According to a study commissioned by the Colorado Association of Funders, Colorado-based private foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs give a total of more than $250 million annually to charitable causes statewide.

The data compiled for the study, the first ever to track private institutional giving in the state, represent grants from 257 foundations and companies in Colorado. Since 1990, the number of grantmakers in the state has doubled, as has their grantmaking. The study also found that 85 percent of institutional giving in the state goes to Front Range organizations, while 15 percent goes to more rural areas — a substantial increase from 1990, when only 3 percent of funding was directed to rural Colorado.

"Organized philanthropy is a significant and growing force in Colorado. A quarter of a billion dollars in grants represents a considerable economic impact on our state," said CAF managing director Gina Ferrari. "This study provides a benchmark for the future, so that we can begin to map patterns and trends in total giving, funding areas, and geography."

For additional findings from and details about the study (available in early 2005), see: http://coloradofunders.org/