Issue Position: Non-Profits and Philanthropy

Issue Position

Nonprofit, faith-based and philanthropic sectors are an important component of a strong Colorado.

Key Priorities

Support nonprofit and faith-based organizations to better serve Colorado residents

Become a nonprofit-friendly state by supporting partnerships between state government and the nonprofit and fait-based sector.

Ensure prompt payment of nonprofits who have state contracts

Encourage volunteerism and philanthropic support of the nonprofit sector

"Nonprofit organizations are a vital component of making a stronger Colorado." - John Hickenlooper

Background

Colorado has one of the largest nonprofit sectors per capita in the country with over 19,000 nonprofit organizations doing important work throughout the state. At the same time, philanthropic giving to the nonprofit sector is 38th in the country when considering per capita income vs. per capita giving.

Solutions & Strategies

Nonprofits as Economic Drivers: Nonprofit organizations play a critical role in the economy of Colorado. One in 18 people in Colorado is employed in the nonprofit sector. Several studies have shown that nonprofit activities such as the arts, social services and education provide a vital boost to the Colorado economy. They also provide services that would otherwise have to be provided by government agencies.

Training and Capacity Building: A Hickenlooper administration will work with existing technical assistance providers to help ensure that nonprofit and faith-based organizations have a role with state agencies in serving Coloradoans. In addition, the administration will help state agencies enhance their partnerships with nonprofits.

Resources: The administration will work to secure more resources for the nonprofit sector including providing grant writing assistance, encouraging creation of multi-tenant nonprofit centers and working with the local philanthropic sector to encourage strategic grantmaking and leveraging national resources. We will aggressively seek national foundation and federal grants by building innovative, collaborative and system changing partnerships between the government, nonprofit and faith-based sectors.

Collaboration: The Hickenlooper administration will encourage collaboration between state government agencies and the nonprofit and faith-based sector around critical issues facing Coloradans. Collaborations will encourage effective and efficient delivery of services and programs that benefit Coloradans.

Prompt Payment: The administration will work to ensure prompt payment of nonprofit and faith-based organizations that receive contracts with the State government. We realize that delayed payments create an undue burden for these organizations and delay services to needy residents.

Volunteerism and Philanthropy: The administration will review policies such as tax incentives that encourage volunteerism and individual and corporate philanthropy.

Tax Exemptions: Property and sales tax exemptions are important to the health of non-profits. While other states have gone after nonprofits for revenue in lean times, we recognize the value nonprofits provide to Colorado's economy and the services they provide.

A Seat At The Table: Nonprofit, philanthropic and faith-based organizations have valuable expertise on a range of important issues. The administration will ensure that these sectors have a seat at the table in policy discussions. This administration will proactively include these voices.

Partnerships with Foundation: This administration will work proactively to partner with the organized philanthropic sector to address issues of critical importance to the most vulnerable sectors of our society. We will seek to strategically fund projects that have the biggest impact on the most needy Colorado residents.

Simplification of the Foundation excise tax: The administration will work with our congressional delegation to simplify the excise tax paid by private foundations.

Public Related Investments: The administration will work with foundations to promote Public Related Investments (PRIs) as a way of getting more dollars into the community.

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