While giving is – and should be – its own reward, we have added some exciting twists and competitions to get you into an especially charitable frame of mind.

One fun feature is that through the generosity of more than two-dozen local businesses we are offering reward packages detailed on the Rewards page.

They’re threefold:

• to attract new donors and/or volunteers for worthy local nonprofits;
• to encourage people who do not regularly give to donate time and money, with a particular emphasis on getting those 36 years of age and younger involved in philanthropy; and
• to create a new unique, annual and fun community-building project for the Pikes Peak region.

Online is the best way. Just click on the Give! button featured on csindy.com and 50 other local Web sites. Then select one, two or multiple nonprofits and make a donation online in a single, easy, secure transaction. Your donations will be held by the Pikes Peak Community Foundation until mid-January 2010, when nonprofits will be paid 100 percent of donated funds at an event sponsored by the El Pomar Foundation.

At this ceremony, nonprofits will also receive additional money from our "Friendly Competitions" and "Matching Grant Challenge" programs.

All costs, including credit card processing fees, will be paid by the Independent.

Yes, you can still participate! Just make out your check or money order to PPCF/2009 Give! and send it to:

Pikes Peak Community Foundation
730 N. Nevada Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Click here to download a document for you to fill in and send to us! Please note which nonprofits you are supporting. And yes – you’ll still receive Give! Reward Packages. Your gifts will be posted to the totals on the Web site within two business days of receipt.

We want to encourage people who do not think of themselves as philanthropists to start supporting the incredible nonprofits that do so much for our community. If everyone does a little, it really helps a lot.

Research has shown that younger adults give less often than their elders. Once people start supporting nonprofit organizations, they are more likely to continue to participate as they get older, and the amount of their support is likely to grow with their incomes.

To support financial giving as well as to start conversations about philanthropy, we are encouraging "Friendly Competitions" between our 29 participating nonprofits. Our hope is that these cash incentives will provide the nonprofits with a terrific rallying point to reach out to younger and new donors, especially since our Give! Web site shows in real-time how each organization is doing.

The minimum donation is $10. To receive any Give! Reward Package, the minimum donation is $25.

As soon as possible! The deadline for all donations is midnight, Dec. 31, 2009. And by giving early, you’ll help the nonprofits you support compete in the Early Bird Friendly Competitions.

Yes. All participating organizations are 501(c)3 nonprofits. Donors will receive an e-mail receipt for each Give! contribution.

Yes. Simply check the appropriate box on the shopping cart page and provide the name and contact information of that person. They will receive any thank you Give! Reward Packages and the tax deduction receipt will be sent to you.

Yes. Please check with your company and follow its procedures. If your company makes the donation through our Give! Web site, the match will count toward "Friendly Competition" totals! Questions? E-mail us at give@csindy.com.

Just check the appropriate box on the checkout page and we will be able to give the reward packages to another donor.

A broad-based group of more than two-dozen local citizens carefully evaluated more than 133 applications. Next year, we anticipate that more nonprofits will be selected to participate.

Applications for nonprofits will be ready before March 1, and will be due around May 1, 2010. Application information will be featured in several editions of the Independent and an e-mail will be sent to all Center for Nonprofit Excellence members.

Donations made through the Give! Web site are tracked as soon as the contribution is made. The site also reports which organizations are leading in specific categories – such as most donors 36 or younger. Donations received via snail mail will be updated on the Give! site within two days of receipt.