Cindy Willard believes the power of relationships and the intentionality of capital will create a more equitable world. She has deep experience as a Colorado thought leader in philanthropic strategy, grantmaking and program development. Cindy began her career at the nexus of journalism and community engagement, working in corporate social responsibility at The Denver Post. Currently, she owns and operates a philanthropic advisory business and has worked for private, corporate and community foundations utilizing grants and investments. Cindy has a track record of developing and expanding successful programs that encourage innovation in behavioral health, entrepreneurship and economic security. In her position at the Colorado Health Access Fund, Cindy was lead investor in the first statewide pay-for-success project in Colorado to expand access to family therapy designed to reduce youth recidivism. In support of the King Foundation, she facilitates a pipeline for program-related investments and grants that support education and capital for entrepreneurs and employment. As Vice President for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, she led a statewide research project that informed initiatives to support dropout prevention, STEM education for girls, and economic support to mitigate the cliff effect for low-income single mothers. In her work, Cindy draws from her own community involvement, serving on numerous boards and advisory councils—most recently, Senior Advisor for the Impact Finance Center, Board member for the Colorado Nonprofit Loan Fund, and Vice Chair of the Board for WorkLife Partnership, a social enterprise that supports workforce development. After graduating from the University of Kansas with distinction in journalism, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, where she later served as affiliate faculty in the Global Nonprofit Leadership department. She lives in Colorado with her husband and dog where she is an aspiring ceramicist, outdoor enthusiast, and avid reader.
