Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Second Wind Fund started in 2002 in response to the loss of four teens who died by suicide in a nine-month period at one Colorado high school in Jefferson County. The issue of youth suicide continues to require urgent attention in Colorado. According to the 2017 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 17.4% of Colorado high school students self-report seriously considering suicide and 7.8% from high schools report having attempted suicide within the last year. The Second Wind Fund program created following this tragedy, is an innovative system of mental health care that provides up to 12 counseling sessions for youth (19 years and younger) at-risk of suicide who face financial or social barriers to life-saving treatment.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Second Wind Fund - Life-saving therapy for youth at risk of suicide
We match children and teens at risk for suicide with licensed therapists in their communities. If a financial or social barrier to treatment is present, we pay for up to 12 sessions of therapy from one of our specialized network providers. Our unique program helps referred youth discover hope and healing in their lives.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of youth receiving services (e.g., groups, skills and job training, etc.) with youths living in their community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Second Wind Fund - Life-saving therapy for youth at risk of suicide
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Second Wind Fund's underlying goal is to ensure that all children/youth at risk of suicide have access to life-saving therapy. The impact we are seeking is to save the lives of those children/youth who for one reason or another fall through the cracks of other treatment systems. Our evaluation informs us that the primary reason that children/youth sometimes don't get treatment elsewhere is because financial barriers exist. Second Wind Fund is uniquely placed to serve this population, paying for therapy with professional therapists with funds raised from the community. The impact to the community at large is that, because of Second Wind Fund, every child can access care. We have always been able to say 'yes' when other treatment systems have said 'no' and this has a fundamental impact on the individuals we serve and the community at-large.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Second Wind Fund has served more than 6,500 children/youth since 2002. SWF has its own network of more than 200 treatment providers – each licensed, available for a first treatment appointment within one week, and highly experienced with this population.
When a referral is approved for treatment and paid for by Second Wind Fund, a list of approved SWF therapists will be sent to the mental health professional who made the referral call that work in the individuals community; this list will include SWF therapists that meet the specific needs of the client where possible; the referral source will work with the individual and/or caregivers to ensure the most appropriate therapist is selected and treatment will begin; the therapist will invoice SWF for services rendered; then the therapist will administer an evidence based pre- and post-test for evaluation purposes.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As long as we continue to meet our annual budget, we will have the ability to say "yes" to a child or teen that is in need of our services.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Second Wind Fund has provided to services to over 7,000 youth since 2002. It is our goal to serve the entire state of Colorado. We are currently in 30 counties across the state. We are in the process of providing services state-wide as one organization.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Second Wind Fund, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 2/23/2022
Michael Juba
Hardy & Juba, LLC
Term: 2019 - 2021
Michael Juba
Hardy & Juba LLC
Orrick Nepomuceno
Optum
Marjorie Laird
Marjorie Laird LLC
Kristen Withrow
Colorado Division of Youth Services
Michael Simpson
Bank of the San Juans
Kayla Fulginiti
The Dear Jack Foundation
Andy Kerr
Jefferson Board of County Commissioners
Madelon Lapidus
Holland & Hart LLP
Kristen Withrow
Colorado Division of Youth Services
Jane Lineman
Denver Public Schools
John Schliep
RMHC - Denver
Barbara Downing
Denver Public Schools
Bryan Wallace
Bridgepoint Investment Banking
Cynthia Giffen
Platte Canyon High School
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/23/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.