13. Charity Trends

The charts and graphs that follow summarize the results of charitable solicitations in 2016 and compare these to results to past years.

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 which depict results of solicitation campaigns.

To put such solicitation campaigns into perspective, consider that there were 13,717 charities registered to solicit contributions in Colorado as of Nov. 30, 2016, yet only 276 different charities were listed on the 415 solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2016. Thus, the number of charities listed on solicitation campaigns filed in 2016 represents less than 2.0% of the number of charities that were registered as of Nov. 30, 2016. Contributions brought in by charitable organizations via solicitation campaigns reported in 2016 totaled $441 million, or 0.5% of the $85.4 billion in total contributions reported on all charities’ financial reports. To be sure, a portion of the $85.4 billion in 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 2016.

Nevertheless, direct mail, radio, and telemarketing campaigns have a big public impact. This report summarizes the results not only of these 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 10,588 charities, of which 6,736 listed a principal address in Colorado.

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