2019 Fellow

Eddie Koen
Eddie KoenChief Impact Officer, Mile High United Way

Meet Eddie

Eddie Koen brings more than 15 years of experience to Mile High United Way, serving the community through nonprofit leadership roles and advocating for equity, education, and human rights. Career highlights include: Chief of Staff for Denver Public Schools, founding regional executive director for College Trac, Colorado State Policy Advisor for Lumina Foundation’s Strategy Labs, co-founder of Konbit Pou Edikayson, an international non-governmental organization focused on education and youth gang prevention in Haiti, and executive director of Charity’s House Ministries. Early in his career, he was a legal fellow at Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization providing legal representation to indigent defendants and prisoners. While living in the south, Eddie organized one of the largest death penalty moratorium rallies in Atlanta, GA. He was also a founding director of SeedIM Ventures, a social-enterprise company driving commerce through crowdfunding and real estate investments in vulnerable communities.

Currently, Eddie serves on the board of trustees for The Denver Foundation, where he is the incoming vice-chair; the advisory board for the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise; and the advisory board for National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc. Prior board service includes Denver Health Community Health Services Board, NAACP Denver, Colorado Nonprofit Development Center, Colorado Forum, Colorado Latino Leadership and Research Organization (CLLARO), and the National Bar Association.

Recently, he was honored in Atlanta, GA, by the Community Investment Network for his commitment to philanthropy and giving and received the 2017 Shoes of Justice Award from Shorter AME Church. He has received top honors by The Denver Business Journal, Denver Urban Spectrum, ColoradoBiz Magazine, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the Urban League of Metro Denver.

Eddie holds a B.S. and M.P.A. from the University of Alabama, and a J.D. from Sanford University. He enjoys traveling with family, playing blitz chess, and supporting charitable causes.