More than 450 donations supported local charitable organizations during the second annual Give Local Isabella. Held on May 3, 2022, the social media-driven, crowdfunding opportunity engaged 21 local charitable organizations in a 24-hour fundraising competition. The communitywide event, hosted by the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, raised $82,399.

Organizations with endowment funds held by the Foundation were eligible to participate in this giving event, utilizing an online platform to engage current and new community members in causes ranging from education to crisis support. “Give Local Isabella is a great investment in the Mt. Pleasant community,” said Natalie VanDyke of R.I.S.E. Advocacy. As one of the participating organizations, R.I.S.E. will benefit from nearly $5,000 in funds raised and matched for its endowment during the daylong event.

“It was so much fun to check the website during the day to see the numbers go up,” said Kate Connors, Executive Director of Life Choices of Central Michigan. Donations ranged from $10-$3,000 online and delivered in person over the course of May 3. When the clock struck midnight, 317 donors had made gifts totaling $52,399.

Organizations competed for ten $500 prizes associated with the event. The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen won $500 for their endowment by participating in training webinars prior to the giving day. MMI won $500 for their endowment by sharing information on social media about the event. A full list of verified prize winning organizations can be viewed at https://www.givelocalisabella.org/prizes.

In addition, $25,000 in match was distributed to participating organizations according to the percentage of total dollars raised. Renaissance Public School Academy and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy raised the most during the event, receiving 19% and 13% of the match pool. A full leaderboard can be viewed at https://www.givelocalisabella.org/leaderboards.

The children of Jack and Connie Harkins recommended that the prize and match dollars for this year’s Give Local Isabella come from their donor advised fund at the Community Foundation, the Harkins Community Fund. Elizabeth Harkins Meade, Christia Hitesman, and John Harkins thought an event focused on many charitable organizations in the community was a great way to honor their parents’ legacy. “Our parents loved this community, and we know that they would have been thrilled to be part of such a worthwhile fundraising event,” said Elizabeth.

While local charitable organizations spend most of the year fundraising for day-to-day operational expenses, Give Local Isabella is an opportunity to spend one day—24 hours—focused on the sustainability of these important agencies. “The Community Foundation wants to grow the endowment funds that support our most impactful local charities,” said Amanda Schafer, CEO/COO. The organization plans to host Give Local Isabella on an annual basis to draw attention to the need for sustainable income to protect these organizations for the long-term. “That’s the power of endowment,” Schafer added.

“For those nonprofits, thank you for all of the hard work you do in this community,” shared Elizabeth in a heartfelt video message.

Save the Date: Join the fun and give where you live during next year’s Give Local Isabella scheduled for May 2, 2023.

Give Local Isabella supports twenty-one local charitable organizations