More than 400 area nonprofit organizations are participating in this year’s Valley Gives day of giving and there’s still time to be included in this online charitable giving event.
Valley Gives is organized and hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Joining this effort as partners are eight of the leading funding organizations in western Massachusetts, including: Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts; Jewish Endowment Foundation; Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts; United Way of Hampshire County; United Way of Franklin County; United Way of Pioneer Valley; Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation; and The Beveridge Family Foundation.
Valley Gives is the 24 hour e-philanthropy event scheduled for Dec. 10, 2014 to encourage residents in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties to log on and contribute to their favorite local nonprofit organizations through www.valleygivesday.org — a centralized web-enabled and mobile giving platform.
Nonprofits have until this Friday, Nov. 14, to be included in the event.
The Gateway Education Foundation (GEF), which serves the Gateway Regional School District and provides funds for the literacy program, school garden, and more, has benefitted from Valley Gives Day since its inception, which coincided with the formation of the foundation.
“It really helped launch our foundation,” said the GEF’s Wendy Long. “Valley Gives Day made it really simple for people to donate.”
Last year, the GEF raised $12,000 from donors, more than half of which came from Valley Gives Day. This year, the GEF set an overall donation goal of $15,000 and Long said she hopes much of it will come on Dec. 10. She said in addition to an easy platform for donations. Valley Gives Day and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts gave the GEF tools.
“They gave us training on how to market ourselves better,” said Long.
Kristin Leutz, vice president of philanthropic services for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, said this is Valley Gives’ third year and she hopes to have 20,000 donors.
“The first year we raised $1 million and last year we raised $2 million – we doubled the donations – and I don’t know where this year will go,” said Leutz.
Having more nonprofits participate helps spread the word and increases donations, which can be made online all day Dec. 10 for a minimum of $10. Valley Gives set a goal of reaching 400 nonprofits this year and Leutz said they have exceeded it and she anticipates more groups will sign-up this week.
“We’re so happy that we hit one of our first goals — to get 400 nonprofits to participate…and with a week of registration still to go,” said Leutz.
Interested nonprofits may register at www.valleygivesday.org.
“Now we’re going to focus on our big goal of encouraging as many people as possible to donate to their favorite group or groups.” said Leutz. “At midnight on the 10th we want to see 20,000 people made a gift to their favorite organizations.”
During last year’s Valley Gives, 11,436 donors made 20,600 gifts totaling over $2M to 351 participating nonprofits.
When donors visit the Valley Gives website on Dec. 10, 2014 between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., they will be able to make gifts to their favorite nonprofits. Thanks to the generous sponsors and donors of Valley Gives, $225,000 in unrestricted cash prizes and exciting bonus matches will be given out to nonprofits that inspire the most donors and raise the most money.
Valley Gives is powered by Razoo, the crowdfunding platform for causes. To date, Razoo has helped Massachusetts-based organizations raise millions through secure, easy-to-use, online fundraisers.
Valley Gives is generously supported by Presenting Sponsor: Balise. Featured Sponsors: Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury, Murphy, P.C.; Big Y; UBS Keady Foard Montemagni Wealth Management Group; Easthampton Savings Bank. Underwriters: Paragus Strategic IT and Greenfield Cooperative Bank. Partners: Peter Pan; United Personnel, Andrew & Associates as well as numerous individual donors. Media Sponsors include TV22, Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Republican/masslive.com, Lazer 99.3, Northampton Community Television, WRSI, The Westfield Newsgroup, Lamar, The Reminder Publications and WMAS.
