Our Mission:

Linda Shoemaker and Steve Brett founded the Brett Family Foundation in 2000 to invest in the creation of a more compassionate and just society. Brett Family Foundation has an annual grantmaking budget of $500,000 and an endowment of $10 million. Our mission is to promote caring communities by investing in organizations throughout Colorado working for social justice, and Boulder County nonprofits addressing the needs of underserved communities, primarily disadvantaged youth and their families.

Our Values:

We believe that all people are created equal and that individuals are entitled to just and equitable treatment, and economic security. We envision a society that supports a strong democracy, healthy and inclusive communities, equal rights and access to opportunity for individuals and families, and a commitment to the common good. We believe that government can and should be an enterprise for the public good and that progressive public policies, community-based organizing, and civic participation can create a more compassionate and just society.

Our Approach:

The foundation's giving is concentrated in two program areas: Social Justice, and Direct Services in Boulder County.

Our Social Justice Program provides support for organizations throughout the state of Colorado working to address the root causes of social, economic, gender and racial inequities through strategies that empower affected communities to engage in the democratic process and advance progressive policy solutions. Critical to this program area is the belief that government can and should be an enterprise for the public good and that progressive public policies, community-based organizing, and civic participation can create a more compassionate and just society.

Our Direct Services Program supports Boulder County nonprofits that provide services and support for underserved and frequently marginalized populations with an emphasis on programs for disadvantaged and high-risk youth ages 12 through 18 and their families. For more information on these programs, please see our guidelines.