The Caruso Foundation
Supporting Initiatives that Inspire Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Inclusion, primarily focused in Colorado.
The Caruso Foundation's vision is to promote and grow the innovative and creative community, particularly in Colorado. We accomplish this by advancing the growth of business scaleups and entrepreneurs, building infrastructure to support breakthrough endeavors and ideas, and creating a culture that attracts and retains the talent driving Colorado’s future.
What We Do
The Caruso Foundation supports the organizations, institutions, and initiatives that strengthen Colorado’s innovation ecosystem. Our work falls into three categories:
Grantmaking
to mission-aligned organizations advancing entrepreneurship, deep tech, the arts, and community.
Strategic stewardship
of a focused set of long-term institutional partners, where the Foundation can shape direction and outcomes over decades, not funding cycles.
Hands-on engagement
by Caruso Ventures team members embedded with grantees — from board service and event planning to operational support — extending impact well beyond the dollars granted.
Beginning in 2026, the Foundation is concentrating roughly 80% of its giving in a small number of durable, vision-aligned institutions, with the remainder supporting legacy and civic relationships. The shift reflects a clear preference for fewer, larger, longer commitments that can be governed and shaped over generations.
Our Focus Areas
Our work is organized around four pillars that together strengthen Colorado’s position as the leading innovation ecosystem.
Colorado Innovation Culture
A vibrant culture attracts the talent that builds great companies. We invest in the artists, festivals, and cultural institutions that make Colorado a place creators want to live and work — including Boulder Roots Music Fest, Sundance Film Festival, and the Boulder Police Foundation.
Colorado Scaleup Ecosystem
We back the organizations developing the next generation of Colorado entrepreneurs — from early-stage convenings to scaleup mentorship. Partners include Endeavor Colorado, Elevate Quantum, and Colorado Startup Week.
Health & Wellness
We support programs that broaden access to the tech ecosystem and ensure opportunity reaches the next generation of leaders, including Greenhouse Scholars and Colorado Thrives.
Outside Core Strategy
We maintain a small set of grants outside our core focus areas — including longstanding university and civic relationships — that reflect the personal commitments and history of the Caruso family. Partners include the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago, and Civico.
Our Impact
In 2025, the Caruso Foundation supported the partners and initiatives strengthening Colorado’s innovation, creative, and civic communities. A few highlights:
- $2B+
- Capital raised by Endeavor Colorado entrepreneurs
- 2,500+
- Jobs created across Colorado
- 750
- Artists at Boulder Roots’ inaugural year
- 64%
- Lift in Pearl Street weekend traffic
Boulder Roots Music Fest
750 artists, 15 stages, 3,000+ attendees in its inaugural year — and a 64% lift in Pearl Street weekend traffic.
Endeavor Colorado
Helped power a network whose entrepreneurs raised $2B+ and created 2,500+ jobs statewide.
Boulder Police Foundation
Funded K9 units, officer safety equipment, and the Annual Police Awards Banquet.
Sundance
Supported the festival’s transition to Boulder, including planning for the 2027 event.
Elevate Quantum
Sponsored a senior quantum industry convening that produced a pivotal white paper for federal quantum funding.
How We Support Our Partners
We believe the most catalytic philanthropy combines capital with conviction and presence. For every partner we support, we ask: Can we help build something that lasts?
That belief shapes how we work:
We commit for the long term.
Most of our partners are multi-year relationships, not one-time grants.
We back people we know.
Our giving aligns with the founders, leaders, and institutions shaping Colorado’s innovation economy.
We show up.
Caruso Ventures team members serve on partner boards, help plan events, and bring operational expertise to grantee organizations.
We connect ecosystems.
We use our network to introduce partners to founders, investors, executives, and civic leaders who can accelerate their work.
The result is a small, focused portfolio of partnerships where capital and engagement reinforce each other.
Recent Highlights
01 / Highlight
Boulder Roots Music Fest
In its inaugural year, Boulder Roots brought 750 artists across 15 stages to downtown Boulder, mobilizing technology entrepreneurs and Colorado’s creative community while delivering a measurable lift to local small businesses. The festival returns August 2026 for its second year.
02 / Highlight
Sundance Comes to Boulder
The Foundation supported early planning for Sundance’s first festival in Boulder, including Storytellers At The Edge — a creator-led showcase of emerging storytelling formats across film, audio, games, and immersive media.
03 / Highlight
Boulder Police Foundation Gala
At the October 2025 gala, the Foundation funded K9 Astro, the acquisition and training of K9 Knox, and 100+ rifle plates to enhance officer safety. Cindy Caruso continues to lead as board chair.
04 / Highlight
Elevate Quantum Industry Convening
A senior-level quantum convening hosted at Dan Caruso’s home in October 2025 produced a pivotal white paper submitted for the Commerce BAA, helping position Colorado as a national leader in quantum technology.