This year’s event begins Monday with pre-give kickoff
Local nonprofit organizations are hoping to tap into the area community’s spirit of philanthropic giving next month with the 10th annual Go Big Give online giving campaign.
Co-hosted by the Heartland United Way and Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, Go Big Give has grown in scope and giving each year since it began, supporting the work of 158 nonprofit organizations in Hamilton, Hall, Howard and Merrick counties.
“Go Big Give enhances nonprofits’ ability to raise funds by providing a very easy opportunity for donors to click and give and know that their gift is going to grow with incentive prizes and matching funds,” explained Karen Rathke, the United Way’s president and chief professional officer. “It’s also an opportunity for the nonprofit organizations to create a greater awareness of their organizations and their missions.”
Last year’s Go Big Give campaign raised $1.47 million, some of which was earmarked for organizations located in and/or serving Hamilton County. Rathke reported impact totals accumulated during the nine previous Go Big Give events, including $7.43 million raised, 211 nonprofits impacted, match pool funding and incentives of $819,691 and 34,823 total donations made.
This year there are 25 organizations participating in Hamilton County, and that doesn’t include the number of organizations that provide programs or services in Hamilton County, Rathke said.
Tammy Morris, executive director of the Hamilton Community Foundation, echoed those same sentiments.
“Go Big Give helps support local charities that make Hamilton County a great place to live,” Morris said. “Since its inception, more than $1.2 million has been raised to benefit Hamilton County thanks to the generosity of our community.”
“Organizations in Hamilton County operate with a small staff and many are run solely by volunteers,” Morris added. “They rely heavily on donations to carry out their mission and Go Big Give provides a platform that allows organizations to participate without large overhead expenses.”
Thursday, May 4, is the focus of activity for this year’s Go Big Give campaign, though in actuality the fundraising begins sooner. The early giving window opens Monday online at www.gobiggive.org, offering early incentives to donors hoping to maximize their gift. On the day of the event, drawings are held every half hour to add $250 to random donations, with match minutes also boosting gifts with matches up to $5,000.
Rathke noted that a great deal of time and effort has gone into the coordinating Go Big Give, making it as easy as possible for people to support their favorite organizations, or general fields of interest.
“With Go Big Give donors can connect with organizations in a specific field of interest, and they can also search by category, so maybe they’re looking for veterans programs or animals or education. They can easily find other programs that are within that field of interest and connect with them to hopefully increase volunteer opportunities.”
Local nonprofits
Nonprofit entities in Hamilton County participating in this year’s Go Big Give campaign include 12th Street Cinema, Art Walk Aurora, Aurora Adopt-A-Pet, Aurora Choir Boosters, Aurora Library Foundation, Aurora Public Schools Foundation, Banisters Leadership Academy, Bremer Community Center, Edgerton Explorit Center, Giltner Public Schools Foundation, Hamilton Community Foundation, Hamilton County 4-H Council, Hamilton County BackPack Program, Hamilton County Food Pantry, Hamilton County Senior Center, Hamilton County Youth Center, Hampton Housing Solutions, Hampton Public Schools Foundation, Memorial Foundation, Phillips Community Foundation, Hamilton County Historical Society (Plainsman Museum), Prairie Plains Resource Institute, Sozo Family Resources, TeamMates of Aurora and The Leadership Center.
For more information, go to gobiggive.org.