11th Annual Colorado Gives Day aims to help non-profits

Colo. (KRDO) -- Over the past 11 years, the Community First Foundation has celebrated Colorado Gives Day, and the annual movement has brought in more than $250,000,000 in donations for state non-profits.

Officials with the foundation say they’ve lowered the minimum giving amount on their website from $10 to $5. If you can’t donate at all, they say you can still help by spreading the word online.

The Community First Foundation says the organizations that are really hurting are non-profit first responders, like food banks and housing providers.

Budgets at non-profit theaters and museums have also taken a huge hit.

Officials say those places rely on ticket sales to generate revenue, and many could not stay open amid the pandemic.

Even with our nation's economy hurting, officials say they are hopeful.

“Colorado Gives' online platform runs 365 days per year," says Kelly Dunkin, President and CEO of the Community First Foundation. "We’ve seen giving up 162% from January to July of 2019 to January to July of 2020."

There is a million dollar incentive fund incorporated in to this year's day of giving.

If your non-profit makes 10% of the total donations on Colorado Gives Day, they’ll also get 10% of the million dollar incentive fund.

On the last Colorado Gives Day in 2019, donations added up to $40,000,000.

Officials with the Community First Foundation suggest giving friends and family the gift of giving this year with "giving cards".

Recipients of the gift cards can use them to support any non-profit listed on the Colorado Gives website.

More information on how to donate or purchase a gift card can be found here.