Third annual statewide campaign supports 349 nonprofits and more than 500,000 young athletes

DENVER, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The third annual Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day campaign raised $7.2 million – surpassing last year's record by 38 percent – to expand access to sports for kids across Colorado.

The campaign, led by the Daniels Fund and Project Play Colorado, drew 4,400 donations and engaged 349 nonprofit organizations working to expand youth sports opportunities. Running Sept. 1–15, the campaign brought together donors, sponsors and community partners to help ensure more young people can experience the joy, health and lifelong benefits of playing sports.

"For the third year, Coloradans showed up in a big way to get more kids off the sidelines and into the game," said Hanna Skandera Grady, CEO and President of the Daniels Fund. "We're incredibly grateful to the thousands of donors who are helping open doors for young people to  build the grit, resilience and confidence that stay with them for life."

Community donations were boosted by more than $2 million in matching and incentive funds, including a dollar-for-dollar match for the first $1 million raised online on Sept. 1. New this year, the campaign also featured the America250 Fund, a dedicated $250,000 dollar-for-dollar match for gifts made through donor-advised funds, IRA rollovers and wire transfers.

Matching and incentive support was provided by the Daniels Fund, Alpine Bank, The Anschutz Foundation, Bank of Colorado, Boettcher Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado Rockies, El Pomar Foundation, Gary Community Ventures, Liberty Gives, Rose Community Foundation, Suncor, UCHealth, The Weld Trust and others. The online giving platform was hosted and supported by ColoradoGives.org.

Since launching in 2024, Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day has raised $16.1 million and engaged 349 nonprofit organizations serving young people across Colorado. Funds raised through the campaign help nonprofits purchase equipment and uniforms, expand programming, provide financial assistance and create new opportunities and facilities for children and families.

Expanding Opportunities for Every Child

Colorado's youth sports participation rate has reached 64.5%, exceeding the national Healthy People 2030 goal of 63% by the end of the decade. However, significant disparities remain.

According to the 2023–24 National Survey of Children's Health:

• Girls participate in sports at a rate of 61.2%, compared with 67.5% for boys.
• Youth of color participate at a rate of 55%, compared with 72% for white youth.
• Young people from the lowest-income households participate at a rate of 46.5%, compared with 76.8% for those in the highest-income households.
• Youth with disabilities participate at rates approximately 10 percentage points lower than youth without disabilities.

"Colorado has made important gains in youth sports participation, but the biggest challenge is making sure those opportunities reach every child," said Tom Farrey, executive director of Aspen Institute's Project Play. "The gaps for lower-income families and youth, girls and kids with disabilities make clear that there is still work to do. We need to keep building a state of play where every young person feels included, supported and able to participate. The success of this campaign certainly helps fuel that goal."

Positive sports experiences can help young people build confidence, resilience, social connection and skills that support success in school and beyond. Expanding access to sports is also an important part of addressing concerns about youth mental health, physical inactivity and childhood obesity.

The 2026 campaign launched with a Sept. 1 Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field. The campaign also helped inspire similar efforts elsewhere, including Utah's inaugural Youth Sports Giving Day campaign, which runs Sept. 12–26.

About Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day
Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day is an annual statewide online fundraising campaign led by the Daniels Fund and Aspen Institute's Project Play Colorado. Launched in 2024, the campaign unites youth sports nonprofits across Colorado around a singular mission: ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience the joy, health and lifelong benefits of playing sports. To learn more visit YouthSportsGivingDay.org.

Media Contact:
Caitlin Jenney
GroundFloor Media
cjenney@groundfloormedia.com
YouthSportsGivingDay.org 

*Photos and other visual assets are available upon request.*

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SOURCE Daniels Fund