"GiveBIG" Brings in $7.4 Million, Doubling 2011's Results

News provided by

May 03, 2012, 04:36 ET

Seattle Foundation Online Campaign Attracts More Than 37,800 donations

SEATTLE, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Seattle Foundation's "GiveBIG" campaign generated a stunning $7.43 million in online contributions for nonprofits, more than twice last year's results of $3.6 million and an amazing testament to the philanthropic spirit in King County. GiveBIG totals and other data are preliminary; The Seattle Foundation will release more detailed results by 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 3.

During this 24-hour online event held on May 2, people made donations to more than 1,100 local nonprofits profiled on www.seattlefoundation.org. The Seattle Foundation "stretched" these gifts further, matching a share of every contribution with a pool of funds provided by corporate sponsors, individual contributors and the Foundation.

"GiveBIG brings together two of our region's greatest passions – technology and philanthropy – in a way that truly excites and unites the people of King County," said Norman B. Rice, president and chief executive officer of The Seattle Foundation. "I have never seen a stronger display of generosity and community spirit than what I witnessed today with GiveBIG."

Gifts began coming in at 12:00 a.m., and the first donation was to Equal Rights Washington Education Fund. During the 24-hour period, more than 37,800 individual online gifts were made. GiveBIG attracted donations from all 50 states and 23 foreign countries.

The areas receiving the highest overall level of gifts were Arts & Culture ($1.66 million), Health & Wellness ($1.33 million) and Basic Needs ($1.28 million). Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest received the highest number of individual donations, with 1,217 gifts.

The catalyst driving GiveBIG donations was the $500,000 "stretch pool" used to match a share of each online gift. The stretch pool is funded by generous gifts from presenting partners including the Bezos Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and the Seattle International Foundation, as well as The Seattle Foundation. Additional funds came from GiveBIG sponsor The Boeing Company and supporters including Alaska Airlines, Tom & Sonya Campion, Colonial Consulting, KPMG, Russell Investments, Safeco Insurance, John Stanton & Theresa Gillespie, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Bob & Juanita Watt. Friends of GiveBIG are Martha Choe, Clark Nuber P.S., Click & Pledge, Davis Wright Tremaine, Deloitte, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, K&L Gates, Nova Fisheries, Pacific Continental Bank, Puget Sound Energy, Pugh Capital Management, Pyramid Communications, Norman & Constance Rice, Brooks Simpson, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Whitsitt Family Fund, James Williams and Grace & David Yuan.

KING5 Television, Millennial Media, and The Seattle Times Company were GiveBIG media sponsors. Steve Zakuani, Seattle Sounders FC midfielder, and Jean Enersen, Anchor of KING5 News, were the event's spokespersons.

Presenting Partner Seattle Sounders FC supported GiveBIG communications and outreach, including a match-day celebration during Seattle Sounders FC's 2-0 victory over LA Galaxy. Sounder Steve Zakuani signed autographs and met fans at The Seattle Foundation's booth at Soccer Celebration prior to the match.

GiveBIG information and updates are available on www.seattlefoundation.org/ and The Seattle Foundation's Facebook page.

SOURCE The Seattle Foundation