Maximizing Nonprofits Efforts

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Online fundraising has become a crucial aspect of nonprofit operations in recent years, but with limited resources and staff, many organizations struggle to maximize their online fundraising efforts. A study from the Blackbaud Institute found a 42% increase over three years in online giving, and 12% percent of total fundraising comes from online sources.   

That’s why the Colorado Gives Foundation partnered with the Schlessman Family  Foundation to offer local nonprofits the Level Up Digital Fundraising opportunity.  

This one-year capacity-building program provides strategy development, technology, and skilled volunteers to help execute fundraising projects, all for free thanks to the Schlessman Family Foundation’s support.  

Level Up will help organizations that use ColoradoGives.org as their primary fundraising tool and help them to make the most out of the platform using advanced features like CRM, application integration, text-to-give, volunteer management and more. The application period has closed, but this will benefit the following organizations:  

  • 501(c)(3) organizations currently on and raising funds on ColoradoGives.org 
  • 501(c)(3) organizations that use ColoradoGives.org as its primary online fundraising tool 
  • 501(c)(3) organizations with an employee who is responsible for digital fundraising (i.e. online fundraising is part of their role), who can commit up to 20 hours per month for this educational cohort. 

In 2022, 100,000+ donors raised more than $53 million for 3,400 nonprofits on Colorado Gives Day. Year round, the platform engaged nearly half a million donors who raised $76 million for Colorado nonprofits. Community First Foundation launched the online giving platform that powers Colorado Gives Day in 2007, and since then, donors have given more than $574 million to Colorado nonprofits.  

The Schlessman Family Foundation was founded in 1956 by Gerald L. and Florence M. Schlessman. It was established to provide charitable support in granting opportunities for children and adults hindered by economic status, physical or mental challenges, or requiring additional educational opportunities with the intent to enable them to become self-sufficient, productive members of their community. Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed over $100 million to more than 1000 charities.