National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs

What National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs does

NAMI Colorado Springs is a peer-led nonprofit mental health support organization serving the Pikes Peak region (Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado). Founded in 1983 by Julie Foster and Stella Colby as the Pikes Peak Alliance for the Mentally Ill and affiliated with NAMI National in 1999, the organization delivers free programs across three categories: peer support groups (Connection, Family Support, Q Connect for LGBTQIA2+, TAG for transgender/gender-expansive), educational courses (Peer-to-Peer, Family-to-Family, Parents and Caregivers of Youth), and community presentations/trainings (In Our Own Voice, Compartiendo Esperanza, Sharing Hope, Voices of Hope & Recovery, What's On Your Mind?, Mental Health First Aid, CIT Training). All programs are facilitated by individuals with lived experience and offered at no cost, with a phone-based resource and referral line serving as a system-navigation entry point.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform — its underlying infrastructure consists of standard nonprofit SaaS (Google Analytics, Fillout/Airtable for forms, Bloomerang for volunteer management, Zoom for occasional virtual sessions) rather than custom software. Service delivery is structurally in-person across community venues, supplemented by occasional virtual/hybrid offerings, and supported by a volunteer corps of 100+ trained individuals.

The revenue model is diversified across individual donations (online, with optional processing fee coverage, all funds retained locally), institutional grants and foundation support from 50+ funders (Colorado Springs Health Foundation, El Pomar, Anschutz Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation among others), community giving campaigns (Give! Campaign, Empty Stocking Fund, King Soopers Community Rewards), corporate event sponsorships, and memberships ($60/year Household, $40/year Regular, $5/year Open Door, split across NAMI national/state/local). The organization is governed by a board of community volunteers and led since 2025 by Co-CEOs Emily Brady and Kirk Woundy, with approximately 8 named professional staff supplemented by MSW interns. Annual flagship events — the Community Breakfast (650 attendees, $212k raised in 2025) and NAMIWalks (400+ attendees, $98k raised in 2025) — function as both community-distribution touchpoints and primary fundraising channels.

Name

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs

Legal name

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Colorado Springs

Website

https://namicoloradosprings.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NAMI Colorado Springs is a peer-led 501c3 nonprofit offering free mental health support groups, educational courses, and community trainings to individuals, families, youth, and underserved cultural communities in the Pikes Peak region. The organization has operated since 1983 and is funded through donations, grants, memberships, and flagship fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute financial support to fund free programs. Donations can be made online with optional processing fee coverage. All funds stay local to the Pikes Peak region.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees are divided among NAMI national, NAMI Colorado, and NAMI Colorado Springs. Household: $60/year; Regular: $40/year; Open Door: $5/year.
3. Institutional Grants & Foundation Support: The organization receives financial and in-kind support from more than 50 institutional funders including foundations, healthcare organizations, government entities, and corporate donors. This is a primary revenue stream enabling no-cost service delivery.
4. Community Campaign Participation: NAMI participates in community giving campaigns including Give! Campaign, Empty Stocking Fund, and King Soopers Community Rewards program, generating donations from enrolled shoppers and campaign participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NAMI Colorado Springs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, peer-led mental health support services to individuals and families affected by mental illness in the El Paso County / Pikes Peak region. Core offerings include peer support groups, structured education classes (Peer-to-Peer, Family-to-Family, NAMI Basics), community presentations (Mental Health First Aid, Ending the Silence, In Our Own Voice), and community resource navigation.

Product overview

NAMI Colorado Springs operates as a peer-led nonprofit offering a portfolio of mental health support programs organized into three main categories: peer support groups (Connection Support Group, Q Connect, TAG, Family Support Group), educational courses (Peer-to-Peer, Family-to-Family, Parents and Caregivers of Youth), and community presentations/trainings (In Our Own Voice, Compartiendo Esperanza, Sharing Hope, Voices of Hope & Recovery, What's On Your Mind?, Mental Health First Aid, CIT Training). All programs are offered at no cost and are designed for specific populations including individuals living with mental health conditions, family members, LGBTQIA2+ communities, specific cultural communities, youth, and first responders. The organization also maintains a Resource and Referral Line for mental health system navigation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Support Groups Free peer-led support groups for family members, parents, and caregivers of individuals living with mental illness, helping them build coping skills and peer connections.
• Connection Recovery Support Groups Free peer-led support groups for adults living with mental illness, providing a safe space for participants to share experiences, support one another, and foster recovery.
• Peer-to-Peer Free, structured recovery education class for adults living with mental illness, taught by trained peer facilitators and focused on tools for recovery and wellness.
• Family-to-Family Free, structured education course for family members, parents, and caregivers of individuals with mental illness, providing information about mental health conditions, treatment, and coping strategies.
• NAMI Basics Free education program for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents experiencing mental health challenges, providing foundational knowledge and support resources.
• Mental Health First Aid Community training program that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, available to workplaces, schools, and community groups.
• Ending the Silence Free mental health awareness presentations for students, available in-person and on-demand, designed to reduce stigma and educate youth about mental health.
• In Our Own Voice Free public presentation program in which trained presenters with lived experience of mental illness share personal recovery stories to educate audiences and fight stigma.
• Community Presentations Free presentations delivered to community organizations, schools, workplaces, faith communities, and other groups on mental health topics and NAMI programs.
• Community Resource Navigation Free service that helps individuals connect with mental health, housing, and other community resources, accessible via phone helpline, email, and online contact.
• NAMI Homefront Free education program for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of service members and veterans living with mental health conditions.
• NAMI Provider Education Free continuing education program for mental health providers working with individuals living with mental illness and their families.
• NAMI Clubhouse Membership-based community social space for NAMI Colorado Springs participants and supporters offering connection and engagement activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family-to-Family participants gain greater understanding of mental illness, cope better, worry less, and feel empowered to advocate for better treatment and services.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Diversus HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversus Health is the Pikes Peak region's community mental health center, providing addiction, counseling, crisis management, and psychiatric services. NAMI partners with Diversus on youth programming, crisis response (Community Response Team, Crisis Stabilization Unit), CIT training, and NAMIWalks as a presenting sponsor. NAMI's crisis page specifically references Diversus Health's Crisis Stabilization Unit and Lighthouse Walk-in Crisis Center.
• UCHealth / Next ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCHealth and its Next Chapter program support military members and veterans. NAMI partners with Next Chapter on military-specific programming. UCHealth Next Chapter is a presenting sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast and supports NAMI's mission.
• GE Johnson Construction Co.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of NAMIWalks 2026 and a sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast. GE Johnson Foundation provides financial support for NAMI events and mission.
• Silver Key Senior ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Key Senior Services supports older adults in the Pikes Peak region. NAMI partners with Silver Key on initiatives to bolster older adults' mental health. Co-located at the same address. Hope sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast.
• Suicide Prevention PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional nonprofit offering support services to those affected by or considering suicide. NAMI co-develops the 'What's On Your Mind?' youth presentation program with Suicide Prevention Partnership and Diversus Health.
• Peak View Behavioral HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health provider offering inpatient and outpatient services. Co-developer of the 'What's On Your Mind?' youth presentation program alongside NAMI, Diversus Health, and Suicide Prevention Partnership. Positivity sponsor of annual Community Breakfast.
• ChangeLinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQIA2+ community organization. NAMI partners with ChangeLine to deliver LGBTQIA2+-specific programming.
• Serenity Recovery ConnectionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAMI trades staff training opportunities with Serenity Recovery Connection and partners on program development.
• First United Methodist Church (Colorado Springs)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free venue space for NAMI's Connection Support Group (Thursdays, 7–8:30 p.m., Rooms 205–206) and Family Support Group (Thursdays, 7–8:30 p.m., Room 204) at 420 N. Nevada Ave. The church has provided this space at no cost for years.
• Peak Vista Community Health CenterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally qualified health center in the Pikes Peak region. Hope sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast. NAMI collaborates on community mental health resources and referrals.
• Cedar Springs HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health treatment center. Hope sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast. Listed as a local mental health resource in NAMI's resource directory.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCCS Social Work Department partners with NAMI for MSW internship placements. Hope sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast. Students connect classroom learning with real-world practice through NAMI.
• Bright Futures PsychiatrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate mental health practice serving children and adults in Colorado Springs. Listed as a major institutional supporter.
• Innovive HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultant with Innovive Health (board member Dan Zarecky). Listed as a major institutional supporter providing community mental health expertise.
• Alpine BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHope sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast. Senior Vice President Laura Lyman serves on NAMI's board.
• CommonSpirit HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system listed as a major institutional supporter of NAMI Colorado Springs.
• El Paso County Public Health DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a major institutional supporter. NAMI collaborates on community health initiatives.
• The BroadmoorsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSelf-care sponsor of the annual Community Breakfast.
• King Soopers / City MarketsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough the Community Rewards program, King Soopers and City Market shoppers can designate NAMI Colorado Springs to receive a percentage of purchases. Organization code: QR565.
• Give! CampaignsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity-wide giving campaign in the Pikes Peak region. NAMI participates as a nonprofit beneficiary, receiving funds (often with matching funds) during the November–January campaign period.
• Phil Long DealershipssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a major institutional supporter of NAMI Colorado Springs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NAMI National: The national parent organization of the NAMI affiliate network and the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States. Operates the same peer-led, evidence-based program model (Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, In Our Own Voice, Mental Health First Aid) and is the umbrella brand and content source for NAMI Colorado Springs.
• The Trevor Project: National nonprofit providing crisis intervention and peer-led mental health support specifically for LGBTQ+ young people. Directly comparable to NAMI Colorado Springs' Q Connect and TAG programs in its focus on peer-driven support for LGBTQIA2+ populations facing mental health challenges.
• Active Minds: National nonprofit mobilizing peer-to-peer mental health awareness and education programs for young adults, particularly on college and high school campuses. Comparable peer-led, volunteer-driven community education approach focused on reducing stigma.
• NAMI Colorado: The state-level NAMI affiliate that sits between NAMI National and local affiliates like NAMI Colorado Springs. Operates the same peer-led support, education, and advocacy programs at the state level, with overlapping donors, volunteer pools, and curricula.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: National nonprofit advocating for and organizing the addiction recovery community, including peer recovery support services. Directly comparable in its peer-led model, community organizing, and grassroots advocacy orientation.
• Mental Health America: A national community-based nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, education, screening, and peer support. Directly comparable in mission, peer-led service model, and local affiliate structure, with overlapping programs such as peer support groups and mental health first aid training.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): National nonprofit providing peer-led support programs, community education, loss survivors support, and advocacy around mental health and suicide prevention. Directly comparable mission and peer-driven community model, including local chapters that engage in fundraising walks and community awareness.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National peer-led nonprofit providing support groups, educational programs, and resources specifically for people living with depression and bipolar disorder. Closely comparable to NAMI Colorado Springs in its reliance on volunteer-facilitated peer support groups and chapter-based delivery model.

Emerging players

• Bring Change to Mind: National nonprofit using storytelling and peer-led programs to reduce stigma around mental illness, with significant youth and school-based programming. Comparable peer-led, lived-experience-driven community education model, though younger and less established than NAMI Colorado Springs.

Regional players

• Suicide Prevention Partnership of Pikes Peak: Local regional nonprofit in the Pikes Peak region providing peer-led suicide prevention education and survivor support services. Directly comparable community-based peer support and education model and an active programming partner of NAMI Colorado Springs on the 'What's On Your Mind?' youth initiative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/National-Alliance-on-Mental-Illness-Colorado-Springs-NAMI-CS-177949335550661
• Instagraminstagram.com/namicosprings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/namicoloradosprings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs