The Colorado Health Foundation is pleased to announce the search for Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO), as our incumbent is retiring. Reporting to the CEO, the CFAO focuses on:

Serving as an executive member of the Foundation’s leadership team, as a key advisor to the CEO, Board and Foundation staff, and as an impassioned ambassador of the Foundation’s mission
Developing effective strategies and identifying opportunities to maximize organizational impact that directly support the mission of the Foundation
Providing effective stewardship of the Foundation’s resources through operational excellence and efficiency
Leading and managing functions responsible for investments, accounting, human resources, grantmaking operations, technology and facilities
Advising the Board, CEO and the leadership team of strategies related to risk management and identifying potential risks to the Foundation and its mission

We seek a strategic leader with operational expertise and a desire to advance the Foundation’s mission to improve the health of Coloradans. We value accountability to the communities we serve, transparency in our work, respect and humility in our interactions, passionate and persistent pursuit of health equity through racial justice, and a commitment to relevance and enduring impact in advancing our mission. Our leaders approach the work with authenticity, continuous learning, the ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively, and enthusiasm for working with others across the organization.

We seek candidates with experience in leading complex organizations with diverse internal and external constituencies. We desire candidates who can present evidence of expertise in collaborative, high-level, strategic decision-making that supports the organizational mission. We expect candidates to share examples of functional and strategic best practices and their personal connection with the Foundation’s vision and mission. As with all members of our organization, we expect the CFAO to be able to, wholeheartedly, support the aspirations of the Foundation and inspire others, both internally and externally, to achieve positive impact.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Colorado Health Foundation is the largest private foundation in the state of Colorado and the country’s third largest health philanthropy. The Foundation has assets of approximately $2.8 billion, a staff of 73, and in 2024 awarded $102 million in total grants. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation takes on leadership and partnership roles to help influence and broaden the conversation about health across Colorado. We are driven by our relentless focus on the Foundation’s vision: That across Colorado, each of us can say: “We have all we need to live healthy lives.”

The role of CFAO is critical to our ability to achieve our mission. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help the Foundation challenge health inequities in the state and work to improve the health of Coloradans. The CFAO has leadership responsibility for the Foundation’s investment portfolio that allows us to award grants, engage in partnerships, support communities and provide leadership in advocating for health in Colorado. The CFAO is a key member of the Foundation’s executive and leadership teams and integral to the effective functioning of our 15-person Board of Directors. The CFAO provides a strategic voice and valued perspective to the CEO, the Board, the leadership team, all staff members and external partners. We look to the CFAO as a strategic leader, mentor, functional expert and risk manager. Traditionally, the CFAO, in addition to daily responsibilities, has led strategic, long-term projects that affect the successful execution of our mission (e.g. new building design and construction, external partnerships, investment strategy changes, overseeing major operational advancements in technology and business processes).

The CFAO has management and mentoring responsibility for 24 staff through the following direct reporting relationships: Chief Investment Officer, Controller and Chief Compliance Officer, Senior Director of Grantmaking Operations, Senior Director of Human Resources and Senior Director of IT and Facilities. In addition, the CFAO is expected to serve as a senior Foundation ambassador connecting with others in Colorado and beyond including peers in other grantmaking organizations, leaders from civic, business, academic and professional contexts, and others with health or community interests that overlap those of the Foundation.

CFAO RESPONSIBILITIES AND LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIO

Leadership Excellence

Serves as an executive member of the leadership team, a high-performing, integrated team that shares functional expertise and works together to create and execute Foundation strategy
Ensures staff have the resources they need to practice philanthropy at the highest levels of effectiveness and impact
Works to align finance and administrative functions (investments, accounting, human resources, grantmaking operations, technology and facilities) with the Foundation’s strategy and direction
Provides guidance to the Board, leadership, and staff regarding strategic financial opportunities and leading-edge operational practices

Investment Excellence

Oversees the investment function and provides guidance to the Chief Investment Officer and the Board’s Investment Committee
Ensures all investment activity complies with organizational and regulatory requirements

Fiduciary Excellence

Provides fiduciary guidance and direction
Ensures compliance with all laws, codes and practices governing the Foundation’s tax-exempt status
Ensures compliance with all guidelines governing financial accounting and reporting and with all financial and investment policies
Provides oversight for the annual budget process ensuring alignment with organizational objectives
Ensures effective long-range resource allocation planning is in concert with the Foundation’s strategic objectives
Ensures all financial reporting can be used as an efficient and effective management tool
Works with the Board’s Governance and Investment Committees to ensure the Board is fully informed of operational issues and organizational risks

Operational Excellence

Ensures human resources practices facilitate a work environment, which aligns with the organization’s goals and mission
Ensures grantmaking operations provide compliant, effective and efficient support to the organization
Provides leadership and oversight for IT and facility services, ensuring best practices are followed in alignment with organizational objectives, risk management, control and governance

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Founded in 1995 as the HealthONE Alliance, we emerged following a joint venture between the nonprofit hospital system HealthONE and the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). In 2006, we rebranded as the Colorado Health Foundation, strengthening our infrastructure to enhance our philanthropic impact. Learn more about our transition to private foundation status.

As a statewide philanthropic organization, the Foundation champions the overall health and well-being of every Coloradan by advocating for and investing in solutions and policies that drive health equity and racial justice. We embrace an inclusive, community-driven approach to our work, focusing on the social determinants of health.

Our priority areas—where we drive meaningful change to improve health outcomes—include adult recovery, advocacy, affordable housing, capacity building, community solutions, economic opportunity, locally focused initiatives, primary care and thriving young people. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these areas, we value their collective power to create lasting and equitable change, addressing the racial and economic disparities that persist across Colorado.

Our mission is to improve the health of Coloradans, and our work is guided by three cornerstones:

We serve Coloradans who have less power, privilege and income, and prioritize Coloradans of color who are disproportionately impacted by systemic and historic barriers that stand in the way of health and well-being.
We do everything with the intent of creating health equity
We are informed by the community and those we exist to serve

We seek candidates who are deeply committed to our mission and cornerstones, excel in navigating ambiguity and change, and proactively identify opportunities to drive our work forward while staying engaged in daily responsibilities. Ideal candidates will integrate our principles into all aspects of their work, applying strategic thinking, systems analysis, and an understanding of complexity, adaptive strategy, worldviews and power dynamics.

THE LOCATION

The Foundation is headquartered in its own purpose-built space in Denver’s Uptown neighborhood. Featuring a “health-positive” design and development standards that aim to improve the health of both staff and visitors, the office space was awarded both WELL and LEEDv4 Gold certificates. The building is the first project in the U.S. to be awarded both certificates, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to improve the health of all Coloradans, including employees and those who visit the building.

Denver is Colorado’s largest city, and a majority of the state’s residents live within the 10-county metro area. The city has a rich and varied cultural history and a diverse population to match. For example, just under a third of Denver’s population self-identifies as Hispanic or Latino, and Colorado is home to significant indigenous and refugee populations. Denver also boasts some 200 registered neighborhood associations, emblematic of the pride of place that infuses the Foundation’s service area.

Additional perspectives on Denver and its business and philanthropic interests are available from such sites as Wikipedia, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Philanthropy Southwest, and the Colorado Nonprofit Association

THE CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate to become CFAO will be an innovative leader with operational expertise and a commitment to effective management and leadership. We seek candidates who are highly regarded by peers and capable of leading best practices, not merely adopting them. To that end, the most compelling prospects will offer:

A genuine facility for alignment and integration, in both strategy and execution
A mentor committed to inspiring growth through guidance, wisdom, empowerment and support
An impatience with bureaucracy, balanced with appropriate regard for process
Truly superb communications skills, whether when one-on-one or in large gatherings
An inviting, collaborative spirit of grace and humility matched with a propensity for decisive action
A willingness to experiment
The cultural sensitivity, humility and competence to thrive in an exceedingly dynamic and demanding operating environment
An appetite for improvement and impact
Working knowledge of philanthropy and philanthropic leadership, with an unyielding focus on impact

Character: We expect to hire an executive who is demonstrates the following character traits:

Holds an innate sense of service in action, an unfailing commitment to excellence and the ability to help the Foundation as a "doing" culture
A manager who embraces real transparency in both internal operations and external dealings
A gifted leader for whom life-long learning is a natural talent, a source of joy and a model for colleagues
A confident leader accustomed to managing exceptionally committed teams
An impassioned leader who can call on complementary reserves of urgency, tenacity and patience

Culture: We expect to hire an executive who demonstrates the following culture leadership skills:

Mission obsessed and unapologetic in the focus on agreed-upon priorities with an impact-first mindset
Fearless in modeling a willingness to learn and challenge us to get better
Committed to influencing a work environment where everything – internally and externally – is in service of creating health equity
A colleague who is nimble, embraces ambiguity and understands when to ask and when to act
Adept in ways of engaging others in a common cause
An executive who will embrace visibility without ego

The Foundation’s commitment to improving the health of all Coloradans is steadfast. The CFAO should be excited and humbled to wake up every morning focused to work in service of creating better health, health opportunity and health equity for the people of Colorado.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics or related field
12 years’ experience in financial management with increasing responsibility
3 years’ experience in a CFO role
7 years of experience leading a team in a supervisory role
5 years of experience leading the operations of an organization
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Demonstrated understanding of risk management and compliance issues
Demonstrated leadership in the non-profit sector
Valid Colorado Driver’s License

We offer a robust benefit and wellness package, 401(k) match, and generous paid leave programs. The hiring range for this position is $400,000 to $450,000, paid as salaried exempt, and is eligible for all CHF benefits. This is a full-time position in Denver, Colorado with the exception of required travel. We work on a hybrid schedule of three days in-office (required and set by CHF) and two days remote. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual to have a meaningful impact through their professional contributions. Interested candidates may submit their resumes and cover letters on the Colorado Health Foundation’s website (www.coloradohealth.org).

This position closes on April 11, 2025

The Colorado Health Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.