What’s Working: It’s been a tough year for nonprofits. Good thing Colorado Gives Day is here.

There are two really big fundraising days a year for Homeward Alliance: its annual fundraising gala every spring, and the second Tuesday of December.

One takes “a huge, huge amount of planning as a staff,” said David Rout, executive director of the Larimer County nonprofit that provides access to showers, laundry and other services to people who don’t have a home.

The other? Why that’s Colorado Gives Day, which is Dec. 8. Giving began Sunday.

“By contrast, we have this one day a year where this one organization, the Colorado Gives Foundation, is doing an incredible amount of work marketing for all of us, all 5,000 of the nonprofits represented by Colorado Gives Day,” Rout said. “And we reap the benefits of the work that they’re doing. … It’s the single most important fundraising day for us, other than our annual fundraiser.”

Since 2010, Colorado nonprofits have come to rely on the annual day of charity, and even more so these days to offset federal funding cuts and state budget issues. Last year, the event hit a donation record of $56.6 million, up 3.3% from the prior year. Organizers hope to top that this year, even as donors may be feeling the pinch of higher prices of inflation.

Some nonprofits say they’ve noticed because they see more need in their communities. Food Bank of the Rockies, which distributed nearly 200,000 meals per day last year, has seen the level of food insecurity rise to a 12-year high, said Erin Pulling, president and CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies.

“What we’re seeing right now is about a 17% increase in need year-over-year at our mobile pantry distributions,” Pulling said. “We’re hearing a lot from neighbors who we serve about the lack of affordability. Just housing and food and gas are more expensive and many people who have never needed to resort to food assistance are turning to us for the first time in their lives.”

She said the biggest reason for the increase is reductions in SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as food stamps. Thousands of Coloradans have lost SNAP benefits this year after federal rules added work requirements and immigration status.

The Food Bank has seen its cost rise as well. They have 40 semitrucks on the road on any given day and it now costs $1,000 to fill up a tank, compared with a year ago when it was $500. That has added $63,000 a month in expenses, Pulling said. Higher food costs have added $100,000 to the same amount of food they were purchasing a year ago.

“We’re depending on Colorado Gives Day and just, in general, the generosity of our community,” she said. “What we love seeing is how Colorado Gives Day inspires philanthropy. … We have so many people who probably wouldn’t make a gift if it weren’t for the inspiration of Colorado Gives Day.”

Government support hasn’t returned

Coloradans stepped up during the pandemic to lift Colorado Gives Day above $50 million in donations. While the amount has dipped slightly, it’s remained above the $50 million mark and last year reached a record $56.6 million going to 4,618 nonprofits. Approximately 102,835 people donated at an average of 2.4 times for a total of 267,587 donations.

Nonprofits are hopeful even as they understand that many people may be facing their own economic challenges with higher gas and grocery prices.

Rout, with Homeward Alliance, which happened to receive Colorado Gives Day’s last donation last year (”at 11:59 p.m. (for) $200,” according to organizers), said they’ve had to make adjustments as federal and state support was reduced.

Federal COVID relief funds expired at the end of September, he said. While expected, the organization had to scale back last year, after expanding during the pandemic thanks to the increased federal dollars. Two years ago, government grants made up 58% of its revenues. For 2027, that’ll drop to 43%.

“We’v been very fortunate over the last six months ot a year to have received some increased support from some private foundations. But this is really the biggest test of all that we’re entering the first season where we don’t have that federal COVID relief money,” Rout said. “And we know our donors are feeling the same impacts as everyone across the country when it comes to inflation and affordability issues.

Homeward Alliance does have to lift some fingers to keep its Gives Day page updated. It also prioritizes what’s needed and shares how donations are used, such as this year, $30 for new socks and underwear for a child; $75 for hygiene products for 150 showers at its resource and day shelter called Murphy Center; and $200 provides clothing and gear for one person to secure employment.

“We wouldn’t give it as an option if it wasn’t something we needed,” Rout said.

The giving games have begun

For those who can give, Kelly Dunkin and her team at Colorado Gives Foundation, try to make it easier to donate. And they hope to top last year’s record. Her competitive spirit has the organization constantly tweaking its operation to encourage more generosity.

There’s the “Good for Business Challenge” for businesses that want to encourage employees to be charitable. That raised $680,000 last year. The challenge includes a leaderboard, where Denver law firm Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe was in the lead on Friday (a spokesperson from the firm credited director Russell Kemp for getting the firm involved since the beginning).

For those who choose a recurring monthly donation, the foundation provides an up to $100 match, thanks to a $250,000 challenge.

There are even gift cards so a recipient can pick which charity to donate to.

And on the actual day, Dec. 8, there will be hourly drawings for Southwest Airline tickets for those who give more than $100 to a single nonprofit.

“We’re also seeing people use different ways to give,” said Dunkin, president and CEO of Colorado Gives Foundation.

“A lot of times, people’s wealth, the majority of it is not in cash. We’re starting to see older adults use an IRA to make a qualified charitable distribution on ColoradoGives.org because we make it really easy. We’ve made it easier for those donors who have a donor-advised fund,” she said. “We’re also seeing people contribute publicly traded stock so that they may not have to pay the capital gains.”

Two years ago, the organization revamped the process to make it easier for folks to donate from donor advised funds, IRAs, wire transfers or give a gift of stock. The number of donors who went this route increased 25% last year, while the total amount of donations increased 52%. These alternatives now make up 5% of total donations.

There’s also a special $1 million incentive fund that is funded by sponsors. Nonprofits split the million dollars based on their share of overall donations.

That is a long-time incentive started by FirstBank, which was acquired this year by PNC. PNC decided to take over the role even before the acquisition was announced, said spokesperson Chandra Brin.

“We want Colorado to thrive, and we’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when businesses, nonprofits and communities come together around a shared purpose. That’s why we’re doing much more than providing funding. Several teams from across PNC are actively working alongside Colorado Gives Foundation to help drive awareness and participation throughout Colorado,” Brin said in an email.

There are about 100 giving events nationwide, according to Dunkin. While no one appears to be keeping an official score, Dunkin said she believes Colorado is second to the North Texas Giving Day, which raised $80 million this year for more than 3,300 nonprofits.

But depending on how you count the funds, Colorado may be at the top.

“I’m incredibly competitive,” Dunkin said. “We are purer in our numbers so we count only donations that go through our site. They’ll count donations … that someone just reports. So, we’re second behind them. But if we counted the same way, we’d be number one.”

A spokesperson from Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day confirmed that the $80 million in donations include not just donations coming in through its site but eligible gifts and funds “made or received through other channels” that are reported by nonprofits, said Nicole Paquette, with the Texas foundation, in an email. Who’s in the lead? Does it matter?

“Happy Colorado Gives Day season,” she said.

➔ Short cut to giving: Colorado Gives Day 2026

➔ NEW for 2026: Non-itemizers can deduct charitable donations. The ability to deduct charitable giving is open to taxpayers who don’t itemize. Deductions of up to $1,000 for a single filer and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly are allowed if made to a qualified charity in cash (i.e., not donor-advised funds, which are probably made by folks who itemize anyway). >> Details

Take the poll: The giving season is here

Consumers may be tightening their wallets more this year, but Thanksgiving is around the corner and Colorado Gives Day has begun. How has the economy impacted your generosity? Take the latest reader poll to help us better understand how Coloradans are impacted.

Take it >> cosun.co/WWTDAY26

Sun economy stories you may have missed

➔ Vail Resorts facing a proxy fight over its board, business strategy. Oasis Management, which owns 10% of the resort operator’s stock, is calling for a strategic shift, saying “Vail Resorts has gone downhill” >> Read story

➔ Colorado new car sales plummet as cut to EV aid puts the brights on high prices. Drop of nearly 15% in first nine months of year almost all due to losses in battery-electric interest; gas-battery hybrids are soaring >> Read story

➔ Colorado losing ground in fight to clean up record number of “orphaned” oil and gas wells. The population of orphaned wells in Colorado has grown to 994 and another 1,200 wells in state may be abandoned by operators soon. >> Read story

➔ Jared Polis proposes $600M in cuts to Medicaid to address state budget crunch. The Colorado governor released his 8th and final budget request Sunday >> Read story

➔ Hail, no: CSU taps AI to stretch ice storm forecasts by hours and days. Better warnings of highly destructive hailstones could improve safety, building policy and insurance costs >> Read story

➔ Larimer County is tackling data center rules by listening to the public. Over 7,000 have responded so far. >> Read story

Other working bits

➔ 1.6M Colorado drivers paid the $29 fee to Keep Colorado Wild. The fee gets drivers into all the state parks. The option, which is offered when owners register their cars every year, began in 2023 and has added $146 million in revenue as of June 30, according to the annual update from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

In fiscal year 2026, the state collected $45.9 million in revenue from 1.6 million Coloradans, a 4% increase from the prior year. The funds are used to keep state parks staffed, improve roads and fix bathrooms and support wildlife conservation. Examples of where the money went are in the report. >> Read report

➔ 12 programs honored that help Coloradans find good jobs. They all received grants for their work in helping prepare Coloradans for a good job, as part of the Opportunity Now Performance Awards. Organizations include African-American Trade Association, which helps place younger workers into training programs; The Master’s Apprentice, which offers tuition-free construction pre-apprenticeship programs; and NSF ASCEND Engine from Innosphere Ventures to encourage students into engineering careers. >> See winners

Got some economic news or business bits Coloradans should know? Tell us: cosun.co/heyww

Thanks for sticking with me for this week’s report. As always, share your 2 cents on how the economy is keeping you down or helping you up at cosun.co/heyww. ~ tamara

Miss a column? Catch up:

• Pikes Peak economy heads up after some challenging years
• Most Coloradans who left the labor force aren’t looking to return. But an increasing number would like to.
• A Durango nonprofit is using AI so caseworkers can spend more time with those in need
• What keeps some employers in Colorado? The skilled workforce
• Gov. Polis picks 91 Colorado regions for potentially billions in investment
• Denver business leaders change focus to what’s best about living, working in the city
• One Colorado gardener feeds dozens in a San Luis Valley food desert

What’s Working is a Colorado Sun column about surviving in today’s economy. Email [email protected] with stories, tips or questions. Read the archive, ask a question at cosun.co/heyww and don’t miss the next one by signing up at coloradosun.com/getww.

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