Monterey County Gives!

Monterey County Gives!

Inspiring Local Philanthropy – More than $34 Million Given

MC Gives –  Nov. 11 – Dec. 31, 2021

Monterey County Gives! is a year-end campaign that inspires local philanthropy and benefits a wide array of Monterey County nonprofits. New! 168 nonprofits taking part in 2021 campaign! 

The pandemic, shelter-in-place and three local wildfires made 2020 arduous and surreal. Thankfully in mid-2021 we’re slowly returning to a new, new normal. Monterey County organizations are recalibrating for continued success. As difficult as 2020 was, one shining light was the unprecedented generosity of locals to support Monterey County Gives! MCGives! surpassed all previous records and raised over $7.9 million from over 7,500 donors during the six-week year end campaign. MCGives! leverages the editorial and advertising support of Monterey County Weekly, pro-rata matching funds from all our major partners, plus nonprofit organization-generated challenge gifts — all to stimulate broad donor support.

A special print edition in the Weekly in early November highlights each participating organization’s mission and their ‘Big Idea’ proposal for MCGives!. The campaign directs the Weekly’s readers and donors to the MCGives! website that enables online donations. Monterey County Gives! will kick off  November 11 with a matching donation from sponsors.

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 $34 million has been raised and granted since 2009.

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.

Background

Gives! 2020 Raises $7.8 Million

MontereyCountyGivesLogoThanks to the generous people of Monterey County, the 2020 campaign raised $7.8 million to benefit 162 local nonprofits. Thanks to our partners Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Cannery Row Company, as well as the many challenge gift donors, we had more than $2 million in matching funds and challenge gifts for Monterey County Gives!

Background

Monterey County Weekly and Philanthropy

Monterey County Weekly has had a direct relationship with the local nonprofit community for more than 25 years, supporting and promoting 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

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

These grants made possible through the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

  • $2,500 Ingenuity Grant: This grant is awarded to one nonprofit that demonstrates ingenuity and creativity through their approach in resolving their sector’s challenges.
  • $1,000 Largest Number of Donors Award: This award will be given to the nonprofit that has the most donors.
  • $1,000 Most Donors 18-35 Years Old: This award will be given to the nonprofit that receives the most donations from those who are 18-35 years old (born from 1984-2001). It is meant to challenge younger readers and participating organizations to generate excitement around youth philanthropy, and for the next generation to experience the feelings of joy and reward that accompany acts of generosity. The goal is to jumpstart vital lifelong partnerships between younger donors and the local nonprofit community, with the hope that as their financial position grows so will their contributions and involvement.
  • $1,000 The Florence Haspel Zeve Award for Women, Families and/or the Arts: Created in memory of Florence Zeve, the award will be given to one nonprofit for their initiative for women, families and/or the arts, a program that deserves special recognition.

Agency Resources

2020 Challenge Gift Form

MCGives! 2020 Donation Form

2020 Information for Agencies

2020 Launch Event PowerPoint

General Social Media Resources and Links for Nonprofits

Communication Samples

2020 Lunch and Learn PowerPoint

2020 Lunch and Learn Zoom Webinar Link

Logos:

MC Gives Black & White Logo pdf

MC Gives Color Logo pdf

MC Gives Color Logo w/Tag Line pdf

 

McGives!NeumeierPomaLogo2016 CanneryRowCompanyLogo2016 PackardFoundationLogoCFMCLogo(Stacked)