Nearly half of nonprofits statewide expected to fall short on funding

DENVER - A report released Wednesday outlines the financial strain on nonprofits statewide.

About half of Colorado's 19,000 nonprofit organizations expect to fall short of revenue goals this year.

"Our revenues are probably down about 40 percent this year, and we're running a deficit," Kathy Brantigan with nonprofit Denver Brass said.

Kelleen Zubick with the Community Resource Center said, "In this tough economic time, they have been faced with additional challenges, and have seen a decline in individual donors, federal grants, state grants."

The Colorado Nonprofit Association and Community Resource Center surveyed 400 nonprofits.

Forty-eight percent of them expect to fall short of their 2009 revenue goals. Fifty-six percent reported a time in the last year when expenses exceeded revenue, and 16 percent say they were forced to layoff staff.

"It's a real challenge right now because dollars are down, most grant requests are not being funded," Brantigan said.

Despite a decrease in revenue for most nonprofits this year, 70 percent report an increase in demand for their services.

"When an individual or business contributes to a nonprofit, that contribution will grow to help people in their community. It will help to strengthen their communities overall," Renny Fagan, president and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association, said.

In tough times, Fagan says donors tend to give to nonprofits serving the immediate needs of people, like housing, food and rent assistance.

For details on how you can give to a nonprofit visit www.generouscolorado.org