Celebrating a Decade of Strengthening the Giving Challenge

In a single decade, the Giving Challenge has become one of our region’s most sought-after philanthropic opportunities. Presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, this 24-hour event encourages nonprofit organizations in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties to creatively engage new and longtime supporters while providing donors ways to optimize the impact of their gifts.

The Giving Challenge, which was created to encourage nonprofits to demonstrate transparency for donors by developing profiles on The Giving Partner, raised $2.4 million for the 107 regional nonprofits that participated in its inaugural 2012 edition — a significant achievement in its own right, but merely the tip of the iceberg for what this opportunity would prove capable of.

Fast-forward to April 2020, when the most recent iteration of the Giving Challenge took place against a backdrop of the uncertainty ushered in by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during that tumultuous time that our region achieved its highest Giving Challenge total to date: an awe-inspiring $19.1 million for 686 organizations from nearly 59,000 generous donors.

While the Community Foundation’s tireless efforts make the Giving Challenge possible, our region’s generosity is the driving force behind its immense impact. In the ten years since the first Giving Challenge, donors have given more than $59 million total in unrestricted funding — providing hundreds of vital nonprofits the flexibility necessary to effectively serve our region amid ever-changing circumstances.

Throughout the decade, The Patterson Foundation has aspired to strengthen the impact of that generosity before, during, and after the 24-hour Giving Challenge. To further that goal, The Patterson Foundation has contributed $24 million total to the Giving Challenge through matches and other donor incentives. These incentives have evolved over time to capitalize on learnings from each iteration of the Giving Challenge and the opportunities that have emerged from them to connect nonprofits with sustainable networks of ardent supporters.

The Patterson Foundation will once again strengthen giving during the 2022 Giving Challenge in celebration of its decade of impact. During the 24 hours, ​​The Patterson Foundation will provide a 1:1 match for unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per nonprofit organization. There will be no limit on the number of unique individual matches a nonprofit organization can receive.

If this decade has proven anything, it’s that anyone, regardless of background, can be the one to create lasting change for people, organizations, and communities throughout the Suncoast. From noon to noon, April 26-27, we will have a new opportunity to soar toward our aspirations during the 2022 Giving Challenge. The Patterson Foundation encourages all to connect, collaborate, and come together around this asset to our generous region.