Most Coloradans will remember Joe O’Dea as the Republican construction company owner who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Senator Michael Bennet back in 2022, if they remember the name at all.
Far fewer may know him as a board member of the Common Sense Institute, the conservative, non-partisan research organization that describes itself as “dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy” and “at the forefront of important discussions concerning the future of free enterprise in Colorado.”
Until now, almost nobody would know him as the leader of another nonprofit focused on the same goal. O’Dea is the principal officer of Biz Action for Colorado, which is “dedicated to promoting economic prosperity in Colorado.”
In fact, outside of its state business and federal tax filings, no one would know Biz Action for Colorado (BAC) exists. Except, that is, for the folks at Advance Colorado, to whom BAC cut a check for $627,000, which is 98% of its total assets, according to tax filings.
BAC was able to save on postage for that check as well, given that its office and Advance Colorado’s are one and the same. That same Greenwood Village suite is also home to the West Group, the Republican political law firm whose lawyers, Jon Anderson and Gwen Benevento, incorporated and registered the nonprofit in 2023, the year after O’Dea lost his Senate race.
According to BAC’s initial IRS tax filing, the group is a 501(c)6 organization, or what the IRS considers a business league- a membership organization comprised of “an association of persons having some common business interest.” Under the Internal Revenue Code, a c6 must receive a majority of its revenue from membership dues. BAC’s 990 form, however, shows revenue only from contributions and grants, not dues. Furthermore, its articles of incorporation says that it does not have “voting members,” which doesn’t make sense for an entity created to join dues-paying members together to advocate for shared interests- interests that the members typically vote on.
The group’s mission as listed on its 990 includes “hosting free informational events for the public and policy makers, and direct lobbying” as well as working “to support or oppose relevant state ballot measures.”
It also supposedly hosts an online community and has a website, but the organization has no public digital footprint. A search for “Biz Action for Colorado” shows no website, social media platforms, or news stories. The group’s name doesn’t appear in Colorado’s campaign finance or lobbying databases, despite stating that it conducts activity that should qualify for both.
Anonymous nonprofits aren’t unusual in Colorado politics; allies of both parties have used them for decades, ever since voters’ passage of Amendment 27 in 2002, which set strict limits on donations to candidates and political parties. BAC is unusual in that it lists an elaborate four-pronged mission statement that breaks down its work product into increments of 5%
Advocacy: BAC engages in advocacy efforts to represent the shared interests and goals of its members and serves as a unified voice working towards the advancement of a favorable business environment for the state of Colorado. This includes education about legislation, regulations, or policies that improve or otherwise affect conditions for businesses and their employees. BAC’s advocacy activities include creating and distributing educational materials, hosting free informational events for the public and policy makers, and direct lobbying. BAC also works to support or oppose relevant state ballot measures and to support policy makers who advance the common business interests of BAC. Around 50% of BAC’s time and funds are allocated to these activities.
Networking, membership building, and fundraising: BAC facilitates referral and networking opportunities by providing platforms for members to connect, share insights, and collaborate. BAC hosts meetings, events, and an online community to strengthen ties within the business community and create opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and mutual support. BAC solicits new members and conducts a minimal amount of fundraising targeted at existing members and outside donors through its website, email, mail, and events. Around 20% of BAC’s time and funds are allocated to these activities.
Education: BAC offers information and education to enhance the skills and knowledge of members through meetings, seminars, workshops, newsletters, and its website. Topics include shared interests such as community and business leadership, legislative and regulatory updates, sound financial practices and business standards, labor laws, investment and expansion, procurement award procedures, and legal issues. Around 20% of BAC’s time and funds are allocated to these activities.
Research and analysis: BAC manages and conducts research using contractors to provide members with valuable insights into economic conditions and trends and other factors that can affect business operations in Colorado. Around 5% of BAC’s time and funds are allocated to these activities.
Neither O’Dea nor Advance Colorado responded to requests for comment as to why their two organizations share an office and what sort of work BAC’s grant supports. This article will be updated with any responses received.
The detailed description of the group’s activities are unusual among advocacy-oriented nonprofits. It’s especially odd when contrasted with the fact that apparently instead of doing any of these activities, BAC just gave almost all its money to Advance Colorado, essentially appearing to function only as a pass-through organization.
Common Sense Institute CEO Cinamon Watson likewise did not respond to the Colorado Times Recorder’s inquiry as to whether she has any comment on a board member running another nonprofit that had given well over half a million dollars to Advance Colorado, especially considering that she has an active (albeit restricted) page on Advance Colorado’s team page, where prior to being locked down she was identified as an “educator.”
Watson isn’t the only Advance Colorado team member to also work for (or be a board member) of the Common Sense Institute; there are eleven others who have either been staff, fellows, contractors or board members. This article will be updated with any response received.
With CSI, Advance Colorado, and O’Dea all unwilling to comment, we’ll never know for sure how Advance Colorado Director Michael Fields spent his $628,000, but one of the organization’s projects looks to be a good fit.
West Group’s Jon Anderson incorporated Biz Action as a 501c(6) in late October of 2023. On January 10, 2024, Anderson filed paperwork for the Colorado Strong Business Alliance, a new trade name for Advance Colorado. The very next day, Kristi Pollard, sister of 76 Group principal Josh Penry, wife of 76 Group principal Tim Pollard and who served for years as Advance Colorado’s principal officer, published an op-ed in Colorado Politics, announcing the launch of “CoSBA,” with her as executive director. In her byline, CoSBA is described as “a project of Advance Colorado.”
Her column made the case for this new “consortium of business leaders” by a scary economic statistic she attributes to “the non-partisan Common Sense Institute.” Pollard promised that “CoSBA will unapologetically work to resurrect a vibrant economy…and be an aggressive and assertive voice.”
The CoSBA website offered more details about the group’s plans: “Through education, the judicial system, and the citizen initiative process, the Colorado Strong Business Alliance will restore Colorado to its rightful place as a pro-business state leading the nation.”
The project appears to have been short-lived. Internet Archive records show the CoSBA website as defunct by late July 2024, and the URL is currently for sale. Its Facebook page is still online, though in the three months it was active, its 29 posts only managed to earn four followers. CoSBA did better on X, where it garnered 10 followers, although one was Fields himself.
If indeed this was how Advance spent the $628,000 it received from O’Dea’s membership organization, one wonders if those members think they got their money’s worth.
