Executive Summary

The Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI) is a women-of-color led organization that was created to partner with communities who face the greatest barriers to economic prosperity and wealth-building – Black, Indigenous, people of color, especially women of color, immigrants, and people who earn the lowest incomes – to bring about change in Colorado’s tax system. At its core, a tax system is all about how communities raise money and solve problems together. Since its founding, CFI has advocated alongside the community for tax policies that work for all Colorado workers and their families — not just the ones for whom our economy already benefits. Like the communities CFI partners with, the leadership team and staff also hold a variety of identities and bring with them diverse lived experiences. CFI staff and leadership are first- and second-generation immigrants, many are also first-generation college graduates, LGBTQ folks, and the working class.

Since 2012, CFI’s work has focused on amplifying the voices of these communities at the state capitol where laws are made and passed, through education, advocacy, and training. During the legislative session, CFI uses data and stories to make the case for why policy change in Colorado's tax code is desperately needed. Throughout the year, CFI hosts the Tax Ambassador program, a free six-week train-the-trainer class designed to provide community members with a space to learn about Colorado’s tax system and how to become advocates for a just tax code within their own communities.

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.