In Defense of the Sector

In Defense and In Support of the Sector

Colorado’s nonprofits are the backbone of our communities. You educate, nourish, house, heal, advocate, and inspire. Collectively, nonprofits contribute over $62 billion to Colorado’s economy each year and employ nearly 1 in 10 workers across the state. 

But right now, that vital work is under pressure with funding freezes, DEI rollbacks, rising demand, and burnout across the board.

If you’re feeling the strain, you’re not alone. This toolkit is for you, the people trying to lead with integrity and keep things afloat when the ground is shifting.

At Prismatic Consulting, we’ve worked alongside nonprofit professionals for decades. We know this work is personal, political, and deeply human. This guide offers bite-sized tools and tips you can use right now to make things a little easier and remind you that you’re not alone.

Social Media Graphics

Nonprofits are integral to Colorado’s communities and economy. They provide essential services, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s financial health. However, many are currently facing challenges that threaten their sustainability. Download and share these graphics on social media to show your support of the sector!

Nonprofit Toolkit

Need to craft a message that connects, inspires, and mobilizes fast? Here’s how to do it with clarity and confidence, not desperation.

Fundraising Appeals

Quick Wins:

  • Lead with a story or urgent need. Hook readers in the first 2 lines.
  • Make the ask early and again. Don’t bury it at the end.
  • Use plain, personal language.

Tools:

Copy Shortcut:
Create a “message bank” with reusable phrases, impact stats, and quotes from clients or community members.

Best Practices:

  • Be timely. Aim to publish within 24–48 hours of a major event or need.
  • Lead with your values. Clearly name what you stand for.
  • Use a human voice. Avoid jargon and overly polished language when emotions are high.

Helpful Resources:

For advocacy-heavy orgs: Movement Hub Media Guide

When you don’t have time for a full plan, do this:

  • Who are you talking to? (Donors, volunteers, board, press?)
  • What are you asking them to do?
  • When do you need to communicate?
  • How will you reach them? (Email, social, phone, in-person)

Quick Tools:

Bonus Tip: Keep a shared folder with:

  • Impact stats
  • Quotes/testimonials
  • High-quality images
  • Common calls to action
  • Sample subject lines and headers

Board dynamics can get messy—especially in times of uncertainty. Whether you’re facing misalignment, stalling strategy, or burnout, here are practical ways to get unstuck and move forward.

Scenario Planning

Use this when: The future feels uncertain, or you’re facing a major decision point.

Try this:

  • Identify 3 paths: Best case, realistic case, and worst case.
  • For each, list potential impacts on finances, staffing, programs, and partners.
  • Use it to guide board discussion and prep for pivots.

Helpful Tools:

Strategy Adaptation

Use this when: Your strategic plan feels out of step with reality.

Try this:

  • Identify 2–3 goals that need to shift for the next 6–12 months.
  • Frame changes as adaptations, not failures.
  • Engage your board with a “what stays/what shifts/what stops” conversation.

Resource:

Coalition Building

Use this when: You feel isolated in your challenges.

Try this:

  • Connect with peer organizations to compare strategies and challenges.
  • Explore shared advocacy, pooled resources, or co-hosted events.
  • If DEI is under threat, align with mission-aligned organizations for collective action.

Resource Hub:

Hard Conversations

Use this when: Board conflict or misalignment is creating friction.

Try this:

  • Prepare clear talking points: What’s the issue? What’s at stake? What needs to happen next?
  • Stay mission-focused and value-aligned in your delivery.
  • Invite dialogue, not defensiveness, but name the tension directly.

Helpful Resources:

Don’t Skip the Documentation

Use this always: After every key conversation or contentious moment.

Why it matters:

  • It protects the organization and the staff.
  • Creates clarity and accountability.
  • Helps track progress or recurring issues.

Quick Tip: Use a shared board/staff log (even a simple Google Doc) to record outcomes, follow-ups, and next steps.

ntent

A clunky donation process can cost you critical support when you need it most. Clean, streamlined systems build trust, encourage generosity, and frees up your team to focus on what matters most.

Donation Process Review

Goal: Make giving friction-free and mobile-friendly.

Try this audit:

  • Can someone donate in under 60 seconds on desktop and mobile?
  • Are suggested giving amounts visible?
  • Is language clear about how donations are used?

Tools:

Policy Review

Goal: Ensure your gift acceptance and other key policies are up-to-date, transparent, and board-approved.

Key questions:

  • Do you have clear guidelines for in-kind, donor-advised funds, or planned gifts?
  • Is your receipting process IRS-compliant and donor-friendly?
  • Are policies accessible to both staff and donors?

Templates & Guides:

CRM Automation Activation

Goal: Automate routine donor touchpoints to save time and deepen engagement.

Easy wins:

  • Automated thank-you emails with donation summary
  • Recurring gift reminders and failed payment alerts
  • Tagging and segmenting monthly donors for special stewardship

CRM-Specific Resources:

Low-Tech Fixes that Still Work

No fancy CRM? No problem.

  • Create a Google Sheet with columns for name, email, donation date, amount, and notes.
  • Use conditional formatting to flag missed thank-yous or overdue follow-ups.
  • Link it with Google Forms or simple donation platforms like GiveButter or Zeffy.

Free Resource:

Reminder: A donation system isn’t just a back-end tool; it’s a relationship builder. Clean, simple systems keep donors connected and your team less overwhelmed.

Supporter Toolkit

You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference. Whether you’re giving $10 or $10,000, your support fuels the work nonprofits are doing every day to keep Colorado strong.

    • Have a Donor-Advised Fund? Now’s the time to activate it. Funds sitting idle aren’t helping. Learn how to put your DAF to work. 
    • Set up a monthly gift. Even $5/month matters. Consistent giving equals stability for nonprofits.
  • Prioritize local. Your neighborhood organizations are doing vital frontline work. Support them first. ColoradoGives.org is a great place to start. The Longmont Community Foundation’s Community Projects Catalog is a great resource for the St. Vrain Valley. Other community foundations may have their versions of this for your geographic area. 

Nonprofits thrive when we treat giving as a shared community value. Your voice is powerful; use it to bring others in.

  • Tell Your Story 

Share why you care. Whether it’s arts, education, housing, or the environment, your connection can spark action.

  • Need a prompt? Try: “Nonprofits feed our neighbors, fuel the arts, protect the environment, and care for our kids. I support them because…”
  •  Ask Friends 

“What causes do you care about? Let’s support them together.”

  • Amplify on Social 

A simple post can ripple outward. Try this:

Nonprofits are under pressure. I’m giving monthly to @[OrganizationName]. Join me. Let’s keep Colorado strong. #SupportCOOrgs

Ask your favorite nonprofits for sample templates or graphics, or you can use this social media toolkit: Colorado Gives Day Social Kit (usable year-round)

  • Coordinate a Giving Circle or Mini Campaign 

Pool donations with friends or family to support one organization together. Learn more: Community Investment Network | Giving Circles Directory

Nonprofits need more than donations. They need a voice in policy. Your elected officials do listen when you speak up. Make sure they know the sector matters to you.

  • Contact Your Elected Officials:

Reach out to your representatives at the local, state, or federal level. Use this sample message and personalize it:

  • Template:
    “As someone who cares about our community, I urge you to support policies that protect and strengthen Colorado’s nonprofits. They are essential to our state’s health, education, environment, and economic resilience. Please champion funding, equity, and nonprofit inclusion in policy decisions.”
  • Show Up and Speak Out 

Local meetings shape funding decisions that directly impact nonprofits. Make your voice heard.

  • Attend local town halls, city council, or budget meetings. Check your city or county website for public meeting calendars and agendas. Ask:

     “How are you ensuring local nonprofits have the support they need to continue serving our community?”

Bring others
Advocacy is more powerful when it is collective. Invite friends, neighbors, or colleagues to join you.

You don’t have to write a check to make a difference. Nonprofits thrive when people show up with their time, voice, and leadership.

  • Volunteer Your Time

Even one hour a month can help an organization move forward.  Ask small orgs directly because they often don’t have capacity to post on larger platforms but deeply appreciate help.

 Find volunteer opportunities near you:

  • JustServe – Browse ongoing and one-time opportunities across the state.


  • Serve on a Board or Committee

Nonprofits need diverse perspectives, especially from people with lived experience in the issues they address.

Ask your favorite organization if they’re currently recruiting board members and what their application or nomination process looks like. Explore these additional board service resources:

Not sure if board service is right for you?

Support for nonprofits goes beyond money. It’s about community, creativity, and care. Here are other powerful ways to show up:

  • Host a Small Fundraiser or House Party

Bring your network together to support a cause you care about. Theme it around a birthday, holiday, or a cause month (e.g., Mental Health Awareness).

Get Started: How to Host a Fundraising House Party

  • Donate Services or Space

Nonprofits often need in-kind support, from snacks to software.

What can you offer?

  • Graphic design, photography, legal, or tech support
  • Event space, printing, food for gatherings or staff meetings. 

Try this template email:

“Hi [Org], I love the work you do and would like to donate [service/space]. Would this be helpful right now, and if so, who should I coordinate with?”

  • Offer a Match

Encourage others to give by offering a donation match—big or small.

Ways to match:

  • “I’ll match the next $250 raised this week. Let’s double the impact.”
  • Host a challenge on ColoradoGives.org or social media.

 Ask your employer if they offer a matching gift program. Many do! Search here: Double the Donation Match Finder

  • Support Nonprofit Workers

The people behind the mission need encouragement, too.

Simple gestures go a long way:

  • Send a handwritten thank-you note or an email of appreciation
  • Drop off snacks or coffee for the staff (check in with the organization about this first)
  • Nominate a nonprofit staffer for a local recognition award

Sample message:

“Thank you for all you do. Your work makes our community better. I see you and appreciate you.”

Final Note

You’re doing more than enough. Take one step. Then another. This work is messy, but it’s worth it.

Feel free to share or adapt this toolkit with your team. Please pass it along to your networks. You don’t have to have all the answers.

Prismatic Consulting is here if you need a thought partner. Reach out anytime here.