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As part of the Feeding America network, we join with more than 200 food banks across the country to advocate for programs that increase opportunity and maintain a bipartisan commitement to protect hungry men, women and children.

We support join the Colorado Nonprofit Association in supporting SB 18-141, sponsored by Sen. Lois Court (D-Denver) and Rep. James Wilson (R-Salida)!

SB 18-141 would create a new line on the tax form for 2020 called the “Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund,” which allows Colorado taxpayers to donate part or all of their tax refund to any nonprofit registered in Colorado. All the taxpayer would need to do is write or type in the amount of the donation and identify which nonprofit will receive the donation.

The Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund provides donors with the opportunity to give to any registered nonprofit at a time when they have additional income. It encourages donors to give during tax season in addition to year-end giving.

To be eligible, the nonprofit must be in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State by completing its annual charitable solicitations report.

Why This Bill Matters

Last year, Coloradans received over $1 billion in income tax refunds. They donated almost a quarter of a percent of their refunds ($1.9 million) to the 20 tax checkoffs on the form. If they donated 5% of the amount of their income tax refunds, nonprofits would receive an additional $50 million in charitable giving to strengthen our communities.

Giving Coloradans the choice of donating their tax refunds to any registered nonprofit will encourage them to give more and support a wider range of organizations If 141 passes, taxpayers could still choose to donate their tax refunds to any other checkoff fund on the form. Nor does it affect the renewal of existing tax checkoffs or establishment of new ones.

In 1977, Colorado became the first state to allow taxpayers to donate to nonprofits and charitable causes via the state tax return. By adopting SB 18-141, Colorado would become the first state to allow taxpayers to write-in the nonprofit of their choice when they donate their tax refunds via the state tax return.

How Will it Work?

Nonprofits will complete their annual charitable solicitations report with the Colorado Secretary of State, so they remain in good standing On the Voluntary Contributions Schedule on the Colorado Tax Return, taxpayers will see a line for the Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund Taxpayers can write or type in the amount of their donation and identify which nonprofit will receive the donation.

Taxpayers can make their entire donation to this fund or donate various amounts to this fund and other tax checkoffs The Department of Revenue (DOR), or a third party on its behalf, will direct payment of the donation from the Treasurer to the recipient nonprofit organization. DOR may solicit grants and donations to pay for the program’s start-up costs and may deduct reasonable fees from the donation (up to 3%) to pay for ongoing program administration.

Read the Bill

Contact your Legislator

Sample Support Message:

Dear members of the Colorado General Assembly,

I support allowing taxpayers to donate their tax refunds to any registered Colorado nonprofit via the state tax form. This would encourage Coloradans to give when they have additional income and to give more throughout the year; not just at the end of the year.

Colorado’s taxpayers received over $1 billion in tax refunds last year. If they donated just 5% of their tax refunds, charitable giving would increase by $50 million.

By increasing charitable giving in our state, Colorado’s nonprofits will have more resources for their essential work of building stronger communities.

Just as Colorado was the first state to allow donation of tax refunds to charitable causes through the state tax return, Colorado would become the first state to allow taxpayers to write (or type) in the name of a nonprofit on their returns to receive a tax refund donation. 

Please support SB 18-141 to make this possible!

Sincerely,   

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Who Are The Hungry?

• Children make up about half of the clients served through Food Bank of the Rockies.
• 14% of clients are seniors, age 60+
• 31% are White, 18% are Black/African American, 38% are Hispanic/Latino , 13% identify as some other race
• 23% did not graduate high school or obtain a GED,  45% have a GED or HS Diploma, 25% have education beyond a high school diploma/GED and 7% have a 4-year college degree or higher
• 10% are living in temporary housing
• 10% do not have access to cooking facilities or refrigeration
• 37% of households had a member working for pay in the last four weeks, 63% had a person working for pay in the last 12 months
• 19% are grandparents who have responsibility for grandchildren who live with them
• 21% have a household member who has served or is serving in the US military
• 20% are in poor health
• 93% have incomes less than $30K/year, 48% have incomes of $10K/year or less
• 70% have incomes at or below the poverty level
• 61% choose between medicine and food
• 65% choose between mortgage/rent and food
• 68% choose between transportation and food
• 72% choose between utilities and food

Hunger and Poverty in Colorado

• 18.1% of Colorado children live in poverty and 8%  are living in extreme poverty. (coloradokids.org – 2014)
• 39% of Colorado children live in households with incomes less than 200% of poverty. (coloradokids.org – 2014)
• Poverty in Colorado has increased since 2001. The total poverty rate in Colorado increased from 9.6% in 2001 to 12.9% in 2012. Furthermore, Colorado’s child poverty rate increased from 12.2% in 2001 to 18.1% in 2012.
• 7% of Colorado seniors live below 100% of poverty and 28% live below 200% of poverty.

Additional Resources

• Denver’s Road Home Point in Time Study 2013
• Kids Count Report 2016
• USDA Food Insecurity Report 2011 – 2013  
• QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
• Feeding America 
• Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
• The Colorado Children’s Campaign
• Colorado Center on Law and Policy and Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute
• Nutrition.gov 
• Piton Foundation
• U.S. Census
• USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension service 
• USDA Economic Research Service