Whiteman Family Foundation pledges $2.125 million to support the University of Colorado Denver Center for Psychedelic Research
The Whiteman Family Foundation today announced a $2.125 million donation to the University of Colorado Denver Center for Psychedelic Research, the state’s first transdisciplinary hub that investigates the use of psychedelics to treat a variety of conditions—from anxiety to traumatic brain injury. The multi-year donation pledge will fuel breakthrough research and inclusive community partnerships that position University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) at the forefront of this rapidly growing field.
Founded in 2024, the University of Colorado Denver Center for Psychedelic Research investigates how psychedelic-assisted therapies, such as those using MDMA and psilocybin, can offer new hope for people facing serious mental health challenges. The Center also trains facilitators who can assist in the therapy process and is committed to ensuring under served communities and populations are included in the future of mental health care.
“The Whiteman Family Foundation’s gift is a real affirmation of the significance of the research underway at our center,” said Jim Grigsby, PhD, executive director of the Center for Psychedelic Research. “This investment will enable us to expand our clinical trials, study the therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics, and ensure that effective and innovative treatments reach the people who need them most.”
A Mission Rooted in Healing, Science, and Access
The Whiteman Family Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Nancy Whiteman, brings a profound commitment to mental health and well-being to alleviate suffering and improve lives through innovative research. The foundation has previously supported national research efforts and found a natural partner in CU Denver—where Colorado’s legal landscape, translational research capacity, flexibility and impact, and shared values create a rare opportunity to drive groundbreaking science that transforms lives and strengthens communities.
“We are honored to partner in the formation of the Center for Psychedelic Research,” said Nancy Whiteman, Founder and CEO of the Whiteman Family Foundation. “Supporting the Center’s work is a cornerstone of our strategy to advance innovative, evidence-based treatments for mental health and addiction at a time when the need has never been greater.”
As one of the nation’s few psychedelic research centers embedded in a public urban university, the University of Colorado Denver Center for Psychedelic Research offers a distinctly accessible and equal-opportunity approach.
It’s the first-of-its-kind in the Colorado academic field and acts as a transdisciplinary hub where science, lived experience, and public policy intersect. The center’s work not only contributes to scientific discovery, but it also ensures that those who need mental health care have access.
From Research to Real-World Impact
The foundation’s $2.12 million gift will support a wide range of clinical, basic, and policy research as well as administration, and public outreach.
“At CU Denver, we believe education should work for all,” said Pam Jansma, dean of the CU Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “This gift helps us build inclusive systems of care and drive real, lasting impact across communities.”
In addition to medical, neuroscientific, and psychological research, the center brings together experts in economics, social policy, and public health. This reflects CU Denver’s belief that meaningful progress requires collaboration across disciplines and identities.
“This isn’t only about discovery—it’s about advancing this work responsibly, making sure it’s truly inclusive, and keeping it firmly rooted in our communities and the people it’s meant to serve,” said Grigsby.
Laying the Groundwork for a Movement
The Whiteman Family Foundation’s investment also helps lay the groundwork for future philanthropic support and institutional partnerships. Whiteman, who now serves on the center’s advisory board, views this gift as a catalyst for momentum, and an invitation to others who want to contribute to lasting change.
With Colorado’s evolving legal framework under Proposition 122, CU Denver is uniquely positioned to co-create bold, community-anchored research and education in psychedelic science backed by the strength of the University of Colorado System, Colorado state agency partners, and community members who guide our public mission to make education available to all.
“Colorado’s passage of the Natural Medicine Health Act creates a unique opportunity for the center to study the therapeutic impacts of psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in mushrooms,” Whiteman said. “While many research centers focus on synthetic psylocibin, which isolates psychoactive properties, this work opens the door to a deeper understanding of whole-organism, plant-based therapeutic approaches.”
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About the University of Colorado Denver Center for Psychedelic Research
The Center for Psychedelic Research at CU Denver is a transdisciplinary initiative advancing the science and practice of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Through research, inclusive education, and community engagement, the center seeks to address the nation’s mental health crisis with innovative and rigorously studied interventions. Areas of focus include things like treatment for depression, PTSD, chronic pain, addiction, and end-of-life distress. The center’s headquarters is housed within CU Denver’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and reflects the University’s broader mission to deliver education that works for all.
To learn more about The University of Colorado Denver’s Center for Psychedelic Research or to get involved, visit clas.ucdenver.edu/psychedelic-research-center
About the University of Colorado Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with more than 13,000 diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.
About the Whiteman Family Foundation
Founded in December 2021, the Whiteman Family Foundation is dedicated to enhancing our world by ensuring people have the resources they need to live happy, healthy lives. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the Foundation supports a diverse portfolio of organizations that approach their work and impact with an eye towards intersectionality, innovation, capacity building, and balance—principles that reflect the Foundation’s own values. Its grantmaking spans multiple impact areas, including basic needs, mental health and research, access & opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Through its trust-based philanthropy and systems-level approach, the Whiteman Family Foundation empowers partners and communities to drive durable, long-term change.