DENVER -- Judy Ham is all smiles thinking about the exotic car show that began 26 years ago in the parking lot of University Hills Shopping Center.

“It’s still a lot of fun,” said Ham, who is president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Colorado.

The exotic sports car show and Concours D’Elegance is set for June 14 at Arapahoe Community College.

Ham hopes interest will continue to build in the coming weeks. Sponsorships for the fundraiser are down this year. The struggling economy is to blame.

Ham said the event, which has drawn $94,000.00 in recent years, supports children’s services like early education, special education and mental health services.

“If we don’t have those dollars, we can’t provide those services,” Ham told 7NEWS Monday.

UCP isn’t alone. Many nonprofits are feeling the pinch as companies do their own downsizing and cost cutting.

Ham explained the desire to help is still there – but funds now are a different story.

It’s a situation other groups know all to well.

The Colorado Nonprofit Association surveyed of 800 nonprofits across the state in February.

The results, found on the organizations Website, show more than half of respondents, (51.4 percent,) have already experienced the reduction or elimination of funding from a major supporter due to the current economy.

According to the survey youth organizations experienced more decline in corporate gifts, (44.4 percent compared to 37.2 percent.) More than 35 percent of human service organizations have reduced staff hours, 38 percent have not filled positions through attrition and nearly 20 percent have laid off staff or plan to, the survey said.

Despite the declines, nearly half of the nonprofits expressed optimism in their outlook for 2009.

A spokesman for the Volunteers of America said the group has seen an increase in demand for services – from emergency food to requests for Meals on Wheels.

While corporate sponsorship plans for a fundraiser planned for the fall are unclear, Jim White said recent activities have proven successful where people can donate $50 or less.

Another group opted to sit out of the current financial game. The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless announced last week that an annual black-tie gala was cancelled this year.

“We understand that the faltering economy is affecting you. And we are not willing to add more strain to those we rely on for the event’s success,” organizers posted on the group’s Website.

Ham said groups like United Cerebral Palsy of Colorado have been reducing expenses for months – right down to conserving on printer cartridges in the office.

“While we see the community tightening it’s belt, we have as well,” Ham said.