Double Down on Us

By LaDawn Sullivan

Colorado Gives season is here. And, you already know what I’m about to say:

It’s time to double down.

Not just on the “click to donate” kind of giving, but on the kind that moves hearts and moves money right back into the hands of the people building our future. Because this season isn’t just about generosity; it’s about justice. About circulating resources where they’ve too often been extracted.

Here’s the thing. We don’t need more talk. We’ve had enough meetings, panels, and “we should really do something” moments to fill a Netflix series.

It’s time for less talk, more action.

When I think about doubling down, I think about the Black-led and serving nonprofits that have always been on the frontlines, not just when the cameras were rolling or the funding was trending.

Before COVID, they were feeding families, mentoring our youth, keeping elders connected, and opening doors when systems shut them tight.

During COVID, when so many were told to stay home, they stayed out there — delivering groceries, paying rent, offering virtual counseling, and holding our communities together.

And long before and long after that, through the unrelenting cycle of racial injustice, police brutality, and inequity that continues to threaten Black lives and dignity, they’ve never left the frontlines.

They’ve stood in the gap — comforting families, organizing protests, building healing spaces, advocating for justice, and keeping the light on in a world that too often tries to dim ours.

And now, in this unprecedented political climate, as budgets tighten, rhetoric hardens, and the calls for “equity” start to fade, they’re still here. Still standing. Still doing what they’ve always done: showing up when others step back.

That’s the spirit, I mean, when I say double down. Increase the flow and recycling of resources in every part of Colorado’s Black communities: our businesses, our nonprofits, our faith institutions, our schools, and the neighborhood movements that keep hope alive.

Because let’s be real, the urgency is real.

Our community organizations are stretched to the limit — meeting escalating needs that touch every part of life: food insecurity, housing instability, mental health crises, and the simple dignity of keeping families safe and whole. These organizations aren’t just serving others; they’re fighting to survive themselves. While costs rise and resources shrink, their work — OUR work — has never been more essential.

That’s exactly what the Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund was built for.

We’re not waiting for permission or perfection, we’re doing the work.

Since our founding, BRIC has invested more than $6 million in over 400 Black-led and Black-serving organizations that are transforming lives and strengthening communities across Colorado.

We’re betting on our own, and it’s paying off. Because when we invest in us, everybody wins.

When we pour into Black brilliance, the return isn’t measured in profit margins. It’s seen in thriving families, stronger institutions, safer neighborhoods, and the kind of joy that can’t be quantified.

And let’s be clear,  doubling down doesn’t mean going it alone.

It means welcoming our allies to stand shoulder to shoulder, not as saviors, but as partners in power. Allies who understand that investing in BRIC and Black communities isn’t charity. It's strategy.

Because when our communities rise, Colorado rises BRIC by BRIC.

So this Colorado Gives season, don’t just give. Double down.

Bet on Black resilience.

Bet on Colorado’s future.

Bet on us.

The BRIC Fund isn’t just a fund,  it’s a movement powered by love, community, and strategy.

Invested in us. Powered by you.

👉🏾 Double down with us today at www.bricfund.org/donate