RTL Foundation

RTL Foundation

RTL Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 with a mission to provide and support educational opportunities in entrepreneurship, history, and technology.  We advocate for unity while expanding economic opportunity for historically disenfranchised and under-resourced communities.

 

How We Put the Mission to Work

Rooted in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood—a vibrant, historically Black community known for its cultural legacy and civic activism—the Foundation serves communities across Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, and Jefferson counties.

Alongside media studios, conference rooms, an art gallery, and event space, the Foundation operates the BIPOC Nonprofit Development Center (BNDC)—a nonprofit incubator currently supporting 17 BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations with discounted workspace and structured capacity-building programs.

 

Our Three Pillars

1. Entrepreneurship

The BNDC is the centerpiece of our entrepreneurship pillar—and the nation’s first incubator dedicated exclusively to BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving nonprofits. Located in an 8,500-square-foot facility in the Five Points Media Center, the BNDC provides office and co-working space; event and conference rooms; media production studios; and an art gallery showcasing BIPOC creatives.

These physical resources are paired with mentorship; strategic planning; fundraising and marketing support; and training in governance, financial management, and leadership. Today, BNDC member organizations collectively serve more than 150,000 Coloradans. Strategic partnerships with Mile High United Way, the Colorado Nonprofit Association, and Social Venture Partners further strengthen this ecosystem of support.

 

1. History

The true history of slavery and the African American experience in America provides needed context to today’s conversations on race, and counters the distorted facts, internet hoaxes and an abundance of widely circulated myths.  This factual and artistic designed timeline has served as a tool to support discussions on race for over a decade and is needed today more than ever, as Americans continue to have conversations about this difficult period in American history and grapples with its legacy and consequences.  Through the African American Experience Timeline, RTL offers a distinctive cultural and educational resource featuring 130+ curated milestones tracing Black history from the early 1500s to the present.  (https://africanamericantimeline.org/)

 

1. Technology

The technology pillar is currently being delivered via Media studios and a talent and education pipeline. 

At RTL Media we’re committed to amplifying diverse voices and producing content that drives meaningful social change.  Our state-of-the-art studios provide a creative space where you can share your message, grow your audience, and build impactful content that matters. Whether you’re launching a podcast, producing video content, or exploring new ideas, our studios are designed to bring your vision to life.

The Foundation’s media initiatives create platforms for storytelling and narrative change. RTL Media FM operates state-of-the-art podcast and production studios that equip leaders and creators—especially BIPOC youth and artists—to amplify their voices. Services range from consulting and production to accelerator programs that help creators refine content, build audiences, secure sponsorships, and turn storytelling into sustainable impact. To grow a diverse and inclusive media-arts ecosystem across the Denver metro area, RTL has built two state-of-the-art media studios that provide access to professional cameras, audio gear, computers, and editing software. These studios expand career pathways in film, audio, and new media; strengthen organizations producing BIPOC-centered festivals, exhibitions, screenings, and educational content; and invest in the next generation of creative professionals. (https://media.rtl-foundation.org/)

 

Talent & Education Pipeline

Beyond supporting nonprofits and artists, RTL expands educational access through a structured internship program in partnership with local universities. Students gain hands-on experience with BNDC organizations and contribute to podcasting and media production projects—including collaborations with Colorado PBS12—building market-ready skills for careers in technology, media, and storytelling.