Colorado Gives Day, an initiative to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving, will take place during a 24-hour period on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Givers can designate to which nonprofit they wish to donate. Donations will be accepted through the website GivingFirst.org.

Community First Foundation and FirstBank are presenting Colorado Gives Day. Last year, $12.4 million was donated to 928 nonprofits across the state.

"We are proud that Colorado Gives Day has served Colorado's nonprofits so well," said Marla J. Williams, president and chief executive of Community First Foundation. "Last year, 93 percent of the nonprofits acquired new donors and collaboration among nonprofits was at an all-time high. Given the generosity of Colorado's communities and the excellent work of its nonprofits, we look forward to what 2012 will bring."

Boulder Valley residents and companies gave close to $1 million to local charities for Colorado Gives Day last year.

In Boulder County, 5,426 people made $942,145 in donations to 97 local charities, according to statistics from Community First. The amount represented a 156 percent increase in donations through Colorado Gives Day from the 2010 figure, according to statistics.

Broomfield County saw 297 donors give $41,509 to eight charities. The amount represented a 24 percent increase in giving from the year before.

In all, Boulder County donors made $1,087,325 in 6,415 donations to their favorite charities in the county and around the state. Broomfield County donors gave $91,308 in 650 donations to charities.