2016 Giving Challenge to flex region's philanthropic muscles

Since 2012, our region has proven itself as a force in philanthropy and donors have shown their love for local nonprofit organizations by providing more than $15 million in unrestricted funding to support their missions during the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Giving Challenge.

Last year’s event set an incredible new standard for generosity in our community, when a record-setting $7 million was raised from 36,417 donations in just 24 hours to benefit 449 nonprofits listed on The Giving Partner, our source for in-depth information on local choices in giving.

The Power of Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted funding can be hard to come by—nonprofits need it to operate effectively. By investing dollars into our community through local nonprofits, those who contributed during the Giving Challenge have demonstrated their passion for our region and added a vote of confidence for the impact that our organizations are achieving.

Giving Challenge funds have gone on to ensure that vulnerable families will be able to stay in their homes and have food on their table; seniors and veterans will get the vital care they need; students will have a greater array of cultural and scientific explorations to spark their curiosity; the natural beauty of our land and gulf will be preserved; and thousands of sheltered animals will get to find a loving home.

A Region Driving Donations

Starting at noon on September 20 and continuing until noon on September 21, local residents can be the one to make a difference by donating on their computers or smart phones to help raise funds for local nonprofits as part of the 2016 Giving Challenge. This year’s event will benefit more than 550 local charitable organizations.

This year, The Patterson Foundation is incentivizing donations from both new donors –individuals who did not donate to a particular organization during the 2015 Giving Challenge – and returning donors – individuals who did support a particular organization during the 2015 Giving Challenge. This opportunity encourages organizations to engage new online donors as well as loyal returning supporters during this year’s event. The Patterson Foundation will provide support in two ways:

• A 2:1 match for each new online donor’s contributions – up to $100 per donor, per organization.
• A 1:1 match for each returning donor’s contributions – up to $100 per donor, per organization.

The local participating nonprofits, all of which have demonstrated transparency with published and up-to-date profiles in The Giving Partner, can also earn their share of $206,000 in grant prizes. Prizes will be awarded in categories including most unique donors, best giving challenge video and event, best nonprofit-nonprofit partnership, best nonprofit-business partnership, best overall campaigns, and many more.

A repeat feature this year will be $100 hourly prizes to random donors’ gifts, to keep the excitement going throughout the Challenge, particularly during the overnight hours.

“Our community’s enthusiastic support of the Giving Challenge, now in its fifth year, is an extraordinary demonstration of our collective giving spirit,” said Roxie Jerde, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “Not only does this event provide much-needed support for local nonprofits, it also gives them the opportunity to share the impact of their mission through focused communication and donor outreach, resulting in new donors and more revenue to support their missions. Plus the Giving Challenge is an exciting and fun way for the entire community to be engaged in philanthropy!”

The 2016 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, as well as support from Manatee Community Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and the Herald-Tribune Media Group.

"Since 2012, the Giving Challenge has galvanized people to support a plethora of regional nonprofits working tirelessly to enhance our community," said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. "Their giving during this year's opportunity will be strengthened by The Patterson Foundation's matches and prizes, which aspire to connect nonprofits with new donors while affirming the contributions of longtime supporters."

Donations are tax-deductible. Anyone who wishes to give during the challenge can make a secure donation (minimum gift is $25) by debit or credit card at www.givingpartnerchallenge.org.

About the Giving Partner

• The Giving Partner is a partnership of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Manatee Community Foundation and The Patterson Foundation.
• The Giving Partner currently shares in-depth information on more than 550 nonprofits.
• The purpose of the online tool, found at thegivingpartner.org, is to help donors, businesses, institutional funders like foundations, local governments and citizen philanthropists learn more about the causes they care about and access information about organizations based on what is most important to them.
• There is no cost, user name or password required to use The Giving Partner.
• To access the list of participating organizations, visit thegivingpartner.org, and be sure to like the Giving Partner’s Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.