More than 30 local nonprofits, united as the Olympic Peninsula Nonprofit Alliance, will raise funds together for one day Nov. 27 — marking the inaugural local #ClallamGives on #GivingTuesday.
Celebrated nationally each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the local holiday giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.
“Our community has a reputation for people coming to the table for the common good. We’re all in this together, working to build a brighter future, and a stronger Clallam County,” said Leslie Lauren, executive director of Olympic View Community Foundation.
“Our nonprofit alliance hopes to harness the power of our generous community to give back in smarter ways to the causes that matter and help create an even better place to live,” Lauren said.
“We’re inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday movement demonstrates how every act of generosity counts and how much more it means when we give together.”
The year-end giving season can be the lifeblood for many nonprofit organizations, Lauren said. People are generally in a giving mood this time of year, with nearly one-third (31 percent) of all annual charitable contributions occurring in the final month of the year, and 12 percent on the last three days of the year.
About half of nonprofits receive a majority of their annual budgets from October through December each year, Lauren said.
In addition to individual donations, local business donors are being recruited for matching gifts that challenge and inspire others to give, so that every donation made on #GivingTuesday in Clallam County qualifies for a matching donation.
“We’re incredibly inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday embraces this worldwide movement for philanthropy,” said Sara Nicholls, administrative director of the Sequim Free Clinic.
Founded in 2012, #GivingTuesday is now a global day of giving. Last year, more than $300 million was raised nationally online — a number that’s expected to increase again this year, Lauren said.
“As we prepare for Nov. 27, we’re energized and encouraged by the community’s generosity,” said Melissa Williams, executive director of Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles.
“The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal.”
To become a business sponsor of matching funds, contact Olympic View Community Foundation at 360-797-1338.
To make a charitable donation Nov. 27 to participating nonprofit(s), visit nonprofits.ov-cf.org.
Participating organizations art listed by category.
Animal welfare
• Peninsula Friends of Animals.
• Port Angeles Pet Posse.
Arts and entertainment
• KSQM FM Community Radio.
• Olympic Theatre Arts.
• Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.
• Port Angeles Waterfront Center.
Early childhood education
• First Step Family Support Center.
• First Teacher/Parenting Matters Foundation.
• Olympic Nature Experience.
Education/scholarships
• Sequim Education Foundation.
• Port Angeles Education Foundation.
• Joyce Education Foundation.
• Peninsula College Foundation.
Environmental
• Feiro Marine Life Center.
• North Olympic Land Trust.
• North Olympic Salmon Coalition.
• Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
• Washington Coast Savers.
Health/human services
• Captain Joseph House Foundation.
• Catholic Community Services.
• Chrysalis/Dream Catcher Balloon.
• Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County.
• Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP).
• Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition.
• Opening Doors for Youth/Sequim Host Homes.
• Peninsula Behavioral Health.
• Port Angeles Food Bank.
• Prevention Works!
• Sarge’s Place.
• Sequim Food Bank.
• Sequim Free Clinic.
• Sequim Wheelers.
• Serenity House.
• Shipley Center.
• VIMO (Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics).
• Olympic Peninsula YMCA.
Nonprofit supports
• Olympic Peninsula Nonprofit Alliance.
• Olympic View Community Foundation.
• United Way of Clallam County.
