The Denver Foundation has selected a local woman, following a national search, to be the next president of the city’s largest community foundation.
Christine Marquez-Hudson, executive director of Mi Casa Resource Center, will begin as the new president and chief executive officer in January, the foundation announced Monday.
“I am excited beyond words to have the opportunity to lead The Denver Foundation into this next phase of service to the metro Denver community,” Marquez-Hudson said.
In 2014, the foundation awarded more than $67 million of grants from nearly 1,000 funds created by individuals, families and businesses.
Marquez-Hudson will step down from Mi Casa at the end of the year. She will succeed David Miller, who will be moving at the end of the year to create an institute on philanthropy and social enterprise at the University of Denver, after 20 years at the helm of the foundation.
“We are so sad to lose a dynamite leader,” said Debbie Trujillo, chairwoman of Mi Casa. “I think it is absolutely awesome that she is the new president of the Denver Foundation. I think she is a visionary. Her biggest gift is thinking outside the box.”
Virginia Bayless, chairwoman of the Denver Foundation’s board of trustees, said the organization is thrilled to have Marquez-Hudson as its new leader.
“She brings inspiring vision and entrepreneurial acumen to the role of president and CEO of The Denver Foundation,” Bayless said.
Marquez-Hudson said she has worked her entire life to address the issues the foundation believes in, including “basic human needs, education, economic opportunity, community leadership, as well as growing philanthropy, racial equity and resident engagement.”
“This is a privilege and an opportunity that I take very seriously,” she said.
The ninth-generation Coloradan has led Mi Casa to become a nationally recognized leader in job training and business development.
Marquez-Hudson has taught in Central America and worked for three foundations as a program officer and project manager. She was an officer at JVA Consulting, where she advised hundreds of Colorado groups on issues including strategic planning and resource development.
Marquez-Hudson was recognized as one of 2015’s 25 most powerful women in the state by the Colorado Women’s Chamber. She is a 2009 Bonfils-Stanton Livingston Fellow, a Colorado Trust Fellow and an alumna of the National Ispana Leadership Institute’s executive leadership program.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
