Colorado Secretary of State logo - cube with a C in it

Colorado Secretary
of State Jena Griswold
www.coloradosos.gov | www.sos.state.co.us

Colorado Secretary of State logo - cube with a C in it

Colorado Secretary
of State Jena Griswold
www.coloradosos.gov

Picture of Secretary of State Jena Griswold

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Colorado Secretary of State logo - cube with a C in it

Colorado
Secretary of State
Jena Griswold

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2017 Annual Report on Charitable Solicitations in Colorado

SoS home > Charities & fundraisers > 2017 annual report > Table of contents > Charitable solicitations highlights

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13. Charitable solicitations highlights

Contributions received by registered charities with 2016 fiscal year end

Based on overall financial reports filed by charities before Nov. 30, 2017 with a reporting period ending any time between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.  Includes charities that used paid solicitors.

Received by Charity count Total $ in millions High $ in millions Average $ in millions Low $ in millions
All charities Charity count 11,113 Total in millions 93,193 High in millions 3,190 Average in millions 8.4 Low in millions 0
Colorado-based charities Charity count 6,948 Total in millions 4,715 High in millions 278 Average in millions 0.68 Low in millions 0

Results of solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2017

Total gross proceeds $761 million
Total net proceeds to charities $642 million
Percentage of total gross proceeds to charity 84%
Solicitation campaign reports filed 429
Paid solicitors listed on campaign reports 57
Charities listed on campaign reports 268

Note about 2017 data on solicitation campaigns:

The 84% ratio of net proceeds to charity seems excellent at first glance, yet if two unique campaigns conducted on behalf of Network for Good, Inc. ($301 million gross) and The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust ($242 million gross) are subtracted from the totals, the overall percent to charity drops to 51.5%.  These are very large donor advised funds that retain 98% and 97%, respectively, of the gross funds raised.

Giving USA 2017 report highlights

This frequently quoted annual study shows the sources of funding for charities nationally in 2016.

Source $ in billions % of total % change from 2015
Individuals Individual $ in billions 281.86 Individual % of total 72.3 Individual % change from 2015 3.9
Foundations Foundations $ in billions 59.28 Foundations % of total 15.2 Foundations % change from 2015 3.5
Bequests Bequests $ in billions 30.36 Bequests % of total 7.8 Bequests % change from 2015 -9.0
Corporations Corporations $ in billions 18.55 Corporations % of total 4.8 Corporations % change from 2015 3.5
All Americans All Americans $ in billions 390.05 All Americans % of total 100 All Americans % change from 2015 2.7

Source: Giving USA is Giving USA is Giving USA 2017: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2016, www.givingusa.org.