The Seattle Foundation helps King Co. residents "GiveBIG" to nonprofits on May 2nd

News provided by

Apr 19, 2012, 01:16 ET

Second year of online campaign aims to top last year's total of $3.6 million

SEATTLE, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Seattle Foundation's "GiveBIG" campaign returns on Wednesday, May 2, with area nonprofit organizations, corporate sponsors and supporters aiming to meet or beat the inaugural event's great success last year.

During this one-day, online event, residents of King County make donations to local nonprofits through www.seattlefoundation.org -- and a share of every contribution is matched with a "stretch pool" of funds provided by The Seattle Foundation and local companies and individuals.

New to GiveBIG 2012 is the opportunity to make donations via smart phone on The Seattle Foundation's mobile web site.

In 2011, GiveBIG raised $3.6 million in individual gifts that leveraged the $500,000 stretch pool. People made nearly 19,000 individual gifts, ranging from $5 to $60,000 during the 17-hour day of giving. Fueled by grassroots support and online communications, GiveBIG was named "Best Use of Social Media" for 2011 by Seattle Magazine.

"We were elated with the success of GiveBIG last year and how the community enthusiastically embraced the concept of an online giving day," said Norman B. Rice, president and chief executive officer of The Seattle Foundation. "This day and all of the donations it generates are even more important now, as nonprofits seek to fill the financial gaps left by painful cuts in government support."

GiveBIG participants can make contributions of any size through The Seattle Foundation's online Giving Center, which includes information about and evaluations of more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations working in a broad range of areas: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Economy, Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, and Neighborhoods & Communities. The Seattle Foundation supports global giving through its partnership with Seattle International Foundation and other globally focused organizations.

Back again for GiveBIG 2012 are the "Golden Tickets," which provide nonprofit organizations the opportunity to receive an additional $1,000 if one of their donations is selected during hourly random drawings.

GiveBIG will be held from 12:01 a.m. until midnight on Wednesday, May 2. Credit card donations made during this time will be counted as GiveBIG donations and used to calculate distribution of the stretch pool.

The amount of a nonprofit organization's share of the stretch pool will be based on the percentage of donations the nonprofit receives of the total online contributions made through www.seattlefoundation.org on May 2. In GiveBIG 2011, the "stretch" added $14 to every $100 donation.

GiveBIG is presented by The Seattle Foundation and Presenting Partners JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Seattle International Foundation and Seattle Sounders FC.

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

In addition to the generous gifts from the Presenting Partners, the $500,000 stretch pool includes $200,000 from The Seattle Foundation. Additional funds came from The Boeing Company, a GiveBIG sponsor, and supporters including Alaska Airlines, Clark Nuber P.S., Deloitte, Colonial Consulting, KMPG, Safeco Insurance, Starbucks, Tom and Sonya Campion, John Stanton & Theresa Gillespie, and Bob and Juanita Watt. Friends of GiveBIG are Click & Pledge, Davis Wright Tremaine, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, K&L Gates, Nova Fisheries, Pacific Continental Bank, Puget Sound Energy, Pyramid Communications, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Brooks Simpson and Whitsitt Family Fund.

Four organizations are sponsoring targeted areas of community need The Boeing Company is supporting economic growth and opportunity. JPMorgan Chase is supporting organizations involved with improving neighborhoods and communities. Microsoft is aligned with efforts to strengthen education. The Seattle International Foundation sponsorship is fostering global giving.

The Seattle Sounders FC is supporting GiveBIG communications and outreach, including a game-day celebration during the Seattle Sounders FC vs. L.A. Galaxy match on the evening of May 2 at Century Link Field.

Nonprofit organizations can visit http://www.seattlefoundation.org/nonprofits/GiveBIG/ to see the nonprofit toolkit and learn how to mobilize supporters to give on May 2. GiveBIG information and updates are also found on http://www.seattlefoundation.org/GiveBIG and The Seattle Foundation's Facebook page or the GiveBIG blog.

Established in 1946, The Seattle Foundation's mission is to create a healthy community through engaged philanthropy, community knowledge and leadership. It is the oldest and largest community foundation in the region, with more than 1,200 family and individual funds and assets of more than $600 million. The Seattle Foundation awards more than $50 million in grants each year.

Online: www.seattlefoundation.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSeattleFoundation
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheSeattleFdn

SOURCE The Seattle Foundation