SW Washington Nonprofits Raise $1.2 Million During GiveBIG -05/04/23
Vancouver, Wash., May 4, 2023—GiveBIG, Washington’s 48-hour online giving campaign, raised more than $11.8 million during its main two-day push at givebigwa.org. Locally, 145 nonprofits and community-based organizations raised more than $1.2 million according to current figures from the GiveBIG SW Washington page.
Most of these organizations had previously participated in Give More 24!, a similar giving event organized by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, which merged with GiveBIG this year. The statewide event is hosted on the Washington Gives website, which is a year-round giving platform that allows people to discover and donate to nonprofits working in their community or across the state.
The support for local causes came from nearly 3,535 donors, accounting for just over 15 percent of those who have given statewide thus far. Southwest Washington nonprofits made up 10 percent of the participating organizations this year. Stats like this show the early successes according to Matt Morton, president of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.
“In this transition year, nonprofits needed donors to show up in a big way, and they responded,” Morton said. “Our giving community had an outsized presence during GiveBIG, and we know this will only grow over time as nonprofits adapt to the new platform and date.”
Morton went on to mention that it took five years and 155 nonprofits before Give More 24! raised $1.2 million—a goal local nonprofits reached in this first year with GiveBIG. Participating nonprofits Washington Trails Association and Treehouse took the top two spots on the southwest Washington leaderboards. Of the organizations that don’t have a statewide presence, the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington raised the most funds ($50,105) and Lower Columbia School Gardens attracted the most donors (170).
This year’s statewide campaign featured 1,409 nonprofits and has engaged more than 22,500 donors as of today. GiveBIG is powered by 501 Commons, which helps nonprofits thrive through an array of back office, consulting and capacity building supports. The two groups partnered closely to make the transition to GiveBIG as successful as possible for nonprofits and donors coming over from Give More 24! according to Nancy Long, executive director of 501 Commons.
“We are thankful to our nonprofit partners, local businesses and our media sponsors for making GiveBIG an inspirational success,” Long said. “In particular, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington played an instrumental role in bringing an incredible group of nonprofits to the GiveBIG campaign, connecting more donors across the state to important causes.”
People can still contribute to nonprofits participating in GiveBIG at givebigwa.org until May 31. This is the date when 501 Commons will tally the final gifts and report its overall fundraising numbers for GiveBIG in 2023.
“501 Commons is over-the-moon excited for the $11.8 million raised so far by nonprofits across our great state,” Long said. “We can’t wait to see where the generosity takes us from here.”
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About the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
Established in 1984, the Community Foundation helps southwest Washingtonians build a more vibrant community by inspiring investments in local philanthropy. The Foundation holds more than 380 charitable funds, which are actively invested to generate growth and income for granting purposes. Governed by an esteemed volunteer Board of Directors, the Community Foundation offers benefits and services to donors, nonprofits and the community at large. Learn more at www.cfsww.org.
About 501 Commons
501 Commons is the Pacific Northwest’s largest nonprofit management support organization. Its core mission is to amplify the strengths of nonprofits so all people and communities can flourish. The team does this by providing nonprofits with affordable consulting, ongoing back-office services, professional development, and board training. The expertise of its 50+ person staff includes finance, HR, data solutions, IT, fundraising, and management consulting. In addition, 501 Commons powers the Washington Gives platform and GiveBIG, Washington’s annual online fundraising campaign. Learn more at 501commons.org.