About the LARRK Foundation
Who We Are
The LARRK Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The LARRK Foundation seeks to partner with our grantees to better serve the most vulnerable youth in the Denver metro area. We are continually learning from our grantees and targeting our funding to better serve the greatest needs we perceive in our community and create a lasting positive impact. We focus on services that give under-resourced youth the educational, prevention and treatment programs that best prepare them for a healthy and hopeful future.
Our Mission
The LARRK Foundation supports non-profit organizations that help under-resourced children and adolescents obtain a high-quality education that provides access to excellent behavioral and mental health services and prepares them for post-secondary success.
Our Focus Areas
Education
We believe Denver’s K-12 students deserve the opportunity to thrive. Investing in our students is an investment in our future. Young people represent tomorrow’s leaders and innovators, and enhancing their education and well-being early helps unlock their full potential. We focus on early childhood education as well as career-connected education so that students will have the tools they need to succeed in a career and in life. The value of supporting our youth is not only apparent in immediate returns but also in creating a foundation for societal progress, equity, and prosperity in the future.
Mental Health
We believe that we can invest in a better tomorrow by supporting mental health programs today. Early diagnosis and treatment of emerging mental health struggles is the best way to prevent outcomes that are more difficult to address down the line. Intervening in the earliest stages of incipient complications will create a more resilient population that can respond to future challenges in a healthy and productive way.
Cultural Institutions
Denver is a world-class city with incredible arts and culture. We believe that investing in these institutions helps keep it that way – to the benefit of all residents and visitors. These institutions preserve and promote cultural understanding, offering spaces for connection and reflection. We believe investments in our cultural institutions enhance our quality of life, providing spaces for community engagement and lifelong learning. Investing in culture enriches society and strengthens social bonds, which are essential to human expression and innovation.
Vision
We believe in taking the long view, and using intervention as the best form of prevention. When we prioritize vision and foresight as a strategy, we can anticipate future challenges and make informed decisions. This mindset encourages long-term planning, innovation, and agility, enabling our grantees to stay ahead of the curve and achieve their missions in an ever-evolving and often challenging environment.
Note to applicants:
We celebrate and respect the fine work being done by so many organizations and will solicit proposals from organizations that are aligned with our mission. No unsolicited proposals, please.
Meet Wendell Fleming,
Executive Director
Wendell Fleming has long been active in Denver’s nonprofit community. She serves on the Board of Directors of Colorado Open Lands, an organization dedicated to conserving and protecting Colorado farms, ranches, and other environmentally vital lands and waters. She has also served as Board Chair of the Women’s Wilderness Institute, a Boulder-based organization that provides girls and women with extended experiences in the wilderness. She is a former member of the Middlebury College Alumni Board. Previously, Ms. Fleming practiced law with a focus on intellectual property and commercial litigation. She is an avid skier and hiker and has climbed over 35 of Colorado’s fourteeners. Ms. Fleming earned her Bachelor’s degree in political science and American literature from Middlebury College, and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Connect with the LARRK Foundation
Denver area non-profit organizations seeking funding are welcome to submit a letter of inquiry.