4 minute read
San Diego Gives
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.
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.
NEW UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR:
This year, we have rolled out San Diego Gives University leading up to the 24 hours of giving.
Our team is devoting six months to equipping an estimated 250 vetted charities with the fundraising tools and knowledge they need to succeed. Nonprofit professionals have the option to participate in over 25 trainings at no cost. We are offering webinars, toolkits, office hours and more opportunities share best practices and trade secrets.
Among some of the veterans-serving nonprofits are the San Diego Veterans Coalition, Blue Star Families, Vets Community Connections, the Helping Paws Foundation, Paws 4 Purple Hearts, JBS Transition Experts and Armed Services YMCA in San Diego and Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
It is part of a project that is both by and for the nonprofit community, but we encourage all community members to join our efforts.
The deadline for charities to register is May 31. www.sandiegogives.org/giving-events/sd22/registration The campaign kicks off with early giving on July 16, which is San Diego’s 253rd birthday! Local businesses can celebrate by hosting birthday parties that include giveback events. Those involved are donating a percentage of sales that date. We welcome companies to reach out if they are interested in hosting a birthday party event.
We connect people to the causes they care about most, and for those who want to have a hand in helping as many as possible, we have a solution. If you do not want to give to just one participating nonprofit, you can donate to the Love Them All Fund. Those funds are distributed equally among all participants.
When you make a donation, you can feel confident knowing every dollar of your investment will stay local to help strengthen San Diego.
www.Courage2Call.org
