In just their third campaign, organizers of the GoodGiving Guide have set a goal to raise $1 million for 108 area nonprofits when the campaign kicks off Friday at the West Sixth brewery.
After starting with a goal of $100,000 for the initial GoodGiving Guide two years ago, the joint project between Smiley Pete Publishing — parent company of Business Lexington — and the Blue Grass Community Foundation more than doubled those expectations. The initiative brought in $205,000 in its first year.
“The thing we loved when we first heard of this model was how it utilized all the tools we already knew in our business — that is, making publications, building websites, email marketing and social media. We do this work every day. With the fundraising expertise of the Blue Grass Community Foundation, we felt equipped to take on and succeed with such a project, ” said Smiley Pete Publishing co-owner Chuck Creacy.
Last year’s effort raised $586,000 from 4,106 donations coupled with matching and challenge grants, established with the help of local business to bolster individual gifts.
The kick-off event will allow three of the non-profits to walk away with a share of $2,000. Non-profits in the large, medium and small sized categories will compete to see which will bring the most people to Friday's event. Each person in attendance will be asked to say which group they are there to support.
“The contributions of those challenge grant sponsors make the difference between lemonade-stand giving and real game-changing giving. More than $450,000 in matching grants are already committed from family charitable funds at the Foundation, individual and corporate sponsors. In addition, Blue Grass Community Foundation, Knight Foundation, Clark County Community Foundation and Boyle County Community Fund are offering significant nonprofit challenges and matching pools. With this kind of starting boost, we expect to not only meet but exceed our $1 million goal on behalf of the 108 participating nonprofits.” said Lisa Adkins, president and CEO of the Blue Grass Community Foundation.
Those interested in giving can visit www.goodgivingguide.net for information about the work of the nonprofits, or to find out about sponsors, matching grants and donor rewards. This model sends 100 percent of the money donated to the nonprofits.
Chase Martin, director of Institute 193, a local nonprofit art gallery, said the GoodGiving Guide “helps small and mid-sized organizations like us achieve the kind of fundraising success that we otherwise wouldn't have the infrastructure to pull off on our own. In just a few years, the Challenge has become an important component of our development planning.”
Donors can also be rewarded with tangible goods that have been donated to encourage giving. Depending on the level of giving, donors will be able to choose individualized gifts as a thanks for their donation. A diverse collection of prizes and rewards from local area restaurants, retailers and businesses can be expected at every level of giving. Rewards will include theater passes, massages, free meals, pottery and cooking classes, private tours and dinners.