Douglas County is a wonderful place to live, but it is also a wonderful place to give: 2016 Colorado Gives Day
By Lynne Marsala Basche
The idea is simple; give where you live, and for the past seven years, the Community First Foundation and FirstBank have teamed up to promote philanthropy in Colorado. Colorado Gives Day, which begins at 12 a.m. on December 6, is targeted to increase online giving to local nonprofit organizations.
The Community First Foundation’s online giving program is run through www.coloradogives.org, which is a year-round giving website. While people can donate to more than 1,800 Colorado nonprofits any time of the year, Colorado Gives Day brings attention to the act of contributing when it may otherwise just be a passing thought. The idea is for people to get energized and come together to inspire others to support local charities. In addition, the Community First Foundation and FirstBank contributed to create the $1 Million Incentive Fund, which proportionally allocates money across all charitable donations received that day.
On this one special day, people around our state participate by providing urgently-needed resources. Douglas County residents are generous, and together with the Community First Foundation, Colorado Gives Day is an easy and convenient way to support favorite organizations within Douglas County and the state. In 2015, there were 1,999 donations in Douglas County to 46 nonprofits (both inside and outside of Douglas County), totaling $514,679.
Douglas County is home to an amazing array of charities working in a variety of areas including animal welfare, arts, advocacy for those with special needs, education, land and wildlife conservation, youth and adult health and welfare, and so much more. Search favorite organizations like Wellspring Community, Douglas/Elbert Task Force, Dumb Friends League or the Douglas County Libraries, and get an overview of the organization, its mission, upcoming events and financials.
The minimum donation amount is $10, and tax-deductible donations can be made using electronic checks and all major credit cards. Company matching gift programs can also be tied to contributions. Donations can be made in honor of someone, and gift cards can also be purchased and sent – now that is a gift that gives! Schedule contributions in advance to be sure to remember the event, making it as simple as possible to participate.
Colorado Gives Day is an easy way to support favorite organizations close to home. Any amount of money contributed on December 6 is given a boost through the Incentive Fund and is guaranteed to help those in need. Be as generous as possible, knowing it is better to give than to receive!
