How to make Nebraska giving days work for you

May is a big month for nonprofits in Nebraska. This month, both Omaha and Lincoln hold their annual community giving days!

These events were made popular nationwide about 5 years ago. Usually run by the local community foundation, community giving days encourage donors to give online in a specific 24-hour period. If they do, their donation will be matched with funds raised by the community foundation.  It’s a good deal all around because:

• Nonprofits get to promote themselves to new donors
• Donors get to amplify their gift with matching funds
• Excitement around philanthropy is generated for the whole community

Nebraska Children will be participating in both Give to Lincoln Day and Omaha Gives. If you’re planning to join the philanthropic fun, here’s a complete guide on how to maximize your gift.

Omaha Gives is scheduled to kick off on 12 am on May 20th and run through 11:59 that night. The Omaha Community Foundation has raised $350,000 in “bonus dollars” that will be used to amplify individual gifts. This is NOT a dollar-for-dollar match. The bonus dollars will be given to organizations based on what percentage of total dollars they’ve raised.

For example, if donors like you give $1 million all day during Omaha Gives, and Nebraska Children gifts account for $10,000 of that, we will have raised 1% of the total. That means we’d get 1% of the bonus dollars – so $3,500. Not bad!

Extra bonus dollars!

Thanks to two of our most fervent supporters, NAME 1 and NAME 2, Nebraska Children has raised $20,000 in extra bonus dollars. That means for every $100 raised for us through Omaha Gives, NAME1 and NAME2 will kick in an extra $500. Amazing! 

The rules:

• Omaha Gives donations must be made online in order to be eligible for the match
• If you have a charitable giving account at the Omaha Community Foundation, they’ve made using that as a payment option when you’re giving online
• Donations up to $10,000 will be eligible for the match
• Each hour we receive a donation, we’ll be eligible for special hourly prizes of $1,000
• Nonprofits bringing in the most individual contributions will have 45 chance to win participation prizes ranging from $1,000-$3,000
• You can schedule your donation ahead of time STARTING TODAY so you don’t have to worry about forgetting on May 20.

Schedule your gift now at OmahaGives!

Give to Lincoln Day is scheduled to kickoff at midnight on May 28 and run through 11:59 that evening.  The Lincoln Community Foundation has raised $300,000 in matching funds, and these work just like Omaha’s matching funds – whatever percentage of the total funds raised your nonprofit accounts for, that’s the percentage of matching funds they’ll receive.

At 5 pm on Give to Lincoln Day, we’ll be gathering in the Community Foundation Garden on N Street, just west of Centennial Mall to enjoy some live music, snacks and celebration. Please join us!

The rules:

• Give to Lincoln Day donations may be made online or in person at the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South. In person donation must be during between 8 am and 5 pm on Thursday, May 28th. Checks must be made out to the Lincoln Community Foundation with “Nebraska Children and Families” written in the memo area
• Donations up to $10,000 will be eligible for the match
• Each hour we receive a donation, we’ll be eligible for special hourly prizes of $300
• You can schedule your donation ahead of time STARTING TODAY so you don’t have to worry about forgetting on May 28.

Schedule your Give to Lincoln Day donation now!

About Nebraska Children

Nebraska Children's mission is to maximize the potential of Nebraska’s children, youth, and families through collaboration and community-centered impact.