Over a 24-hour period next month, anyone with a little extra coin who is interested in supporting a specific nonprofit organization can partake in the third annual Silicon Valley Gives online telethon, which has raised millions for worthy causes since its inception.
Organized by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the event known as SV Gives benefits nonprofits within Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Benito counties. The 24-hour online platform, run through the crowdfunding website Razoo, is aimed at inspiring and uniting local communities to support philanthropic causes.
“2016 is a really nice year for us. We’re excited to see not only what happens with SV Gives for the Morgan Hill Community Foundation and our partners but also for all of Morgan Hill,” said MHCF board member Amy Whelan. “It seems like there are a lot of deserving groups around town.”
The 2015 fundraiser generated close to $8 million in donations with 17,090 unique donors making 22,982 donations, according to details provided on the SVGives website.
Last year, the Learning and Loving Education Center was the top breadwinner for participating Morgan Hill nonprofits, raising $6,317 thanks to 54 donors. Other local nonprofits that raised funds through the event were Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center ($4,305/34 donors); Leadership Morgan Hill ($2,600/28 donors); Morgan Hill Historical Society ($1,325/22 donors); and Morgan Hill Community Foundation ($2,345/15 donors).
In SV Gives’ inaugural year in 2014, MHCF brought in $6,500 in donations.
Whelan said that SV Gives allows donors to be as specific as they want in making their contributions to particular organizations or causes as well as the ability to donate to a general community fund.
Each participating nonprofit sets up a webpage on razoo.com describing what their organization is all about, such as its programs and funds set up by partners, to attract as many donors as possible. Making SV Gives a unique brand, there are fun matching games and prizes throughout the all-day event offered by various sponsors in an effort to maximize donations.
Potential donors can check out what the technology-driven, philanthropic event is all about on svgives.org, razoo.com or by visiting the targeted nonprofit’s site directly.
The MHCF has awarded 95 grants totaling $550,000 since its inception in 2002 through its own efforts and its partners. MHCF’s annual grant program, which has benefitted local nonprofits such as Cal-SOAP, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley and DreamPower Horsemanship, covers six focus areas: Arts and Culture, Recreation, Education and Lifelong Learning, Health and Human Services, Science and Technology and Environment and Agriculture.
The MHCF is also in the second year of funding its scholarship program, which awards graduating seniors from Ann Sobrato, Live Oak, Central and Oakwood high schools in Morgan Hill. Students must submit Morgan Hill Unified School District’s “Common Scholarship Application” to qualify. Scholarships and grants will be awarded between mid-May and June, according to Whelan.
“Any funds we receive from SV Gives will help support our grants,” said Whelan, a past MHCF president. “From late April to early May, we go through our scholarship and grant (selection) process, so that is definitely our focus.”
What is it? 24-hour online fundraising platform on crowdfunding site Razoo hosted by the Silicon Valley Foundation
When is it? May 3 from 12 a.m. to midnight
How to donate Go to svgives.org, click on schedule a donation, search by name, keyword or ZIP Code
MHCF grants given during its annual grant program: 95
Cumulative grant award value given by the MHCF and its partners: $550,000
Number of partners for which it serves as fiscal sponsor: 11
MHCF Philanthropists and volunteers honored since 2006: 250
Percentage of MHCF funding from local donors: 100
