Public Charities
Date posted: 05/11/2010
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Nonprofit charitable organizations, exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, include organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, religious, or scientific. These organizations can receive tax-deductible contributions and must serve the public interest in a manner that supports their charitable mission (Internal Revenue Service). For further information on the exemption requirements of a 501(c)(3), see the Exemption Requirements page of the IRS.
For tax purposes, public charities with annual gross receipts above $25,000 must file a Form 990. The financial information from this form is made public so that individuals may inspect an organization's financial status (Internal Revenue Service).
Public charities do not include foundations, which are also exempt as 501(c)(3) organizations.
What this chart shows: Number of Public Charities in Larimer County, 2005-2009
Data Source: National Center for Charitable Statistics
What these data tell us:
From 2005 to 2009, there was an overall increase in the total number of public charities registered in Larimer County (911 in 2005 and 1,145 in 2009). The number of charities with assets over $25,000, requiring the filing of a Form 990, increased 83.6%. More information about the requirements for filing a Form 990 is available at the Internal Revenue Service. The largest increase was in 2008 (nearly 44%) when the local economy was affected by the subprime market problem.What this chart shows: Public Charities by Type - Larimer County, 2009
Data Source: National Center for Charitable Statistics
What these data tell us:
The National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) classifies nonprofit organizations recognized as tax exempt. The classification was created to create uniformity and comparability among organizations for the collection and analysis of data about types of organizations (National Center for Charitable Statistics).In 2009, the largest percentages of public charities in Larimer County were classified as Health and Human Services agencies. Types of agencies for each group include the following:
- Arts, Culture, & Humanities: media & communications, visual arts, museums, performing arts;
- Education: elementary, secondary education, research institutes, professional societies/associations, fundraising organizations related to Education;
- Education-Higher: 'Educational institutions that provide opportunities for individuals to acquire a higher level of knowledge, skills and specialization in their chosen area of interest in a formal school setting'
- Environment: natural resource conservation & protection, garden clubs, animal protection & welfare;
- Health: mental health & crisis intervention, general health care, disease & other health-related research;
- Hospitals: 'Twenty-four hour medical institutions that provide diagnostic and treatment services for people whose illnesses require an overnight stay.'
- Human Services: crime prevention, job training, food programs, housing support;
- International: international human rights, international peace & security;
- Public/Societal Benefit: civil rights, community development, social science, veteran organizations;
- Mutual Benefit: 'Alliances & Advocacy Organizations whose activities focus on influencing public policy includes a variety of activities from public education and influencing public opinion to lobbying national and state legislatures.'
- Religion: organizations of various faiths
What this chart shows: Average Annual Charitable Donation by Income Level - Colorado and Larimer County, 2006*
*Latest data available
Data Source: National Center for Charitable Statistics
What these data tell us:
In general, the higher the income bracket, the more one donates to charity. With the exception of those earning $200K or more annually, residents in Larimer County gave more money to charity than the statewide average.It should be noted, however, that the information referenced above, is collected from those who file itemized deductions on their tax returns. Tax payers in lower income brackets are generally less likely to file using itemized deductions and could skew the results.
What this chart shows: Percentage of Annual Adjusted Gross Income Donated to Charity - Colorado and Larimer County, 2006*
*Latest data available
Data Source: National Center for Charitable Statistics
What these data tell us:
Although the dollar amount donated to charities increases as income brackets increase, the percentage of income donated to charities is actually much higher for those in lower income brackets. In 2006, the latest year data are available, Larimer County residents reporting income under $10K per year gave 10.1% of their income to charity, whereas those earning more than $200K gave 3.1%.It should be noted, however, that the information referenced above, is collected from those who file itemized deductions on their tax returns. Tax payers in lower income brackets are generally less likely to file using itemized deductions and could skew the results.
The Colorado Nonprofit Association 2008 report, 'The State of Giving' reports that in 2005 (latest IRS data available) Larimer County was ranked 10th in the state in the percent of taxpayers who made charitable contributions. The data presented in this report was adjusted for cost of living, something not done by the National Center for Charitable Statistics. The information presented below was taken from this report and differs slightly when adjusted for cost of living.
Comparison of Average Charitable Donations Adjusted For Cost of Living, 2006
|
Average Donation |
Average % of Adjusted Gross Income Donated |
|
| United States |
$4,043 |
3.4% |
| Colorado |
$4,046 |
3.1% |
| Estes Park |
4.0% |
|
| Fort Collins |
3.1% |
|
| Loveland |
3.4% |
Source: The State of Giving 2008 [pdf]
Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Colorado Nonprofit Association - The State of Giving
- Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA of Larimer County)
- Guidestar - National Database of Non-profit Organizations
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Searchable Database for Charities
- Internet Nonprofit Center
- The NonProfit Times
Industry Standards or Targets:
N/A
Data Table:
Number of Public Charities - Larimer County
|
Number Registered |
Number Filing 990 |
Number Not Filing |
|
|
2005 |
911 | 371 | 540 |
|
2006 |
936 | 373 | 563 |
|
2007 |
991 | 391 | 600 |
|
2008 |
1,083 | 563 | 520 |
|
2009 |
1,146 | 681 | 465 |
Public Charities by Type - Larimer County, 2009
| Arts, Culture, Humanities |
146 |
| Education |
159 |
| Education, higher |
4 |
| Environment |
75 |
| Health |
78 |
| Hospitals |
5 |
| Human Services |
287 |
| International |
28 |
| Mutual Benefit |
2 |
| Public or societal benefit |
130 |
| Religion |
233 |
|
Unknown |
8 |
|
Total |
1,154 |
Average Annual Charitable Donation
by Income Level, 2006*
|
Average Amount Donated |
||
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|
|
Under $10K |
$954 | $1,022 |
|
$10-25K |
$1,564 | $1,567 |
|
$25-50K |
$1,676 | $1,720 |
|
$50-75K |
$2,045 | $2,107 |
|
$75-100K |
$2,525 | $2,725 |
|
$100-200K |
$3,613 | $4,064 |
|
$200K and more |
$17,140 | $14,093 |
|
Average |
$3,759 | $3,510 |
*Latest data available
Percentage of Annual Adjusted Gross Income Donated
to Charity, 2006*
|
Average % of Adjusted Gross Income Donated to Charity |
||
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|
|
Under $10K |
9.6% | 10.1% |
|
$10-25K |
5.7% | 5.9% |
|
$25-50K |
3.2% | 3.3% |
|
$50-75K |
2.7% | 2.7% |
|
$75-100K |
2.5% | 2.7% |
|
$100-200K |
2.5% | 2.8% |
|
$200K and more |
2.9% | 3.1% |
|
Average |
2.8% | 3.0% |
*Latest data available