Secretary Griswold Releases Annual Charitable Solicitation Report

Denver, March 18, 2019 - Over 7,000 charities in Colorado raised over $4.5 billion in 2018, according to a report released today by Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

The annual report on charitable solicitations in Colorado is a compilation of registration documents filed by charities and paid solicitors in Colorado. This report provides information to the public so that people can make informed choices when donating to charity.

"We are thankful to the thousands of charities in Colorado who work each day to make our communities better," said Griswold." Studies show that one of the most important factors driving charitable giving is public confidence. This report increases transparency and accountability, and we hope it helps increase Coloradans' support of charities."

The Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act requires charities and paid solicitors that ask for contributions in Colorado to file registration documents with the Secretary of State, and for the Secretary of State's office to compile and publish an annual report. The registry and annual report helps inform potential donors and helps charitable organizations make informed decisions when contracting with paid solicitors.

"Individual donations fuel the great work that nonprofits do in every community. The Secretary of State's regulation of charitable solicitations provides transparency and accountability for those donations," said Renny Fagan, President & CEO of Colorado Nonprofit Association. "Donors can easily find financial information about the nonprofit causes they support. Every gift is meaningful and helps make our communities stronger."

Although the total number of Colorado based charities is higher than last year, the total contributions the received in 2018 are over $33 million lower, according to the report. While a small decrease overall, this may be related to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which made it less likely that people receive deductions for their charitable donations.

This year's annual charitable solicitation report, as well as past years, are available on the Secretary of State's website. The entire registry of charities and fundraiser filings is available on the Secretary of State's website through a searchable database at www.checkthecharity.com. This is a publicly accessible database that allows users to examine operational and financial trends for particular organizations and confirm whether an organization is registered and in good standing.