Charities see increased need, fewer donations.

• Author: Winter, Allie
• Position: NONPROFITS

The economic crunch that has led to thousands of layoffs in Colorado has made it difficult for nonprofits to secure individual and corporate donations.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which provides such services as housing and health care to 15,000 homeless people in Colorado, has felt the pinch, said Jennifer Wilson, director of research development and marketing.

The struggle with fundraising comes as demand increases. The number of homeless people in Colorado has risen to 15,000, and about 44,000 people will experience homelessness at least one night this year, said B.J. lancino, director of education and advocacy at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The organization depends on donations to make up 20 percent of a $32 million operating budget.

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"Funding does not make up for that," Wilson said.

The state of Colorado cut nearly $3.5 million of the coalition's health-care funding, prompting the organization to close two of its housing facilities, enact a salary freeze for employees and close its Health Outreach Program, a mobile medical clinic.

"That was the hardest one," Wilson said. "(The mobile clinic) went around Denver to find homeless families and individuals and provided medical care at no charge. Half of those people will end up at the emergency room."

Denver Hospice, which is building a $16 million in-patient care center, relies heavily on community donations. Mike Pasquarella, vice president of development, said the hospice board opted to proceed despite the economic climate after meeting with nonprofit developer Dan Ritche, who said the hospice should expand. He also suggested that while raising money would be tough, the construction climate...