Give From The Heart This Colorado Gives Day
Colorado Gives Day is the perfect day to support your favorite causes
Photo courtesy of Opera Colorado
Colorado Gives Day is an annual event that helps connect Coloradans with local organizations that work tirelessly for our community, and this year it’s all happening again on Dec. 10. Since 2010, over $469 million has been raised through the giving event to help our communities thrive. With more than 3,800 nonprofits to support, it’s easy to find a few that speak to you. To make it even easier, we have created a list of some of the nonprofits near and dear to our hearts. Please read about these heroic organizations and how they are helping to build a better Colorado.
A staggering 97 percent of Earth’s animal species are invertebrates—creatures like butterflies, bees, spiders, beetles, octopuses and starfish. These animals are the backbone of our ecosystems and essential to our survival, yet they face serious threats from habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and pollution. Without them, nature’s balance would collapse. This is where Butterfly Pavilion steps in.
Butterfly Pavilion, celebrating 30 years in 2025, is the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited non profit, standalone invertebrate zoo in the world, leading critical research, conservation and education efforts to protect these vital species. Beyond providing unique, hands-on learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, Butterfly Pavilion conducts global conservation efforts from Colorado and Tanzania to Mongolia and Sumatra.
Butterfly Pavilion’s charge is urgent: to protect these tiny heroes before it’s too late. With your support, we can preserve our planet’s biodiversity and safeguard the future for generations to come. Join us in preserving the web of life.
Photo courtesy of Butterfly Pavilion
For 93 years, a tradition of excellence has set Central City Opera at the forefront of the performing arts community. Founded in 1932, CCO is the fifth-oldest professional opera company in the country, and the oldest performing arts organization in Colorado. Your Colorado Gives Day donation to Central City Opera continues Colorado’s favorite summer tradition of three world class opera and musical theater productions, a renowned young artist training program, and education and community engagement activities that connect audience members of all ages to the arts throughout Colorado all year long.
CCO’s annual summer festival takes place in the historic Colorado mountain town of Central City, only 35 miles west of Denver, where the company owns and maintains 28 Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel-box opera house, built in 1878.
Image by Amanda Tipton Photography
Art is essential. It challenges us to see the world in new ways, fosters creativity, and connects us to our shared humanity—just a few of the reasons that Cherry Arts works year round to bring art experiences to Coloradans. Cherry Arts runs multiple arts-focused programs, especially ones designed to reach young people in Colorado schools, like a mobile art gallery, screen-printing workshops and art kits that make teaching art easier.
Support from donors, along with revenue from the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival, helps Cherry Arts make sure that art remains a vital part of Colorado’s education system, reaching more than 40,000 students each year. Multiple studies have shown that art has the power to improve mental health, boost confidence and increase resiliency. With your support, Cherry Arts will continue to share these and other benefits of art with as many Coloradans as possible.
Photo courtesy of Cherry Arts
CHILDREN’S DIABETES FOUNDATION
Established in 1977 by Barbara and Marvin Davis, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation serves as the fundraising arm of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. The center is one of the largest research centers in the world, specializing in type 1 diabetes prevention, research and care for more than 8,000 people.
Among those, more than 45 percent are uninsured or underinsured. “With your support,” executive director Dana Davis says, “we can help keep patients healthy and one day find a cure.” Davis adds that the foundation’s holiday wish list includes monetary donations that will be used to fund critical patient programs and gift cards from local businesses to bestow upon food-insecure patient families. The extreme costs of supplies and insulin take a heavy toll on families affected by type 1 diabetes.
Donate to families in need so they don’t have to choose between buying life-saving insulin or being able to afford their rent.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF DENVER AT MARSICO CAMPUS
For more than 50 years, the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus has been a place where families can share moments of wonder, joy and connection. The museum is designed for children newborn to age 8 and their grown-ups, and offers unique hands-on exhibits, educational programs and signature events designed especially for kids. Its staff believe all children should be able to experience the rich, play-based learning opportunities offered by the museum.
Last year alone, more than 125,000 guests came through the museum’s doors for free or at a reduced cost through one of its Access Programs. Be a part of the legacy of the Children’s Museum by supporting its work this Colorado Gives Day, helping to ensure it can provide extraordinary experiences for children and families for another 50 years.
Photo courtesy of Children’s Museum of Denver
For 16 years, Colorado Feeding Kids has been providing easy-to-prepare, vitamin-fortified meals and family meal boxes to local food pantries, school weekend backpack programs, churches and seniors in need.
To date, it has produced and distributed over 9.5 million meals to the hungry. All meals are packaged by volunteers at the Englewood warehouse. CFK is always looking for more volunteers to help pack meals at bimonthly packing events! CFK has also provided meals to those affected by natural disasters, including sending meals to Houston after Hurricane Harvey, to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and to Colorado firefighters battling wildfires.
Every bag of food contains enough to feed a family of six. Colorado Feeding Kids is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that receives no government funding, relying solely on donations and volunteers. At a time of such need, your donation on Colorado Gives Day will help CFK continue to help children, families and seniors in our community.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Pet Pantry
Colorado Pet Pantry distributes pet food to families that are struggling to feed their pets due to financial constraints or lack of resources. The goal is to keep pets in their homes and out of animal shelters. It costs the organization $5 to feed a pet for 30 days because all the pet food is donated. Colorado Pet Pantry has more than 100 pet food banks statewide and works with 100-plus animal rescues and animal welfare organizations to share pet food and supplies.
Your donation on Colorado Gives Day will enable families to keep the promise they made to their pets to stay together forever.
Denver Botanic Gardens offers 24 acres with more than 40 gardens showcasing plants from around the world. Special events like the Summer Concert Series and Blossoms of Light draw visitors near and far.
Denver Botanic Gardens strives to entertain and delight while spreading collective wisdom through outreach, collaboration and education. Conservation programs play a major role in saving species and protecting natural habitats for future generations. Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms is a 700-acre native plant refuge and working farm in Jefferson County. Onsite are historical buildings dating back to the 1800s, nature trails and wildflower gardens. Special events like the Corn Maze and Trail of Lights are perennial favorites.
DBG provides programs for more than 35,000 children annually, conducts cutting-edge research, and cultivates plant collections specially selected for our Rocky Mountain region. Your support helps maintain both locations, as well as work on Mount Goliath and programming at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora.
Photo courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens
THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has been a cornerstone of discovery, education and scientific research since its inception in 1900. Originating from Edwin Carter’s 1868 collection of Rocky Mountain fauna, the museum has evolved into a world-class institution, welcoming over 2 million visitors annually.
It is renowned for its 89 meticulously crafted wildlife dioramas, which bring global ecosystems to life. The pioneering discovery of Folsom points in 1926 cemented the museum’s status in archaeological research, while popular exhibits like Space Odyssey and Expedition Health continue to engage and educate visitors of all ages.
With a collection exceeding 4.3 million artifacts and specimens, the museum offers unparalleled opportunities for exploration and learning. Active science takes place every day, with cutting-edge research, immersive experiences and a commitment to hands-on education. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science inspires curiosity, fostering a lifelong passion for understanding our natural and cultural world.
Each year, the Denver Rescue Mission staff is amazed by your generous spirit on this unique giving day that helps the most vulnerable men, women and children in our community.
Last year, donations helped more people obtain housing than ever before—574 households! The New Life Program also graduated a record 104 men, and the Bridge Program helped hundreds of families transition off the streets onto a path to lasting stability. Because of your support, the mission also provided more than 1.2 million meals and 471,977 nights of shelter.
Your commitment helps the mission serve neighbors experiencing homelessness in Denver and northern Colorado. Together, we are helping to restore families, bring hope to the hopeless, and change lives, just like we have for more than 132 years.
Photo courtesy of Denver Rescue Mission
HOME FRONT MILITARY NETWORK (HFMN)
HFMN assists service members, veterans and their families in Colorado by providing long term case management, navigation support and emergency financial assistance. Military families face challenges like long deployments, trauma and difficulties transitioning back to civilian life.
Many serve as caregivers for disabled veterans, while others struggle with rising costs on fixed incomes. Over 80 percent of HFMN clients earn below 80 percent of the area median income. HFMN provides a support system, helping overwhelmed individuals and families with multiple needs navigate complicated resource systems, sticking with them every step of the way.
In 2023, HFMN helped over 3,000 clients and 5,500 family members connect to services like housing, health care and employment, and provided $213,000 in financial aid to 178 vulnerable families, keeping them from becoming homeless or without other basic needs.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO (JFS)
Founded 152 years ago, JFS currently offers more than 30 programs and services, including food support, housing stability, mental health counseling, aging care, employment support, refugee resettlement, chaplaincy and Jewish life, disability services and aeroponic farming.
JFS brings our community together to support those facing challenging times by bridging the gaps, building sustainability, and creating resiliency. Gifs made on Colorado Gives Day and this holiday season help provide these life-changing programs to those who need them most.
Photo courtesy of Home Front Military Network
Judi’s House was founded on the belief that all grieving children and families should have access to effective and compassionate care. Former NFL quarterback Brian Griese was just 12 years old when his mother, Judi, died from breast cancer. Brian and his wife, Brook Griese, PhD, a clinical child psychologist specializing in trauma and loss, founded Judi’s House in her memory. For 22 years,
Judi’s House has worked toward their mission to help children and families who are grieving a death find connection and healing. The organization’s research arm, JAG Institute, furthers this mission through comprehensive research and training initiatives. All services, provided by skilled and licensed staff members, are offered at no cost to families and bereavement partners.
Founded in 1918, Junior League of Denver is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. Having helped to start countless organizations and programs in Denver, the league is currently working to disrupt the cycle of systemic poverty for women and families in the metro area.
In 2023-24, volunteers contributed nearly 2,500 hours to the community, served almost 4,500 children and adults, distributed more than 2,500 books, served 1,000 meals, and granted $33,000 to area nonprofits. The league hosts signature community programs, partners with fellow nonprofits and advocates on behalf of women and families at the Capitol. Your Colorado Gives Day donation will help the Junior League continue these important efforts.
Photo courtesy of Junior League of Denver
KIWANIS CLUB OF SOUTHEAST METRO DENVER
For over 100 years, Kiwanis International Clubs have been improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Southeast Metro Denver’s (SEMD) signature project is supporting the prevention of youth suicide in Colorado. Pediatric mental health was recently declared a crisis by Children’s Hospital Colorado and, each year since 2017, around 100 children and teens have died by suicide in Colorado.
Kiwanis SEMD hosted its third annual Pints & Pinots for Youth Suicide Prevention fundraiser in May 2024. Over the past three years, SEMD has donated $70,000 to Second Wind Fund, a local organization that provides no-cost mental health treatment to Colorado youth at risk of suicide. Other local nonprofit organizations supported by Kiwanis SEMD include Colorado Feeding Kids, Clothes to Kids of Denver, and The Ronald McDonald House.
Mile High United Way supports the families of Metro Denver by bringing people together to solve our region’s most pressing issues. Today, we provide programs and support in five areas: basic needs; early child care and education; homelessness prevention and housing stability; small business and workforce development; and tax assistance. Our 211 Help Center connects residents to the basic needs they need to thrive.
We help small-business owners achieve their dreams of growth by connecting them to resources, mentors and new sources of capital. We focus our early child care support on efforts to expand access to quality early care and education, including the Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center, a 60-slot child care center in our building.
Our Tax Help Colorado program is the largest IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in Colorado, providing free tax preparation services to low- and middle-income Colorado families.
Photo courtesy of Mile High United Way
For 125 years, National Jewish Health has been at the forefront of research and medical care focused on lung, heart, immune and related disorders. At this nationally recognized specialty care hospital, doctors, scientists and caregivers come together to find answers, develop new treatments and solve medical challenges. Caring for kids and adults and finding cures for many serious illnesses are cornerstones of the work done at National Jewish Health.
Support from the community, including programs like Colorado Gives Day, are key in continuing life-changing research and in providing unique programs such as the Morgridge Academy, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school on the hospital campus that is designed for children with chronic illnesses.
Photo courtesy of National Jewish Health
Stories are the lifeblood of a community, and Opera Colorado’s story is deeply intertwined with its hometown. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of our donors to help us fulfill our mission to connect the Colorado community to the emotions and stories of the world through traditional and innovative opera and educational programming that is accessible to all.
Your donation not only supports this mission but also enhances your own opera experience, bringing you closer to the magic. With your support, we can present high-quality artistic experiences through world-class opera curated in Denver, serve more than 36,000 patrons annually, introduce children and adults to their first opera experience, and train the next generation of performers through our nationally recognized Artist in Residence Program.
Photo courtesy of Opera Colorado
Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary was founded in 2019 to give senior dogs in shelters a loving forever home when adoption is not an option. Pepper’s eases the overcrowding of local shelters, while providing quality lifelong care to dogs who may have otherwise been euthanized. Senior dogs are referred by animal welfare organizations that have been unable to place a senior dog for adoption.
From there, a dedicated team of volunteers and staff welcome these dogs to a loving sanctuary for the rest of their lives. An onsite medical team has special training in rehabilitation and hospice care, allowing them to provide comprehensive medical care for Pepper’s dogs. When PSDS dogs reach the end of their lives, a caring team provides round-the-clock hospice care to ensure a peaceful and dignified passing.
Please help so senior dogs receive the compassion and dignity every creature deserves.
Reaching Hope provides holistic mental health services that help families break the cycle of trauma and violence, fostering a healthy, supportive community. Staff there believes healing starts by involving every family member, helping them find connection and safety in their relationships.
Access to therapy should be available to everyone, especially those at the highest risk. That’s why Reaching Hope is expanding its team and services to meet the growing demand for mental health support in both English and Spanish. Its goal is to ensure that everyone who needs help can access immediate crisis intervention and long-term recovery therapy.
Photo courtesy of Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary
Roundup River Ranch offers children with life-altering diagnoses, and their families, opportunities to embrace joy, create connection, foster independence, and build hope through free medically supported camp programs.
Annually, hundreds of children coping with cancer, blood disorders, organ transplants and other serious conditions benefit from Roundup River Ranch’s intentional and empowering year-round programs—completely free of charge. Located 2 1⁄2 hours from Denver near Gypsum, along the Colorado River, Roundup River Ranch is proud to be a member of SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman. Special events planned for 2025 include the A Taste of Camp gala to be held in May in Denver.
Colorado residents who contribute to Roundup River Ranch may be eligible to receive up to a 50 percent state income tax credit through the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit.
Urban Peak ignites the potential in youths to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives. Urban Peak is the only organization in the Denver metro area providing a full convergence of services solely focused on one of the most vulnerable populations in our community: youths ages 12 through 24 experiencing homelessness.
These young people face challenges that are hard to imagine. They have little experience living independently and are often developmentally unprepared to find stability without supportive adults or safe and caring connections. Urban Peak puts youths on a path toward self-sufficiency and success through programs including street outreach, a drop-in center, shelter, housing, support services and case management.
In August 2024, Urban Peak opened a highly anticipated new campus, lovingly known as The Mothership, that will offer expanded shelter, independent living options and on-site support services. The generous support of individuals and organizations throughout the year allows Urban Peak to continue this innovative and critical work. Thank you for being the spark!
Photo courtesy of Roundup River Ranch
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA COLORADO
In 2023, Volunteers of America Colorado provided safety, security and housing for over 9,000 individuals and served over 18,000 meals during the holiday season. With more than 50 programs statewide offering a safe place to stay, food when hungry and warmth during the frigid winter days, VOA Colorado serves over 100,000 people annually.
Since 1896, Volunteers of America Colorado has been dedicated to serving Coloradans most in need across the state. From helping with necessities and finding housing, to helping people transform their lives, VOA Colorado knows that one act of kindness can bring endless possibilities for Coloradans.
Photo courtesy of The Wild Animal Sanctuary
The Wild Animal Sanctuary is the world’s largest sanctuary for many endangered species and other wild and exotic animals such as lions, tigers, bears, wolves and wild horses. Operating four separate facilities that encompass more than 33,000 acres, the Wild Animal Sanctuary specializes in providing unprecedented freedom to the animals it rescues.
Since 1980, the sanctuary has rescued thousands of animals throughout the United States and around the world. Stafers rescue animals from dreadful circumstances of abuse and neglect and bring them back to the wide-open space of large natural habitats, where they have plenty of freedom, exceptional diets and proper veterinary care for as long as they live.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization and does not receive government support or special funding. One hundred percent of the support it receives is given by people and organizations who care about saving these animals. Your gift on Colorado Gives Day 2024 makes all the difference in the lives of these animals.
