UNLIKELY ALLIANCE WORKING TO STRENGTHEN SAN DIEGO San Diego Gives launches university for struggling charities By: Hannah Jaime, San Diego Gives, Steering Committee THE NEED: From a local level to an international one, there is no shortage of sadness and suffering. Gas prices are sky-high, the cost of food is brutal and inflation is crippling. San Diego is saturated with hungry kids, homeless veterans, abandoned animals and victims of domestic violence. Charities are working diligently to offer relief, but many are battling record demands with limited resources. Amid this financial firestorm, San Diego Gives exists to provide a beacon of hope for people in need. WHO WE ARE: As the Executive Director of the Helping Paws Foundation, I have experienced the crushing throes of the pandemic on charities. We were able to adapt, but many nonprofits need help to push forward with their good work in the county. It is part of why I am proud to have joined the allvolunteer Steering Committee made up of 13 local nonprofit leaders. Nonprofits often compete for grants and donations, so it is an unlikely alliance that formed for the greater good. Through our collective philanthropic vision, we collaborate to serve charities, so they may better serve San Diego.
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WHAT SAN DIEGO GIVES IS: San Diego Gives is a 24-hour movement that is dedicated to giving local. This project shines a light on pressing community needs, and the impactful responses of our nonprofit industry. The initiative is the brainchild of Lauren Welch of Urban Corps of San Diego County. “It started with an idea of helping each other, loving San Diego and giving back to San Diego. We asked, what if we could do a regionallyfocused Giving Tuesday?” Welch explained. She shared the idea with other fundraising professionals, and the planning was underway. “It is more than just donations,” she added. “It is service to those in need, relationships and growth of missions.” We are all aligned with our respective nonprofits, so we execute this work on the side. We wholeheartedly offer assistance to other charities because we share a common passion of wanting to help others. “I am super interested in collaboration and making our city the best it can be,” Welch said. “We do that by making nonprofits the best they can be. When they are at their best, they serve San Diegan’s better.” THE IMPACT: Last year, the inaugural San Diego Gives was an unprecedented day of philanthropy in the county with nearly half a million dollars raised for 107 nonprofits. Using a software program called Mightycause, all funds raised remained in San Diego County, which helped bolster the community we know and love. Now, we are gearing up for our second annual day to Give Local! This year, we aim to raise at least $2 million for participating 501(c)(3)’s and engage at least 4,000 donors with at least 40% new givers. We also want to expand to include at least 250 trusted charities, and we have almost reached that goal.
