JOIN THE BAND
The key to a good life is making an impact, big or small
Welcome to the 2024 Monterey County Gives!
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.
We’ve been on the front lines to witness local nonprofits’ broad-reaching impact.
More than a decade ago, the Weekly decided to leverage resources and create a new program for local philanthropy to support the nonprofit community and established the Monterey County Weekly Community Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). In 2009 the Weekly created an annual appeal to our readers—Monterey County Gives!
Monterey County Gives! is now a partnership of the Monterey County Weekly, CFMC, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and our major partners, enabling you to donate in traditional ways, or through different types of gifts, such as via 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.
Over $3,800,000 in Matching and Challenge Gifts!
Collaboration. Partnership. Synergy. These are the keys to MCGives!
The campaign is a partnership between Monterey County Weekly, the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, coupled with the generosity of our major sponsors—Gunde & Ernie Posey Family Foundation, Taylor Farms, the Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Colburn and Alana Jones Foundation at CFMC, Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation, Harden Foundation, Post Ranch Inn, MST (with Visa), an anonymous donor, and the Cannery Row Company. Thanks to our partners and sponsors, MCGives! campaign begins this year with an overall Matching Fund of $1,390,000.
Many participating nonprofits stepped up and raised Challenge Gifts from 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.
MCGives! runs through midnight on Dec. 31.
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.
Please, join us to make a difference.
Click DONATE to make a tax-deductible donation.
Thank you.
Bradley Zeve, Monterey County Weekly & Monterey County Now
Dan Baldwin, Community Foundation for Monterey County
Steve John, Monterey Peninsula Foundation
and our other generous major partners