Every December, thousands of organizations unite for Colorado Gives Day to celebrate generosity, share stories, and rally their communities around causes that matter most.

In 2024 alone, Coloradans raised $54.6 million through 245,790 donations supporting nearly 4,500 nonprofits statewide (Colorado Gives Foundation). Among those were 94,712 individual donors, including nearly 800 first-time participating nonprofits, making it one of the state’s largest collective acts of philanthropy.

Since its inception in 2010, Colorado Gives Day has generated over half a billion dollars in cumulative donations for local nonprofits, reflecting Colorado’s enduring culture of giving (Colorado Gives).

But here’s the real secret: Colorado Gives Day isn’t just about what happens in 24 hours. It’s about building long-term donor relationships, strengthening your brand, and turning one big day of giving into a foundation for future impact.

So how can your nonprofit make the most of it? Let’s walk through essential strategies, from campaign planning to digital tools, to help you maximize your reach, donations, and visibility.

Why Colorado Gives Day Matters

Beyond the impressive totals, Colorado Gives Day represents trust, visibility, and opportunity. It connects nonprofits of all sizes with a statewide audience eager to give back and opens doors to donors who might never have discovered your mission otherwise.

Colorado Gives Day also serves as a key inflection point within a broader year-end giving strategy. It offers nonprofits the chance to align thoughtful planning, authentic storytelling, and strategic digital engagement to build lasting momentum well beyond December.

Start with a Clear Campaign Strategy

A standout Colorado Gives Day campaign begins long before you press “go.”

Define your theme and goals. What narrative do you want donors to carry away? Are you focused on attracting first-time donors, increasing average gift size, or improving donor retention?

Your campaign should feel like a natural extension of your mission. Develop consistent visuals, colors, and messaging across all channels from your ColoradoGives.org profile to your website, emails, and social media posts. When your brand story is cohesive, donors sense professionalism and purpose, traits that build confidence and inspire giving.

Pro tip: Check out our GivingTuesday tips for deeper insight on goal setting, narrative themes, and message consistency throughout the giving season.

Tell a unified story across every channel. When donors experience one coherent message everywhere they touch your brand, they are more likely to feel emotionally connected and act confidently.

Set Up a Timeline

The most effective Colorado Gives Day campaigns don’t spring up overnight. They evolve through phases that build momentum, engagement, and urgency.

Before Colorado Gives Day

In the early Fall, it’s important to prime your audience with mission stories, program spotlights, or teaser videos. If you used GivingTuesday as a launchpad, re-engage those donors and carry the energy forward. Align messaging, assemble visual assets, and prepare content calendars.

On Colorado Gives Day

Treat it as a celebration! Post real-time progress updates. Encourage supporters to share why they give. Publicly thank donors in real time. Every acknowledgment is a trust signal and a morale boost.

After Colorado Gives Day

Don’t let momentum slip. Send personalized thank-you emails, publish results, and show exactly how gifts make an impact. Then pivot into your broader year-end giving campaign, connecting your Colorado Gives Day success to your ongoing mission.

By viewing Colorado Gives Day as part of a season-long giving arc, you deepen relationships and sustain momentum well beyond December.

Engage Donors Beyond the Donation

Donors don’t just want to give; they want to belong and see the difference. That’s why the strongest campaigns leverage storytelling, visuals, and metrics to bridge emotion and action:

• Share authentic narrative vignettes such as a client’s journey, a volunteer’s day, or a program’s ripple effect.
• Use photos and short videos to bring those stories to life in crowded social feeds.
• Combine stories with impact metrics like “$25 feeds a family of four for a week” or “100 donations fund one month of counseling.”

During the campaign:

• Send personalized emails showing progress and celebrating milestones.
• Post social updates spotlighting donors, accomplishments, and real-time impact.
• Launch thank-you campaigns that follow up with heartfelt messages or short gratitude videos.

Also, invite supporters to share their own voices. User-generated posts and testimonials (for example, through a campaign hashtag) can amplify trust and expand reach. When supporters see their own impact and their community’s response, they are more likely to give again and become ambassadors for your mission.

Leverage Digital Tools

The Colorado Gives Day platform offers nonprofits built-in advantages, but only if you use them strategically.

Incentive Fund and matching. Each year, a $1 million+ Incentive Fund increases every participating nonprofit’s fundraising total. Nonprofits receive a share of the fund proportionate to the percentage of total donations they raise (FirstBank Blog).

From November 1 through December 9, the platform also runs a recurring donation match that matches the first month of new monthly gifts (up to $100), drawn from a statewide match pool of $250,000 (Colorado Gives).

Grand Prize Leaderboards. Participating nonprofits also compete for grand prizes such as $10,000 awards in small, medium, and large categories, which can boost visibility and motivate donors (Colorado Gives).

To get the most from the platform:

• Ensure your ColoradoGives.org profile is visually strong and impact-driven.
• Embed donation links across your website, email signatures, and social media bios.
• Encourage peer-to-peer fundraising, inviting loyal supporters to champion your cause.
• Watch leaderboards and contests to inspire friendly competition and donor motivation.
• Monitor analytics in real time so you can adjust messaging or promotions as needed.

When you combine the platform’s features with strategic digital marketing and storytelling, your reach and revenue can grow exponentially.

Make This Colorado Gives Day Your Strongest Yet

Colorado Gives Day is a celebration of generosity, but for nonprofits, it’s also a test of preparation, creativity, and connection.

By leading with clear strategy, consistent storytelling, and thoughtful donor engagement, you don’t just raise funds; you cultivate a community that supports your mission year-round.

Need help preparing your campaign? Our team is ready to help you make this Colorado Gives Day your most impactful yet! Contact us here.