Monterey County Gives!

Inspiring Local Philanthropy – More than $21 Million Given

Monterey County Gives! is a year-end campaign that inspires local philanthropy and benefits a wide array of Monterey County nonprofits.

A collaboration between the Monterey County Weekly, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Community Foundation for Monterey County, MCGives! is a campaign in which local businesses, foundations and individuals contribute to an overall match fund that spurs donations for participating organizations. At the end of the campaign, each nonprofit receives 100% of their donations, along with a prorata match on the first $75,000 raised. The impact has been tremendous. More than $21 million has been raised and granted since 2009.

Gives! 2018 Raises Record $5.4 Million

Thanks to the generous people of Monterey County, the 2018 campaign was the most successful ever! More than $5.4 million was contributed to benefit 169 local nonprofits. Thanks our partners Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Cannery Row Company, as well as all the challenge gift donors, we had more than $1,492,000 in matching funds and challenge gifts for Monterey County Gives! 2018.

MCGives! 2019

Beginning November 7, visit the Monterey County Gives! website to donate to the 2019 campaign. Nonprofits are a cornerstone of our community. Whether you’ve attended local arts or music events, received legal support or health care services, adopted a pet, or enrolled your child in a special after school program, chances are high you’ve interfaced with a dozen or more groups. Without local nonprofits working tirelessly to fulfill their missions — everyday — our community would look and feel like a very different place. We appreciate your support!

Background

Monterey County Weekly and Philanthropy

Monterey County Weekly has had a direct relationship with the local nonprofit community for nearly 25 years. It supports and promotes those who work to improve the quality of life for all. The Monterey County Weekly witnesses, reports, and collaborates with nonprofits to promote their events and programs, so they may communicate and carry out their mission. In 2000, the Weekly supported the nonprofit community in another way when it established the Monterey County Weekly Community Fund, a donor advised fund of the CFMC. In 2009, Monterey County Gives! was launched, focused on an annual appeal to the Weekly’s generous readers for year-end donations. In that first year, $417,000 was raised and granted. The Weekly has built on that success each year, and with the Monterey Peninsula Foundation joining as a partner in 2015, the campaign has shown the power of philanthropy in Monterey County.

Program Details

A request for proposals appears each June in the Monterey County Weekly with a deadline in late July. Nonprofits begin to direct their donations through Monterey County Gives! in early November when the Weekly publishes its Monterey County Gives! special issue and the website goes live. After the campaign ends on December 31, participating nonprofits receive a prorated match (on the first $75,000 they raised) based on their total donations during the campaign. The nonprofits gain funding and new supporters to support their big ideas.

Additional Award Opportunities

Agency Resources