Community is an idea that most everyone cherishes and wants more of—a deeper sense of place, commonality and connection, the definition that includes a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. When we feel the spirit of community there’s an overall uplift, a sense of increased safety and purpose, even inspiration. There is a discernible sense of place, of care for each other.
During times of crisis we witness broad sweeps of collective action. Neighbors check on neighbors, strangers support those in need, generosity flows freely without asking for anything in return.
In times of crisis and as importantly, in ordinary times, nonprofits do vital work and are a cornerstone to what defines us, what exemplifies our values and spirit. Perhaps you’ve utilized resources local nonprofits offer to care for your parents, or children, for legal advice, for critical health care services, for local educational, arts or music events, for pet care or adoption services, for recreation opportunities. Chances are high you’ve interfaced with a dozen or more local groups in recent weeks and months.
Without the more than 1,000 local nonprofits working tirelessly to fulfill their missions every day, our community would look and feel like a very different place. Their collective missions and programs have a huge impact on our lives. They work tirelessly to fulfill their organization missions. It’s not easy.
And each serves its own essential role and needs your support, however that looks.
Back in 2009, the Weekly decided to leverage resources to create a new program to support the local nonprofit community with both editorial coverage and philanthropy, and established the Monterey County Weekly Community Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). Monterey County Gives! was hatched, becoming an annual appeal to Weekly readers.
The MCGives! program has evolved and grown immensely since then, in large part due to the collaboration and partnership between the Weekly, the Community Foundation and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, plus our other generous major partners, and you, our donors. The program enables you to donate in traditional ways to individual organizations via our website, to all participating organizations, or even to the overall match, with one online click (or through different types of gifts, including stock gifts or donations from your IRA retirement fund).
In last year’s campaign, Monterey County Gives! raised over $11.9 million in six weeks, thanks to more than 8,000 donors. That’s impactful. Since its inception, the program has raised and donated over $68 million to approximately 500 local nonprofits.
Collaboration. Partnership. Synergy. These are the keys to MCGives!
The campaign is a shining example of collaboration. Thanks to our major partners, MCGives! campaign begins this year with an overall Matching Fund of $1,390,000.
In addition, our participating nonprofits stepped up and raised Challenge Gifts from their key supporters, to spur more giving and new donors from the community. Those gifts totaled $2,547,858 at the start of this year’s campaign.
The combined Matching Funds + Challenge Gifts means Monterey County Gives! kicks off this year’s program with over $3.8 million—a great beginning.
We invite you to participate and support MCGives!, become a donor, and help spread the word. If you would, pass along the special print edition of Monterey County Gives! to a friend or co-worker. Use the social media tools on this website to post your support of Monterey County Gives! Encourage your kids to become involved (some families have even given their kids a small amount of money to donate through MCGives! to groups of their choosing, teaching their children the power of philanthropy).
Every bit helps. Together, we cultivate community. Together, we collectively create positive change for all who make Monterey County home.
Bradley Zeve, Monterey County Weekly & Monterey County Now
Dan Baldwin, Community Foundation for Monterey County
Steve John, Monterey Peninsula Foundation
plus our other major partners including
Gunde & Ernie Posey Family Foundation • Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel • Taylor Farms • David and Lucile Packard Foundation • Colburn and Alana Jones Foundation at CFMC • Cannery Row Company • Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation • Harden Foundation • Post Ranch Inn • MST • plus a generous anonymous donor
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Digital NEST marks 10 years of training the next generation of tech leaders By Erik Chalhoub For the season of giving, Jacob Martinez and his team at Digital NEST had an idea: If the nonprofit that provides career skills to youth could garner 100 donations, Martinez would get his first tattoo on his upcoming birthday. […] Read more
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