15. Charity Trends

The charts and graphs that follow summarize the results of charitable solicitations in 2014, and compare these to results from the past decade.

Bear in mind that charitable organizations use a variety of methods to raise funds to support their missions. The method many people think of first (contracting with a paid solicitor) is used by a relatively small number of charities. This activity is reflected in the charts that depict results of solicitation campaigns.

To put such solicitation campaigns into perspective, consider that there were 11,945 charities registered to solicit contributions in Colorado as of Nov. 30, 2014, yet only 291 different charities were listed on the 446 solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2014. Thus, the number of charities listed on solicitation campaigns filed in 2014 represents less than 2.5% of the number of charities that were registered as of Nov. 30, 2014. Contributions brought in by charitable organizations via solicitation campaigns reported in 2014 totaled $188 million, or 0.3% of the $70.9 billion in contributions reported on all charities’ financial reports. To be sure, a portion of the contributions reported by all registered charities could include results of solicitation campaigns conducted in states other than Colorado, but it’s important to keep the overall fundraising picture in mind when considering the results of the solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2014.

Nevertheless, direct mail, radio, and telemarketing campaigns have a big public impact. This report summarizes the results not only of these 446 solicitation campaigns, but also excerpts the most pertinent financial information provided by all registered charities on their overall financial reports. In the latter category, the totals represent financial reports submitted by 9,541 charities, of which 6,198 listed a principal address in Colorado.

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