In time of crisis, Idaho Gives brings in record-breaking donations for nonprofits
Amid record-breaking unemployment in Idaho and a global pandemic, more than 15,000 people still made time to donate to Idaho Gives, which brought in more than $3.3 million this year.
Idaho Gives is traditionally a one-day event every May, in which hundreds of nonprofits across the state have a platform to accept donations, but this year the campaign was extended.
The event was spread out across two weeks, starting April 23 and ending Thursday, due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s top donation recipient is also telling of the country’s time of crisis.
The Idaho Foodbank was in the top spot on Idaho Gives’ website, showing that it had raised more than $186,000 as of about noon Thursday. Donations could continue through midnight.
“This is really, truly incredible. We can’t thank the Idaho Nonprofit Center enough,” said Karen Vauk, president and CEO of the Idaho Foodbank, referring to the organization that runs Idaho Gives. “This is a reflection of the incredible generosity and incredible spirit of Idahoans.”
The top donation recipient last year was the Idaho Humane Society. In 2019, Idaho Gives raised more than $1.9 million.
In 2020, with more than 125,000 Idahoans applying for unemployment benefits and the federal government offering immediate funding to people in crisis due to the coronavirus, the Idaho Foodbank raked in more than twice as much money as any other nonprofit. That money came from more than 1,100 donors.
Vauk said the food bank is aware that because of the pandemic, it will see more people in crisis.
“We have seen an increase in the need for food assistance across the state,” she said. “More Idahoans are finding difficulty in meeting their basic needs.”
Idaho Foodbank has set a goal of increasing food distribution across the state by 30 percent because the need is greater than it has ever been in the organization’s history. It is distributing roughly 2.4 million pounds of food per month. That food goes to the 400 community partners across the state that feed residents.
Because actual food donations have decreased during the pandemic, the money raised through Idaho Gives can be used to purchase food.
Though the food bank received the most donations, Vauk stressed that Idaho Gives is not a competition. She was grateful to see many other nonprofits receiving much-needed money.
“We all rise together,” she said.
The second-largest donation recipient was the Peregrine Fund for the World Center for Birds of Prey, which had brought in more than $86,000 from roughly 290 donors as of Thursday afternoon.
Also in the top list of recipients were Advocates for the West, the Idaho Humane Society and the Idaho Conservation League.
Idaho Gives included 629 organizations this year, ranging from animal shelters to places of worship to medical organizations.
“2020 has been an outstanding year for Idaho Gives,” said Amy Little, Idaho Nonprofit Center president and CEO, in a news release Thursday. “I’m so excited for a strong finish to this record-breaking campaign.”
In the past, Idaho Gives has been telling of the country’s current political environment, just as this year was indicative of the economic climate. In 2017, for example, the top donation getter was Planned Parenthood.
More than $10 million has been raised by Idaho Gives since the project began in 2013. Each year, the amount of donations has increased.
