Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day returns with $2 million matching funds

Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day will return Sept. 1-15 with more than $2 million in matching and incentive funds for nonprofits that provide access to youth sports.

The Daniels Fund and the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Colorado lead the annual statewide campaign, which is entering its third year. The campaign raised nearly $9 million during its first two years and involved more than 240 nonprofits serving over 500,000 young people, according to organizers.

The first $1 million donated online Sept. 1 will be matched dollar for dollar. Donations made through Sept. 15 also will receive money from an incentive fund.

A new $250,000 America250 Fund will match contributions made through donor-advised funds, individual retirement account rollovers or wire transfers.

“Through Youth Sports Giving Day, we’re inviting all Coloradans to help ensure that cost is never the reason a child has to sit on the sidelines,” Daniels Fund President and CEO Hanna Skandera Grady said.

Colorado’s youth sports participation rate is 64.5%, according to the 2023-24 National Survey of Children’s Health. Participation rates were 61.2% for girls and 67.5% for boys. About 55% of youth of color participated, compared with 72% of white youth.

Participation also varied by income, ranging from 46.5% among children in the lowest-income households to 76.8% among those in the highest-income households.

The campaign will begin with a Colorado Rockies game at 6 p.m. Sept. 1 at Coors Field. The campaign’s incentive fund will receive $5 from each ticket sold through its promotional offer.

Nonprofits must register by Aug. 28 and maintain an active ColoradoGives.org profile or work with an eligible fiscal sponsor. Donations can be made at YouthSportsGivingDay.org.

Sponsors of the 2026 Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day include Daniels Fund, Aspen Institute’s Project Play Colorado, Alpine Bank, The Anschutz Foundation, Bank of Colorado, Boettcher Foundation, Colorado Rockies, El Pomar Foundation, Gary Community Ventures, Suncor, UC Health, The Weld Trust, Rose Community Foundation, among others.