Donate on Your Tax Return to Support Colorado’s Wildlife

Since there is no such thing as bird healthcare and the need for rehabilitation is rising, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was prompted to create an easy way to donate to rehabilitators that care for sensitive wildlife across the state. These rehabilitators have limited funds and often take it upon themselves to cover medical costs.

Now, wildlife and animal lovers throughout Colorado can simply utilize the Voluntary Contributions Schedule (104CH) in their normal tax forms to donate part or all of their tax refunds.You simply fill in the amount you would like to donate in the first line labeled “Colorado Nongame Conservation and Wildlife Restoration Fund”. Your contributions will support rehabilitation and preservation of Colorado’s threatened and endangered wildlife species.

Rehabilitators, like the Colorado Wild Rabbit Foundation and Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation, are in great need of these donations. They utilized last year’s grant for medical bills and testing (usually of which are paid out of pocket by the individual or organization). These folks feel strongly that wildlife rehab is their obligation because without them, injured and orphaned wildlife would go untreated.

Since Greenwood is a well established nonprofit with multiple sources of funding, we have opted out of receiving these grants. Last year, more than $80,000 was requested to help fund individual rehab centers and only close to $17,000 was available. As treasurer and grant committee member, our Executive Director Linda Tyler plays a pivotal role in decisions about disbursement of these funds. We hope that, by bringing attention to the simplicity of voluntary contributions to nongame wildlife, more grants will be made to small rehab centers, and overall Colorado wildlife will thrive alongside humankind.