The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington’s latest fundraising venture didn’t do the same numbers its past effort did but still broke seven figures over two days.
For 2023, the community foundation took part in GiveBIG, a 48-hour fundraising campaign in Washington state. By the end of the fundraiser, 145 nonprofits and community-based organizations in Southwest Washington raised $1.2 million.
Most of the participating organizations previously took part in Give More 24!, a daylong fundraiser in September. Most recently, nearly $3.7 million was raised among 216 organizations.
This year, the community foundation joined forces with Seattle-based 501 Commons for its GiveBIG event. The statewide fundraiser brought in roughly $11.8 million in total, according to a community foundation release.
Though it was the first year taking part in the new format, Southwest Washington donors made up about 15% of the total for GiveBIG, according to the release.
“In this transition year, nonprofits needed donors to show up in a big way, and they responded,” Community Foundation for Southwest Washington President Matt Morton said in the release. “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.”
He noted it took five years of Give More 24! before it was able to see the same level of participation for both organizations and donation amounts that it saw in its first year of GiveBIG.
Washington Trails Association and Treehouse were the top-two organizations on the Southwest Washington leaderboards, the release stated. Local organizations without a statewide presence included the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, which raised the most funds at $50,105, and Lower Columbia School Gardens, which attracted the most donors at 170.
Statewide, GiveBIG featured 1,409 nonprofits and has engaged more than 22,000 donors, the release stated.
GiveBIG’s primary support comes from 501 Commons, which helps nonprofits succeed through back office, consulting and capacity building support, according to the release.
Nancy Long, executive director of 501 Commons, said the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington played an instrumental role in bringing in of nonprofits to the GiveBIG Campaign.
“501 Commons is over-the-moon excited for the $11.8 million raised so far by nonprofits across our great state,” Long said in the release.
