WFCO Names Renee Ferrufino as President and CEO
Renee Ferrufino, vice president of development since 2016, is the first Latina to lead The Foundation
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) announced today that Renee Ferrufino (she/her) has been named The Foundation’s president and CEO by the board of trustees following a national search. Ferrufino joined The Women’s Foundation of Colorado – the only community-funded statewide foundation advancing gender, racial, and economic equity – in 2014 as the major gifts officer. She was promoted to vice president of development in 2016.
Prior to becoming the first Latina to lead The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Ferrufino oversaw all of our fundraising strategies and grew annual contributions from $2.3 million in 2016 to nearly $6 million in fiscal year 2023-24. She also increased donor-advised funds and giving circles from six to more than 80, designed the Women & Girls of Color Fund that has granted more than $2.5 million to nonprofit organizations since 2021, and developed a menu of impact investing opportunities for donors, which includes the nation’s first women’s impact investing giving circle providing low-interest loans to women entrepreneurs. With her Foundation tenure and philanthropic expertise, Ferrufino has developed meaningful, strategic, and collaborative relationships with women’s funding network peers and elevated WFCO’s influence and impact among national funders.
“It is especially meaningful to promote a longstanding leader from within The Foundation”
“Renee is a proven leader who brings unmatched organizational knowledge, financial acumen, fundraising and impact investing expertise, and a unifying vision. The board of trustees is confident she will guide The Foundation successfully into our next chapter of growth and impact,” said Tania Zeigler, WFCO chair of the board. “It is especially meaningful to promote a longstanding leader from within The Foundation who has fostered powerful, trusting relationships with donors, foundations, grantee partners, board and staff, and community leaders.”
As president and CEO, Ferrufino will work with the board of trustees to advance the mission of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, engage with the community to drive impact and visibility, provide strategic vision and leadership, foster a cohesive team, and steward financial resources.
Ferrufino plans to deepen collaboration with fellow funders, community leaders, and donors
Ferrufino was named a 2024 “Who’s Who In Impact Investing” by the Denver Business Journal and a 2024 “Top 25 Most Powerful Women In Business” honoree by The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She is a board member of Philanthropy Colorado; a member of the Colorado Inclusive Economy’s 2024 cohort and the Women’s Funding Network Gender & Capital Leverage Strategy Design Council; and an alumna of Institute for Leaders in Development at University of Denver.
“My vision centers on partnering with board and staff to evolve The Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s community impact during this critical time when women of all intersections face unprecedented challenges to their rights and advancement,” said Ferrufino. “I am driven to push beyond conventional philanthropic models by strategically leveraging all of our assets, such as financial capital, expertise, and community understanding to create lasting change.
“I recognize the significance of having worked for the first Black CEO at The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and feel honored and exhilarated to be the first Latina in this role. I look forward to deepening collaboration with fellow funders, community leaders, and donors while cultivating the next generation of advocates and philanthropists. My decade of experience with The Women’s Foundation of Colorado has shown me that addressing our state’s complex challenges and serving the needs of diverse women and families requires the collective power of our entire community working together.”
She brings roots in rural Colorado, a background in finance and accounting, and a passion for social impact
Ferrufino succeeds Lauren Y. Casteel, president and CEO since 2015, who is serving as an advisor until her retirement on Jan. 31, 2025.
“I am grateful for Renee’s partnership since 2015. I know The Women’s Foundation of Colorado will thrive under her leadership,” said Casteel. “Renee excels at catalyzing community and architecting innovative strategies in the pursuit of gender, racial, and economic equity. I look forward to watching The Foundation’s continued growth and impact on freedom in women’s lives.”
Ferrufino was born and raised in Sterling, CO, where she attended Northeastern Junior College before graduating from University of Colorado Boulder with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and political science.
She began her career as an accountant and revenue strategist for an international construction company before embarking on the journey of motherhood as a full-time job for five years. During that time, she discovered her passion for social impact while volunteering with various grassroots nonprofit organizations. When she returned to the workforce, she chose to combine her professional skills and commitment to community service by joining the Colorado Children’s Campaign in 2011 as a special events coordinator.
She and her family reside in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. She is deeply involved in the East High School community where her children attended.
Meet our new president and CEO this spring
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado will host a community gathering to introduce Ferrufino as the president and CEO this spring, followed by a series of meet-and-greet opportunities statewide throughout the summer.
The search for The Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s president and CEO was conducted by NPAG, an exclusively women-founded, owned, and led executive search firm.
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado is the only statewide community-funded foundation protecting the progress and advancing gender, racial, and economic equity for all Colorado women. We leverage community investments and every tool we have to dismantle systemic barriers, close equity gaps, and build a more prosperous state for women and their families. We expressly commit to those facing the steepest barriers on the basis of their background and identity. Since our inception, we have granted more than $30 million to nonprofit organizations across Colorado and helped to pass groundbreaking legislation for women, such as the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
