While the final tallies won't be available on Tuesday, June 28, the Seattle Foundation's one-day GiveBIG challenge is already being called the biggest single day of charitable giving in King County history.
More than 18,800 donations were made in 17 hours on June 23, totaling more than $3.5 million to go towards local nonprofits.
A “stretch pool” of an additional $500,000 was provided by GiveBIG partners, bringing the total amount raised to more than $4 million. The stretch pool will be distributed among all of the approximately 900 nonprofits that received donations during GiveBIG. Each nonprofit will receive a portion of the stretch pool according to the percentage it received of the total amount of GiveBIG donations.
“GiveBIG proved that King County residents are both generous and dedicated to improving their communities,” said Norman Rice, president and CEO of the Seattle Foundation, in a press release. “This event represents the democratization of philanthropy, in which everyone can make a difference in the world around them.”
Donations were made beginning at 7 a.m. on June 23 through the Giving Center on The Seattle Foundation’s website at www.seattlefoundation.org. Additional money was collected at CenturyLink Field during the Seattle Sounders FC June 23 match.
The Seattle Public Library Foundation received the most donations of all 900 nonprofits.
Top 5 nonprofits receiving donations are The Seattle Public Library Foundation, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Tennis Outreach Programs, FareStart, The 5th Avenue Theatre Association.
GiveBIG’s success was enhanced dramatically by social media. In the days leading up to the challenge, and throughout June 23, nonprofits used Twitter and Facebook to remind and encourage their supporters to make donations. The Seattle Foundation posted totals raised throughout the day on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheSeattleFoundation and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/TheSeattleFdn.
The GiveBIG stretch pool included $250,000 from The Seattle Foundation and generous support from presenting partners JPMorgan Chase, Seattle International Foundation and Seattle Sounders FC. Significant donations were also made by lead sponsors Microsoft, Boeing and Puget Sound Energy; supporters Tom and Sonya Campion, Davis Wright Tremaine, Lease Crutcher Lewis, Safeco Insurance, John Stanton and Theresa Gillepsie, Swedish Medical Center, Bob and Juanita Watt and Wells Fargo; and friends Clark Nuber P.S., Colonial Consulting, Daniels Real Estate, Deloitte, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, K&L Gates, Norman and Constance Rice, and Virginia Mason Medical Center. Media sponsorship was provided by The Seattle Times Company, KING 5 Television, and 97.3 KIRO FM, 710 ESPN Seattle, 770 KTTH and MyNorthwest.com.
For more information, visit www.seattlefoundation.org.
