Boettcher Foundation

**Boettcher Family & Foundation History** The Boettcher family legacy in Colorado is one of seeking opportunity, valuing hard work, and giving back to the community. Charles Boettcher built his family’s fortune through a variety of diverse business pursuits representative of the boundless opportunities available in the young state of Colorado in the late 1800s. His son Claude K. Boettcher helped to diversify the family’s interests. The creation of the Boettcher Foundation, incorporated in 1937, fulfilled Claude’s desire to give back to the state where he grew up. The women of the Boettcher family were a guiding force in the Foundation’s from its earliest days. Edna Boettcher, Claude’s wife, served as a Trustee for 14 years. Mae Boettcher, who was married to Claude’s son Charles Boettcher II, served as a Trustee longer than any other person, with a tenure totaling 43 years. Charles II’s daughter Claudia Boettcher Merthan served the Foundation for 21 years and was chair of the board from 1992 to 2007. The Boettcher family valued hard work, championed excellence, and sought ways to support the people and communities around them. The Boettcher Foundation continues to be guided by the family’s values and legacy as we invest in the people, programs and organizations that propel Colorado forward.