Checkoff Colorado Fact Sheet

• Checkoff Colorado is a groundbreaking, collaborative, statewide public awareness campaign initiated by the charitable funds eligible for voluntary contributions on the Colorado state income tax form. Checkoff Colorado targets tax preparers and taxpayers.
• Colorado was the first state in the country to allow a taxpayer to "check-off" a voluntary contribution to a non-profit organization in 1977. The Colorado Non-Game Wildlife Fund was the first organization listed.
• Each organization eligible for check-off donations on the Colorado state income tax form has completed a rigorous review process and has been approved by the Colorado State Legislature.
• Each organization is listed as a participant by state statute. After three years, an organization comes before the legislature for renewal.
• Checkoff contributions in Colorado are voluntary donations from a taxpayer's refund or an additional amount added to his or her tax liability.
• In 2003, there were 220 checkoff programs in 41 states and the District of Columbia, a jump from 179 programs in 2000 and 103 programs in 1989. Every state with a broad-based income tax program has at least one checkoff program.
• Nationally, taxpayers contributed $32.8 million to tax checkoff programs in 2002, a jump of $5.5 million from 2000.
• Nearly 150,000 check-off donations were made in 2010 totaling $1,494,679. The average donation was $10. Nearly 1.8 million individual Colorado tax returns were filed in 2010.
• In 2010, more than 1.5 million Colorado taxpayers received more than $886 million in refunds. The average refund was $578.
• The funds receiving the largest total donations in 2010 were the Military Family Relief Fund, Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Cash Fund, Pet Overpopulation Fund, Homeless Prevention Activities Fund, Colorado Domestic Abuse Program Fund, and the Special Olympics Colorado Fund.