Shared Soil,
Shared Strength
A bold effort to strengthen Colorado’s leadership fabric
Leadership in Colorado is at a crossroads. As challenges grow more complex and the work of leading becomes more isolated, there’s a growing recognition that no one can do this alone. Across our state, many of the most effective leaders are operating in silos—separated by geography, sector, and generation. Yet, there is a clear hunger for connection, for cross-sector problem-solving, and for clarity about what Colorado’s communities truly need next.
What Are We Doing?
Listening
Gathering insights from leaders across Colorado—urban, rural, and frontier—to understand their experiences and needs.
Mapping
Identifying what’s working, where the gaps are, and how leadership is evolving statewide.
Connecting
Building relationships, trust, and networks across regions, generations, and sectors.
Investing
Using what we learn to guide future funding and support, ensuring resources go where they’ll make the biggest difference.
What We're Learning
State of Leadership Statewide Survey
As part of the State of Leadership initiative, the Boettcher Foundation and the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity are conducting a statewide survey to better understand how Coloradans experience leadership across the state.
If you are an adult living or working in Colorado, we want to hear from you. Your perspective will help build a more complete picture of the strengths, gaps, and opportunities within Colorado’s leadership ecosystem and inform how leadership can be strengthened and supported across the state.
The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous.
Our Reach Thus Far
Stay Connected
Colorado Leaders Speak: Insights from the State of Leadership Initiative
Listening, Mapping, and Connecting: The State of Leadership in Colorado Leadership in Colorado is at a pivotal and promising moment. Across our state, communities are navigating complex economic, social, environmental, and generational challenges, which makes strong, connected leadership more important than ever. That belief is the motivation behind our State of Leadership Initiative, a multi-year effort to better understand, strengthen, and connect the leadership fabric of Colorado. “The State of Leadership” carries a double meaning as both a question and a vision. We’re asking, “What is the current state of leadership in Colorado?” while also aspiring for Colorado to be known as the State of Leadership. Reflections From Initial Phase: Listening Deeply and Broadly in 2025 Phase I of the initiative began earlier this year. Over the past 10 months, we’ve been in listening mode: convening sessions, conducting interviews, and gathering insights from leaders across the state. Our goal: to hear what leaders
Who Is in the Room?
I thought I was alone. Now I know I’m not.
Best thing I've done at a conference. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are leaders.
We don’t need someone to tell us what to do—we need someone to walk alongside us, help us connect the dots, and invest in what’s already working.
Where We've Been
Leadership in Action
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