What Is the Colorado Nonprofit Association?

The mission of the Colorado Nonprofit Association is to lead, serve and strengthen Colorado nonprofit organizations.

What is the Colorado Nonprofit Association?

We are a statewide nonprofit membership coalition connecting nonprofits of all sizes, missions and geographic locations.

We lead the nonprofit sector in influencing public policy and public opinion.

We serve our members by providing tools for communication, networking and administration.

We strengthen the nonprofit community through trainings, issue discussions, and public advocacy about the importance of the nonprofit sector.

How was the Association formed?

We were created by a group of nonprofit leaders to serve as the voice of the nonprofit sector and to encourage information exchange among nonprofits. Our member services evolved as demand grew for administrative and insurance services. The Association's public policy role grew in the late 1990's when we became a major influence in the defeat of a property tax amendment that would have been harmful to nonprofits in Colorado. We continue to enhance and add to our programs and services as the nonprofit sector changes.

Why is the Colorado Nonprofits Association needed now?

Today our role has grown even more important as there are over 17,000 charitable nonprofit organizations in our state that represent 6% of our states economy. Given government funding cuts, our health, human services and education nonprofits are quickly becoming the leading providers of social services in Colorado.

These organizations need a strong advocate, not only at the legislative level, but also at the grass roots support level. And, based on the average individual giving to nonprofits in Colorado, we are needed more than ever to help raise awareness of and support for all of our nonprofit organizations that are key to keeping Colorado economically strong and culturally robust.

Is every Colorado nonprofit a member?

Unfortunately, not yet. But they should be. Every new member adds strength to our influence, support to expand our member services, and economic resources to fund our communications with the people of Colorado. Every nonprofit, regardless of size or focus, can not only benefit from membership, but through membership can also help increase both public and private support of its services.