for The Colorado Health Foundation and explore “What radical rest looks like.”

Of her time at The Women’s Foundation, Casteel said she is “Most proud of the passion, innovation and excellence generated by the board and staff. Standing together we have made significant economic gains for women and their families. And yet, the importance of supporting our work is greater than ever.”

She says she leaves the foundation “Well-positioned for new leadership and I look forward to seeing how it evolves.

About the organization: The Women’s Foundation of Colorado is the only statewide, community-funded foundation protecting the progress and advancing gender, racial and economic equity for all women in Colorado. Its purpose is to advance women’s prosperity through building community, philanthropy and statewide grantmaking.

Website: wfco.org

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