Mental Health Colorado

What Mental Health Colorado does

Mental Health Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization founded in 1953 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It operates as the state affiliate of Mental Health America and functions as the leading statewide voice for mental health policy reform, practice change, and grassroots movement building rather than as a clinical provider or crisis line. Its core programs include Brain Wave (a network of nearly 2,000 grassroots advocates), Course Corrections (an initiative to disentangle mental health from the criminal justice system), and Community Speaking (educational presentations to schools, workplaces, and community groups). The organization also delivers free online mental health screenings, downloadable toolkits for schools, workplaces and families, the Caregivers Compass virtual support group, Psychiatric Advance Directive tools, and crisis resources connecting users to the 988 Lifeline.

The organization's business model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack comprising individual donations across multiple tiers ($15–$500+), corporate sponsorships (Elite Annual Sponsors include Rocky Mountain Health Plans and AccessiTREE), foundation grants (The Colorado Health Foundation, David and Laura Merage Foundation, Caring for Denver Foundation), and event fundraising through the Annual Tribute Gala, LEAD Conference, Course Corrections Summit, and Colorado Gives Day. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the largest single documented grant inflow is $349,326 from the Caring for Denver Foundation in July 2023. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging nearly 2,000 Brain Wave advocates who provide lived-experience testimony at the Colorado State Capitol, where staff delivered 41 committee testimonies and advocates delivered 34 testimonies in the 2024 legislative session. Underlying technology is a standard digital advocacy platform with online screenings, resource directories, and website-based content delivery; no proprietary AI or ML capabilities are disclosed.

The organization's reach is concentrated in Colorado, addressing what it describes as the second-highest prevalence of mental illness in the United States, with approximately 1.5 million Coloradans (26.2%) experiencing poor mental health and an estimated 880,000 unable to access needed care in 2023. Notable policy victories include insurance parity legislation (1975, 1997, 2007), a $20M+ crisis response system allocation in 2013, and the country's first law banning BMI as a metric for eating disorder care (SB23-176). The organization is led by President and CEO Vincent Atchity with a lean staff of 11–50 and a board that includes executives from healthcare, law enforcement, legal, and corporate sectors.

Name

Mental Health Colorado

Legal name

Mental Health Colorado

Website

https://mentalhealthcolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mental Health Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, founded in 1953 and based in Denver, that drives mental health policy reform, practice change, and grassroots movement building across Colorado through its Brain Wave network of nearly 2,000 advocates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Legislative advocacy
• Community organizing
• Mental health education
• Policy reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations at various levels ($50, $100, $250, $500 one-time; $15, $25, $50 monthly) supporting advocacy, education, and community programs
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for signature events, year-round channels, and statewide network activities. Organizations sponsor events like the Annual Tribute Gala, LEAD Conference, and Mental Health Awareness Month
3. Event Fundraisers: Revenue from fundraising events including the Annual Tribute Fundraising Gala, Colorado Gives Day Campaign, and community events
4. Alternative Giving Options: Donor-advised funds, legacy gifts (will/bequests), and stock gifts as alternative donation methods

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels17 records

Core offering

Mental Health Colorado is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization that delivers legislative advocacy, grassroots movement-building, and public education to promote healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans. Its core functions include passing laws through State Capitol testimony and coalition work, changing practices through programs such as the Course Corrections criminal justice initiative and school/workplace mental health support, and building a movement via the Brain Wave grassroots network of nearly 2,000 advocates with lived experience. The organization distributes free online mental health screenings, downloadable toolkits, virtual support groups, and crisis resources rather than selling any product or service.

Product overview

Mental Health Colorado is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization that operates a suite of programs and resources rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include the Brain Wave grassroots advocacy network, the Course Corrections criminal justice reform initiative, and Community Speaking educational presentations. The organization also provides free online mental health screenings, the Caregivers Compass virtual support group, downloadable toolkits (School Mental Health, Workplace Wellness, Supporting Young Minds), crisis resources through the 988 Lifeline, and psychiatric advance directive tools. The product portfolio functions as an integrated ecosystem of advocacy, education, and resource-delivery services designed to promote healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brain Wave: Statewide grassroots advocacy network of over 1,600 advocates who turn their experience into action to change laws and build healthier minds across the lifespan.
• Course Corrections
• Community Speaking

Products and services

• Brain Wave Statewide grassroots advocacy network comprised of nearly 2,000 advocates with lived experience, family members, providers, and allies who share their stories with lawmakers to drive mental health policy change across the lifespan.
• Course Corrections Initiative working to disentangle mental health from criminal justice by advocating for health-based responses instead of law enforcement default interventions for people in mental health crisis.
• Community Speaking Expert speakers including policymakers, advocates, and innovators who deliver frontline insights on mental health policy and wellness to communities, schools, and workplaces through tailored presentations and workshops.
• Mental Health Screenings Free, anonymous, and confidential online mental health screenings for various mental health conditions, available to help individuals understand their mental health status and take first steps toward care.
• Caregivers Compass Virtual weekly support group for parents and caregivers of adults with serious mental health conditions, providing a space for sharing experiences, problem-solving, and engaging in interventions.
• Toolkits (School Mental Health, Workplace Wellness, Supporting Young Minds) Comprehensive downloadable toolkits for schools, workplaces, families, and individuals including School Mental Health Toolkits, Promoting Well-Being in the Workplace Toolkit, and Supporting Young Minds Toolkit with evidence-based mental health support strategies.
• Legislative Advocacy Services Nonpartisan legislative advocacy at the Colorado State Capitol including testimony, coalition building, and policy development to pass laws improving mental health access and reducing health-based discrimination.
• Psychiatric Advance Directive (Colorado PAD) Online tool enabling Coloradans to create psychiatric advance directives specifying healthcare preferences in case of mental health crises, promoting preparedness and self-advocacy.

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Subcontractors Association of ColoradominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026Mental Health Colorado announced new partnership with American Subcontractors Association of Colorado to expand reach and engagement
• Mental Health AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Colorado is the proud state affiliate of Mental Health America, part of a national movement dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing mental illness through advocacy, education, research, and service
• AccessiTREEcoreOthersAccessiTREE is the website developer and Elite Annual Sponsor of Mental Health Colorado, providing accessibility-focused website design and development services
• Rocky Mountain Health PlanscoreOthersElite Annual Sponsor providing financial support for mental health advocacy programs and events
• AlkermesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical company supporter of Mental Health Colorado's mission and programs
• All Health NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado behavioral health organization partnering on mental health advocacy initiatives
• Children's Hospital ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Colorado children's hospital partnering on youth mental health initiatives
• Colorado AccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado health insurance provider focused on behavioral health partnerships
• CU Department of Psychiatry (Anschutz Medical Campus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical partner contributing expertise to mental health policy and advocacy
• Bridges of ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner working on behavioral health and criminal justice diversion programs
• Teva PharmaceuticalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor supporting Brain Wave advocacy network and mental health programs
• Johnson & JohnsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare company sponsor of Brain Wave advocacy initiatives
• Game Plan Life FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit foundation (founded by former NFL player Montee Ball) focused on mental health and life skills

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Active Minds: Youth-focused mental health advocacy nonprofit that drives similar school-based policy and awareness work, sharing overlapping funder and donor pools with Mental Health Colorado's youth and school mental health programs.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): The largest U.S. mental health advocacy nonprofit with a parallel state-affiliate structure; competes for donor dollars, volunteer advocates, and policy influence in many of the same state capitols.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: National mental health advocacy nonprofit with state chapters that drive legislative change, fund research, and run grassroots campaigns; AFSP Colorado competes for the same donor base and legislative attention in Denver.
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Advocacy and membership organization for mental health and substance use providers and advocates; competes for policy influence, corporate sponsorships, and convener status in state capitols.

Regional players

• California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA): Regional mental health policy and program funding entity analogous to Mental Health Colorado's role in Colorado, illustrating a different structural model (multi-county joint powers) for delivering state-level mental health advocacy and programs.

Emerging players

• Bring Change to Mind: Mental health stigma-reduction and youth-empowerment advocacy nonprofit whose school- and community-based programming and storytelling model parallels Mental Health Colorado's Brain Wave and Community Speaking programs.
• The Trevor Project: Mental health and crisis advocacy nonprofit for LGBTQ+ young people, directly comparable to the population- and youth-oriented mission embedded in Mental Health Colorado's previous Envision:You initiative.
• Families for Depression Awareness: Smaller national advocacy nonprofit focused on family- and caregiver-facing mental health education, overlapping with Mental Health Colorado's Caregivers Compass support group and family support resources.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health America: Mental Health Colorado's parent national affiliate; serves as both umbrella and closest functional peer, providing national brand, tools (screenings), and infrastructure while affiliate organizations execute on the ground.

Others

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD): Membership association of state mental health agency commissioners; though public-sector in nature, it shapes the policy ecosystem in which Mental Health Colorado operates and is a frequent coalition partner or counterparty in state capitol advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CO_MentalHealth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mentalhealthcolorado2164
• Facebookfacebook.com/mentalhealthCO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentalhealthco
• Instagraminstagram.com/mentalhealthcolorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mental Health Colorado