Vancouver, Wash., September 23, 2021—More than 6,600 donors rallied around 207 local nonprofits during Give More 24!, a 24-hour online giving marathon that supports southwest Washington causes. The annual fundraising event—organized by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington—surpassed its $3.2 million goal, raising $3,358,031 at GiveMore24.org on Thursday, September 23.
This total marks a 14 percent increase in overall funds raised—another record year for Give More 24!—despite fewer nonprofits participating. Jennifer Rhoads, President of the Community Foundation, said the drop in nonprofits is largely due to capacity and financial strains due to the pandemic. Still, participating nonprofits were able to attract roughly the same number of donors, who on average gave 15 percent more than in 2020.
“From the nonprofits to the donors, everyone involved dug deeper this year,” Rhoads said. “We are so grateful to live and work in a community known for its exceptional nonprofits and generous donors. They are the reason for the success of this event but are also critical to our region’s recovery during these difficult times.”
Over the last year and a half, nonprofits have had to scale up programs such as those providing rental assistance, mental health services and hunger relief. At the same time, the need for health and safety has constrained efforts surrounding community outreach, volunteer engagement and fundraising events, all of which nonprofits depend on to operate. Rhoads said, while people often focus on the dollars raised, the larger goal of Give More 24! is to increase community involvement and awareness around local causes.
“As a community, we’re fortunate to have had an established event like Give More 24! because it’s the perfect outlet for making a difference from a distance,” Rhoads said. “We continued to see nonprofits invest more time and resources into their campaigns, and that’s the only way we were able to attract as many donors as we did.”
Rhoads said the extra efforts were appreciated because they weren’t sure if they could repeat the strong showing they saw in 2020. This year, 128 of the participating nonprofits helped secure more than $1.4 million in matching funds, which doubled donations to these organizations. Donors responded positively, fulfilling 96 percent of the available match dollars. In addition, the Community Foundation partnered with sponsors to offer $26,000 in nonprofit prizes that donors could win on behalf of their favorite causes.
Cause categories covered a full spectrum of interests, such as arts and culture, disaster relief, environment, immigrant services and, social justice and veterans. Those that attracted donors most were Education (2,242), Health and Wellness (1,573), and Poverty and Hunger (1,312). These three causes also raised the most dollars.
When the event ended, Agape Christian Academy was the most popular organization with 333 donors. The most successful fundraiser in the large size category was Share ($109,426), which marked the first time an organization has raised over $100,000 during Give More 24! FISH of Vancouver ($78,474) topped the medium size category in funds raised, and North County Community Food Bank ($63,443) led all small-sized organizations.
Businesses, musicians, news anchors and comedians were just some of the many partners who pitched in to assist with this year's event. Most of all, the community effort is made possible through sponsors like presenting sponsor Davidson & Associates Insurance representing PEMCO Insurance. Further financial support is provided by Columbia Bank, Heritage Bank and Russell Investments. Media Sponsors include ADCO Printing & Graphics, Bicoastal Media in Longview, The Columbian, Cookin’ Country (KUKN 105.5 FM), KOIN 6, The Daily News in Longview and Versa Events.
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About the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
Established in 1984, the Community Foundation helps southwest Washingtonians build a more vibrant and engaged community through charitable giving and community engagement. The Foundation holds more than 360 distinct funds, which are actively invested to generate growth and income for granting purposes. Governed by an esteemed volunteer Board of Directors, the Community Foundation offers benefits and services to donors, nonprofits and the community at large. Learn more at cfsww.org.
Additional Information
See our 2020 results and historic data in our Give More 24! Community Report. Access more images and brand assets in our Give More 24! Online Media Kit.