WHAT: Mountain Xpress invites nonprofits and businesses to participate in this year’s Give!Local fundraising platform
WHERE: Western North Carolina
WHEN: Nonprofit applications must be received by Saturday, July 30
WHY: Give!Local’s end-of-year fundraising platform generates money, awareness and new donors for its nonprofits. In its inaugural year, Xpress‘ Give!Local initiative brought in $37,679 in online donations for 30 local nonprofits with four focus areas: people, environment, animals and arts. This year, Give!Local Director Susan Hutchinson has set a new goal: $100,000, to be raised by Dec. 31.
“Give!Local’s fund drive will start Nov. 1 and close down Dec. 31 at midnight,” Hutchinson says, noting that the Give!Local website makes it quick and easy to give a little or a lot to multiple causes via one online visit. “Using an online shopping cart, you pick and choose which nonprofits you like, and then you give them any amount you want. At the end, you complete just one credit card transaction and you’re done.”
Give!Local rewards modest philanthropy (the kind you wouldn’t bother reporting on your taxes). Thanks to the program’s local business partners, donors making a minimum gift (last year, it was $10) get a fun voucher book full of freebies and discounts from local businesses. Bigger donations earn additional rewards (all the way up to gift baskets delivered to the donors’ doorsteps). Give!Local also delivers drama and excitement, too: On select “Big Give Days,” there are drawings for featured prizes (for example, last year, one donor received a $500 gift certificate from Ski Country Sports).
Applying to be a Give!Local nonprofit is free. Participating nonprofits pay a modest fee, but Give!Local guarantees each nonprofit it will generate at least that much in donations. All proceeds from donations (less credit card processing fees) go to the designated nonprofits.
Groups interested in applying to be a Give!Local nonprofit, may attend an informational meeting Wednesday, July 6, at noon, at The BLOCK Off Biltmore. For more information, email Susan Hutchinson at shutchinson@mountainx.com. Nonprofits must apply by July 30 online at avl.mx/2poto be considered for this year’s Give!Local awareness and fundraising program. To be eligible, applicants must have 501(c)(3) status, be locally focused and commit to utilizing Give!Local as the organization’s main fundraising effort during the months of November and December.
