2017 Annual Report on Charitable Solicitations in Colorado

SoS home > Charities & fundraisers > 2017 annual report > Table of contents > Trend analysis

Print-friendly report

15. Trend analysis

Registry growth

Text version of the registry growth chart
Registry growth table
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.


Solicitation campaigns

The total number of solicitation campaigns run annually by paid solicitors.  The number of campaigns increased 3.4% in 2017.

Text version of the solicitation campaigns chart
Solicitation campaigns table
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.


Ratio of net proceeds to gross proceeds

The percentage of donations (gross receipts) raised by paid solicitors that makes it to the charity as net revenue, after paying the expenses of the campaign and the paid solicitor’s fee.  The percent to charity increased significantly in 2015-2017 as compared to 2014 and previous years, rising from 58% to 81%.  The increase is attributable to two very large donor advised funds that have been conducting solicitation campaigns since 2014 and retain 98% and 97%, respectively, of the gross funds raised.

Text version of the ratio of net proceeds to gross proceeds chart
Ratio of net proceeds to gross proceeds table
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.


Ratio of fundraising expenses to contributions revenue

This graph compares the ratio of fundraising expenses to contributions revenue for all registered charities and for registered charities listing a Colorado principal address.  The results show that on average charities raise contributions in an effective manner, with Colorado charities spending slightly more on average than all charities combined.  This could reflect some economies of scale that charities realize when raising funds on a regional or national basis.

Text version of the ratio of fundraising expenses to contributions revenue chart
Ratio of fundraising expenses to contributions revenue
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.


Ratio of program services to total expenses

This chart compares the ratio of program service expenses to total expenses for all charities registered and for all charities listing a Colorado principal address.  The results show that on average charities devote a large percentage of their spending to their programs, with Colorado charities spending slightly less on average than all charities combined spend on programs.

Text version of the ratio of program services to total expenses chart
Ratio of program services to total expenses
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.


Methods of solicitation

This chart shows the prevalence of various methods of soliciting contributions as reported on 429 solicitation campaign financial reports. Organizations often use more than one method, in which case all methods are counted in the totals.

Estimating methods of solicitation in 2017: Telephone, direct mail, internet, door to door, vehicle and boat donations, television, newspaper and magazine, product sale.
Click on the image to see a full-sized version.