As the last month of the year approaches, spending shifts, priorities change, and the causes people care about move to the front of their minds. The holidays bring some of that on naturally. But in Summit County, giving season has a key aspect that makes it feel different from anywhere else: Colorado Gives Day.
Colorado Gives Day needs little introduction in Colorado and Summit County, CO. Every year on the second Tuesday of December, the community shows up to donate, share, and rally behind the causes that matter most. And for nonprofits and local businesses alike, it’s one of the most purposeful and powerful days on the marketing calendar.
What is Colorado Gives Day (and Why Does It Matter in Marketing)?
Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide online giving event that has raised over half a billion dollars for Colorado nonprofits since its 2010 launch. In 2025, the campaign raised $56.6 million in a single day!
For nonprofits, it's a fundraising event. But for marketers and local businesses, it's an opportunity, since the community is already in a giving mindset. People are thinking about who they want to support, what causes matter to them, and where they want their dollars to go.
Nonprofit Marketing Strategy for Colorado Gives Day
If you're running a nonprofit in Summit County, don't go quiet in the weeks leading up to the big day. Here are some tips for building a campaign that connects:
Start early and tell a story. The most effective Colorado Gives Day campaigns build momentum in the weeks beforehand (not just on the day) with content that shows the organization's real impact. Specific stories outperform statistics every time. Who did you help this year? What changed because of a donor's contribution? Lead with that.
Make the ask easy and direct. Donors don't need a long explanation because they’ve often already decided to give. They just need to know what their gift does and how to give. A $50 donation covers X. A $200 donation makes Y possible. Be specific about the impact of the donation and make the donation link hard to miss.
Use email as your primary marketing channel. Sure, social media can drive awareness, but your email list gives you a stronger opportunity to bring in donations. Your list includes people who chose to be there and already care about your mission. Building an email sequence that starts two weeks out and ends with a deadline reminder on the day of is one of the most reliable ways to hit your goal.
Leverage the incentive fund. Colorado Gives Day includes an Incentive Fund that proportionally boosts donations made through ColoradoGives.org on the day of the event. That's a real reason for donors to give specifically, and it's worth mentioning in your communications.
How Local Businesses Can Make the Most of the Season
You don't have to be a nonprofit to participate in Colorado Gives Day or to make the most of the giving season. Local businesses that show up authentically during this time build something that lasts well beyond December.
Here are a few ways to engage:
Spotlight a cause you care about. Choose a local nonprofit whose mission aligns with your business values and give it a chance to shine. By creating social posts, blog features, and newsletter mentions around these organizations (which costs you nothing, by the way), you show customers what you stand for.
Run a giving-tied promotion. Donate a percentage of your December sales to a local cause, run a matching campaign, or offer a product or service where proceeds benefit a nonprofit that you care about.
Co-create content. Partner with a nonprofit and use your platform to tell their story or share a behind-the-scenes look at their work and who they serve. This kind of content adds real value for your audience and builds relationships between brands and the community beyond the usual marketing tactics.
Marketing With Kindness Is a Strategy, Not a Slogan
Audiences in tight-knit communities are good at spotting cause marketing that isn’t genuine. Examples include a logo on a flyer, a boilerplate ‘we give back’ statement, and a campaign built to look good rather than do good. Unfortunately, none of it lasts long.
The alternative is marketing that sincerely reflects your values, especially in Summit County, where residents and visitors are equally drawn to the community feel. Brands that show up for their neighbors during giving season, year after year, become part of the place's fabric.
For nonprofits especially, this is a reminder that your marketing—your emails, social posts, and asks—reflects your mission in public, in front of the people you’re trying to serve. Colorado Gives Day season is a chance to show people why your work matters.
The Grit and Glimmer Takeaway
Colorado Gives Day is one day, but the trust you build around it lasts.
For nonprofits, giving season is the year's most important marketing moment. For local businesses, it's a chance to stand for something and show your community that you're in it with them, not just for them.
If you're a Summit County nonprofit looking to take your Colorado Gives Day strategy to the next level, or a local brand ready to show up this giving season in a way that truly connects with the community, we'd love to help. Contact us today to start the conversation.
Still Have Questions? We've Got Answers.
What is Colorado Gives Day and when is it? Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide online giving event hosted through ColoradoGives.org. It takes place on the second Tuesday of every December. It's designed to make donating easy and to boost nonprofit fundraising through an Incentive Fund that proportionally increases every donation made through the platform on that day.
How should a Summit County nonprofit prepare for Colorado Gives Day? Remember, multi-week campaigns will always perform better than a single-day push. Start your marketing early by creating and publishing story-driven content that shows your organization's real impact. This is a good time to lean on email marketing, which is much more effective than social media when asking for donations. Make donation amounts specific and tied to outcomes (and don’t forget to mention the Incentive Fund)!
Can local businesses participate in Colorado Gives Day even if they aren't a nonprofit? Yes! In fact, doing so can build community trust in ways traditional marketing can’t. Local businesses can get involved with Colorado Gives Day by highlighting causes they support, running giving-tied promotions, or partnering with nonprofits to create content.
What does practicing "marketing with kindness" mean? It means marketing in ways that show your business’ everyday values beyond the giving season, like consistently supporting local causes and taking actions that do good, not just look good.
Why does giving season matter for local marketing strategy? This is the time of year when your community is already alert to causes and thinking about where to spend, who to support, and what matters to them. By showing up intentionally during giving season, you earn attention that lasts well after the holiday season ends.
