Anchor Resources

Tools and Insights for Institutional Transformation

The Center for Community Wealth (CCW) provides comprehensive resources to help anchor institutions create lasting economic change in their communities. Our resource library combines academic research, practical implementation tools, and real-world case studies to support your anchor mission journey.

Learn about our Anchor Mission Framework Join the Denver Anchor Network Schedule a Consultation

Getting Started with
Anchor Resources

If anchor work is new to you, we recommend reviewing these foundational materials to understand the anchor approach and its potential impact, before diving into specific tools:

Essential Reading

The Anchor Strategy — A Place-Based Business Approach for Health Equity
Published in The New England Journal of Medicine (January 12, 2023)

Higher Education's Anchor Mission: A Sharpened Imperative and a Framework for Action
By Julia Anderson and David Zuckerman

Download Report

CCW's Anchor Mission Framework Infographic
One-page visual overview of anchor strategies

Download Infographic

Key Networks and Collaborations

Healthcare Anchor Network
National collaboration of leading healthcare systems
Resource hub for healthcare-focused anchor work

Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) Anchor Learning Network
Network for CUMU members committed to anchor mission

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

Procurement Resources

Transform institutional spending to build local wealth

CCW Tools and Templates

ShopBIPOC Directory
A free, searchable platform featuring over 600 Colorado-based, BIPOC-owned businesses across industries including catering, construction, professional services, and retail.

ShopBIPOC Directory

Vendor Request Form
Can’t find a business on ShopBIPOC that meets your needs? submit requests for specific vendor needs to our Small Business team.

Curated Caterer List
A vetted list of professional caterers who have completed CCW's Feeding Anchors training program and are equipped to handle institutional catering needs.

View Caterers Learn About Feeding Anchors

Implementation Tools

Vendor Registration Package
A customizable W-9 vendor intake form template that helps institutions track supplier diversity metrics and gather key business characteristics for reporting.

Download Template

Amazon Business Account Guide
Step-by-step instructions for setting up Amazon Business Account preferences to prioritize local and diverse vendors when possible

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

Denver Anchor Network
Partners Engaging Local Vendors

Denver Anchor Network Success Stories

All stories available in the Denver Anchor Network Anchors Aweigh Newsletter Archive

Holiday Market at St. Joe’s Benefits Local Vendors and Our Community, Anchors Aweigh, January 2023
Eat.Local.Food Features 10 Local Caterers at CSU Spur, Anchors Aweigh, January 2023
Metropolitan State University of Denver Leads the Way in Gathering Additional Data About its Vendors, Anchors Aweigh, July 2022
New Offering for CCWB’s Small Business Partners: Hands on BidNet Workshop, Anchors Aweigh, July 2022
Grand Opening of CSU Spur’s Terra Building, Anchors Aweigh, July 2022
Diversifying Vendors: Auraria Higher Education Center’s On-Call Skilled Trades List, Anchors Aweigh, March 2022
Update: AHEC’s On-Call Skilled Trades List, Anchors Aweigh, July 2022
Local Businesses Help With Grand Opening of the Vida Building on the New CSU Spur Campus, Anchors Aweigh, March 2022

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

Strategic Research

Key Articles

"Improving the Economic Health of a Community Through Supply Chain Purchasing Power"
by Bich Ha Pham and David Zuckerman, Healthcare Anchor Network

The Procurement Economy as a Path to Equity"
by Jorge Jimenez, Aspen Institute

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“Culture, Collaboration and Capital: Leveraging Procurement for Economic Equity”
by Griffin & Strong P.C. | A special project of Living Cities

Latest Research

Urban Institute Report (May 2024): "Removing Barriers to Participation in Local and State Government Procurement"
by Brett Theodos, Sophie McManus, Tomi Rajninger | Urban Institute | May 1, 2024.

Download Report Watch Webinar

Implementation Toolkits

“Inclusive, Local Sourcing: Purchasing for People and Place”
Healthcare Anchor Network

Drexel University Guides

Buy Local Guide Build Local Guide

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

HR Resources

Build inclusive hiring pathways

Stories from CCW

St. Joseph Hospital: Workforce Challenges and Win-Win Solutions
Anchors Aweigh, January 2023

Advancing the Worker Cooperative Sector in Metro Denver
Anchors Aweigh, July 2022

Kaiser Permanente Makes Major Commitment to Worker Ownership
Anchors Aweigh, July 2022

Read Impact Story

Recent Articles

Social Determinants Key to Diversifying Health Workforce
by Erik Cliburn, April 17, 2024 Insight into Diversity

University Hospitals Hiring and Training Programs
Healthcare Anchor Network Case Study, August 2023

Download Case Study

Implementation Guides

"Hire Local: Step by Step"
from Drexel University

"Building the Pipeline to a Healthy Community"
from Healthcare Anchor Network

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

Investment Asset Resources

Leverage institutional capital for community impact

CCW Resources

DAN February 2022 Town Hall: Intermountain Healthcare’s Local Impact Investing
Anchors Aweigh, March 2022

Watch Town Hall Recording Read Event Summary

“Impact Investing 2020 Impact Report: Building Health by Building Communities”
from Intermountain Healthcare

“DAN October 2023 Town Hall,”
featuring David Zuckerman, founder and president of Healthcare Anchor Network

Read Impact Story

Current Research & Reporting

“Priced Out of Housing, Communities Take Development Into Their Own Hands,”
NY Times, May 13, 2024

"How Healthcare Anchor Network Members are Making Place-Based Investment Commitments to Address the Upstream Determinants of Health"
from Healthcare Anchor Network

Download Report

Implementation Support

"Place-based Investing: Creating Sustainable Returns and Strong Communities"
from Healthcare Anchor Network

For Business OWners

Get support to grow your business or explore employee ownership.

For Anchor Institutions

Partner with us to align your spending with community wealth building.

For Community Members

Invest in transformative economic change.

For Supporters

Invest in transformative economic change

Need help implementing these resources? Our team provides personalized guidance.