As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re pleased to celebrate our community’s most prolific matchmaker: GivingEdge. This one-stop resource connects neighbors with causes that matter to them, enables local businesses to engage their employees in giving, and provides nonprofits a platform to share their stories.
You may know GivingEdge as our region’s nonprofit knowledge base and the home of our annual giving day, Big Day of Giving, which has raised $100 million for local nonprofits since its launch in 2013. But its value extends far beyond that single day of generosity.
Last year alone, donors made over 5,700 donations to local nonprofits through the platform outside of Big Day of Giving, taking advantage of its unique ability to process multiple donations in one simple transaction — and the new ability to give with payment methods like PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay makes it easier than ever for local people to support local causes. It’s heartening to see this community resource inspire year-round giving and learning about the good work happening right in our neighborhoods!
For anyone wanting to dive deeper, the database offers a wealth of features designed to make exploring local nonprofits both intuitive and impactful. Advanced search filters let users discover organizations by size, area served, mission category, leadership demographics, communities served, and more. Whether you’re looking to support an arts program in your neighborhood or find organizations led by women or people of color, GivingEdge makes it easy to align your giving with your values.
Businesses are also leveraging GivingEdge in exciting ways. Customizable fundraising pages help companies rally their teams around shared causes. Last year, nearly a dozen businesses hosted campaigns through the platform, fostering a culture of giving in workplaces across our region. We heard from donors that their employers were among the strongest sources of learning about participating in Big Day of Giving! If your business would like to get involved in the upcoming giving day on Thursday, May 1, get started here.)
GivingEdge isn’t just about financial contributions, either. Through the Get Involved page, individuals can engage with their community through volunteer opportunities and events posted by local nonprofits. Whether it’s rolling up your sleeves at a river cleanup or attending a benefit concert, there are countless ways to make a difference. You’ve got to love that!
At the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, we believe it’s our role to bring people and causes they love together. GivingEdge embodies this mission, serving as a matchmaker between those who want to give and those who work tirelessly to improve our region. The insights it offers into local philanthropy also help us, as your local community foundation, better understand the trends and needs in our community, enabling us to support nonprofits more effectively.
For example:
- Unrestricted funding is the number one need listed by nonprofits
- 25% of organizations on the platform have operating budgets under $50,000 annually
- 20% of nonprofits listed Board Members as a need
- 19% of organizations are led by people who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (either by a Board President, CEO, or both)
This Valentine’s Day, we invite you to make GivingEdge part of your celebration! Surprise your partner by making a donation to a nonprofit they care about — it’s a heartfelt way to show your love while supporting the causes that strengthen our community. After all, love and generosity make the perfect match!
