Give Local Bay: Mark your calendar for the 2nd of May

The ninth annual Give Local Bay event kicks off at midnight Tues., May 2. The 24-hour event raises funds for more than 50 local nonprofits in Bay and Arenac counties.

This year, every dollar donated during this event will be matched by funds from Bay Area Community Foundation, Messiah Lutheran Church in honor of the Rev. Andreas Teich, and the Paul Revard and Frances Santoro Family Fund. Other major supporters include LiUNA! Local 1098 and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

In 2022, the event generated $176,000, which was about $3,400 per participating nonprofit organization. The event primarily takes place online at www.GiveLocalBay.org, but folks can also call the Foundation office at (989) 893-4438 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to donate. Checks dated between April 20 and May 2 also will be counted toward the event and qualify for the matching donations.

Please ensure that all checks are made out to the Bay Area Community Foundation and in the memo include “(fund/organization name) - Give Local Bay.” Any donation of $10 or more is welcome.

The State Theater is one of nearly 60 organizations involved in the annual Give Local Bay event on May 2.This year, nearly 60 nonprofits are participating, says Maggie Dwan, Donor Relations and Communications Officer for BACF. That number marks the highest number of nonprofits ever to participate in the fundraiser.

For Dwan and the BACF team, the annual giving event is rewarding.

“Helping these nonprofits and getting them to sign up with us is great, but then the number of people that these nonprofits are helping ... Yes, they’re able to take those gifts and continue their mission, but it’s that butterfly effect of continuing what their mission is and how far a donation can really go once it’s given through Give Local. The impact is almost unfathomable.”

The event is months in the making.

Dwan, Madi Syring, and Erin Kreutzberg, two of BACF’s Program Officers, planning began at the start of the new year. Their goals for the event include keeping the receiving agencies engaged and making the process simple for donors.

The trio uses prizes to keep the receiving agencies engaged through process. For example, agencies are entered into drawings to win an additional $250 for tasks such as completing a profile on GiveLocalBay.com, crafting creative social media posts, and for hitting different milestones during the 24-hour event.

The second goal of keeping the process simple for donors means the donation form doesn’t ask many questions. Donors can designate a nonprofit of their choice, or they can donate to the general incentive pool to be divided among all organizations.
No matter which option you choose, you’ll see the form doesn’t ask for much more information. Donors simply designate a donation amount and a preferred cause to support.

The Bay City Rowing Center is one of about 60 organizations benefiting from the annual Give Local Bay event. (Photo Credit: Doug Coombe)“You don’t need to answer a bunch of questions or jump through hoops. You can just donate,” Dwan says.

There are other ways to get involved. This year, BACF has partnered with Tri City Brewing Company to host a “Sip, Sip Hooray for Give Local Bay” event. The brewery, located at 4170 Shrestha Drive, will donate $1 for every drink purchased on May 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to give local while they drink local.

For those hoping to contribute with time or service, www.GiveLocalBay.org is a great resource. Many nonprofits have also listed volunteer opportunities on their profile pages for the event.

To stay updated on happenings with the event, check out the Facebook page or follow the the BACF on Instagram @bayareafoundation.