Public Policy Is A Powerful Tool for Change
Our Advocacy Is Data-Driven, Nonpartisan, Trusted
WFCO’s data-driven and nonpartisan approach to public policy advocacy has earned us recognition as a trusted voice and leading advocate for Colorado women and their families at the Capitol. Furthermore, when we combine the work of our WINcome direct-service grantees with the work of our public policy advocacy grantees, the impact for Colorado women is magnified.
Through a gender-, racial-, and economic-lens, our public policy and advocacy work includes monitoring legislation, sharing research, participating in and leading coalitions, meeting with legislators and policy partners, and activating our statewide network to elevate issues with local legislators and put the solutions we’ve identified into law. Since 2018, we've hosted an annual lobby day and/or virtual advocacy trainings to empower women to become ardent advocates for Colorado women and their families.
It's about people, not politics
Since 1987, WFCO and our public policy partners have helped pass more than 50 measures that have achieved the following:
Our Top Policy Wins
Equal Pay for Equal Work Act
WFCO not only advocated for its passage in 2019, we co-hosted educational webinars with the Colorado Women’s Bar Association to help the community understand its impact and prepare for implementation in 2021. Employees and jobseekers praise the law for features such as requirements to include pay ranges on job postings and other states and municipalities across the country follow Colorado’s lead in requiring pay transparency. Employers are still adjusting to the changes. We remain committed to ensuring the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is workable for employees, jobseekers, and employers alike and to supporting equal pay efforts beyond Colorado.
Paid Family & Medical Leave
Voters passed Proposition 118, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, on the 2020 statewide ballot. The program is an investment in all Colorado employees to be able to access this resource when they need it most. Premiums will start being collected in 2023 and benefits will be available to workers beginning in 2024. WFCO remains part of the FAMLI Coalition, led by 9to5 Colorado and Colorado Fiscal Institute (both are WFCO grantees), to ensure equity is at the center of the process. In the 2022 legislative session, we’re supporting a financing bill that will help the program prepare to launch. In advance of the program launch, WFCO is proud to have updated our own policies to offer our staff 12 weeks of fully paid family and medical leave.
Universal Pre-Kindergarten
Voters said yes on the 2020 statewide ballot to taxing nicotine products to fund universal free preschool for 4-year-olds starting in fall 2023. WFCO is working with many partners to strengthen and retain the early care and education (ECE) workforce to make this law a reality. In 2021, we helped pass a bill that improves retention and educators’ salaries to increase capacity for the sector. We also supported the Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Education Act to create a Department of Early Childhood at the state level. This session, we are advocating for a refundable tax credit for early childhood educators.
2024 Legislative Priorities
Our levels of support for bills, which range from monitoring to lobbying, are determined by availability of resources, the need for our support, and alignment with our policy priorities, listed below:
- Address root causes of poverty and provide holistic and flexible resources to women and their families
- Reform Colorado’s tax and budget policies to promote equity and allow for sufficient resources to be dedicated to WFCO priorities
- Promote issues and protect rights that promote gender, racial, and economic equity
See Our Public Policy Priorities and Results Over the Years
Advocating4Impact
WFCO works with legislators and our lobbyists throughout the session to pass bills that create meaningful change for women. But we can't do it without you! Join our statewide network of advocates by attending our "Advocating4Impact" trainings. Free and open to the public, these two interactive virtual sessions will give you tools and guidance for becoming more engaged in the legislative process and making an impact for Colorado women and families. Spanish interpretation and closed captioning are available for both trainings. Our free Advocating for Impact trainings, at only 1.5 hours each, are a quick, fun, and inspiring way to:
- Learn about opportunities to shape the communities you live and work in
- Develop skills and confidence to inform and advance legislation
- Strengthen your own networks
- Join the movement to build more equitable systems and a stronger Colorado for us all.
Learn More
Womanifesto
WFCO created our ballot guide, The Womanifesto, with statewide input from a diverse group of Coloradans committed to elevating opportunities for women to strengthen our state.
Learn More
Civic Engagement Guide
How do you make your voice heard? Read our civic engagement guide. This page will help you find resources for voting, research ballot issues and
candidates, learn about the legislative process, and engage in advocacy.
See Our Civic Engagement Guide
Join Us
WFCO invites you to join us in leading systemic change on behalf of women and their families. Through a unified voice we can influence positive community outcomes. Stay tuned for updates before, during, and after the session, and in the meantime, here's how you can help support our advocacy efforts!
- The Womanifesto. Download and share our nonpartisan voter handbook.
- Help inform the conversation. Share WFCO’s recent research that is informing our advocacy work.
- Vote and advocate. Read our civic engagement guide to learn how you can make a difference, from voting to how to contact your legislators.
- Join us to learn more. Attend an upcoming community education event and sign up for our eNewsletter to receive information and updates.
- Follow and share. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for policy updates throughout the year.
- Share your ideas with us. Let us know when you see a challenge in your community that could be improved by a policy change, email us at wfco@wfco.org.