WORKING TO ESTABLISH SIMILAR PARTNERSHIPS IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES. TOMORROW IS THE SECOND OF REGION’S LARGEST ONE DAY FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR. THE BIG DAY OF GIVING FOR THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF KCRA 3. WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR AREA MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND HERE’S A LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE SACRAMENTO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS MAKING. IT’S CELEBRATIONS LIKE THIS REALLY PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON PHILANTHROPY. THAT SUPPORT NONPROFITS ACROSS THE SACRAMENTO REGION. THOSE THAT HELP ANIMALS, THE ENVIRONMENT, VETERANS, CHILDREN, CANCER. RESEARCH. THURSDAY. THE SACRAMENTO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS CELEBRATING ITS 13TH BIG DAY OF GIVING 24 HOURS OF NONSTOP FUNDRAISING FOR HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS IN THE AREA. OF THE 900 THAT ARE PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR. ABOUT HALF OF THEM HAVE NO PAID STAFF, AND THE BIG DAY OF GIVING IS OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR. CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER KELLI SIPKIN SAYS THE FUNDRAISER WAS SPARKED AFTER A STUDY CAME OUT SHOWING SACRAMENTO WAS NOT SUPER CHARITABLE COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES. THAT WASN’T TRUE. WE DIDN’T HAVE A WAY TO SHOW IT. IN 2013, WE INVITED ARTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR 24 HOUR GIVING DAY. THEY RAISED OVER $500,000. THEY IMMEDIATELY EXPANDED IT TO MORE NONPROFITS. AND WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THE IMPACT. THE BIG DAY OF GIVING HAS MADE ON NONPROFITS THROUGH THE YEAR’S GIVING. TUESDAY IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISERS OF THE YEAR. BIG DAY OF GIVING IS SUCH A PIVOTAL POINT IN OUR GROWTH. IT’S PHENOMENAL. LIKE IT IS LITERALLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING. THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE RAISED FOR BIG GIVING, COMPLETELY UNRESTRICTED, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN USE IT WHERE THEY’RE NEEDED MOST. $117 MILLION AND COUNTING TO SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS MAKING AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. INFLATION IS INCREASING EXPENSES FOR EVERYTHING. FEDERAL GRANTS BEING CUT. THERE’S A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE RUNNING NONPROFITS ARE DOING CRITICAL WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THE ISSUES HAPPENING IN OUR REGION, PHILANTHROPY IS THE BEST PLACE TO START. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO FIND THEIR FAVORITE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND MAKE A GIFT. THE BIG DAY OF GIVING STARTS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. IT RUN
70 Years of Service: Sacramento Region Community Foundation runs largest 1-day fundraiser
Since its inception in 2013, Big Day of Giving has raised more than $117 million for Sacramento area nonprofits
Updated: 6:56 PM PDT May 6, 2026
The Big Day of Giving is considered the Sacramento region’s largest one-day fundraiser.For 24 hours, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation raises money for hundreds of nonprofits throughout Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties.”Those that help animals, the environment, veterans, children, cancer research,” said Kelly Siefkin, the foundation’s chief philanthropy officer. “If you love making an impact locally, through a nonprofit with philanthropy is a great place to start.”Since its inception in 2013, Big Day of Giving has raised more than $117 million for Sacramento area nonprofits.“The Big Day of Giving is critical for so many organizations,” Siefkin said. “Of the 900 that are participating this year, about half of them have no paid staff, and the Big Day of Giving is our largest fundraiser of the year.”Siefkin said the idea for the one-day fundraiser was sparked after a study came out showing Sacramento wasn’t as charitable compared to other major cities.“That wasn’t true, but we didn’t have a way to show it. The region foundation combined forces with some other organizations and cooked up Big Day of Giving,” Siefkin said.In 2013, Siefkin said the foundation invited arts organizations for a 24-hour fundraiser. They raised more than $500,000. “We realized we were onto something. We immediately expanded it to more nonprofits in the area, kept growing, growing and growing over time,” Siefkin said.The dollars raised through Big Day of Giving are unrestricted, which means organizations can use the money where they need it the most.“If you are concerned about any of the issues happening in our region, philanthropy is the best place to start. I encourage everyone to find their favorite nonprofit organization and make a gift,” Siefkin said.People can find a cause close to them on Big Day of Giving’s website.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Big Day of Giving is considered the Sacramento region’s largest one-day fundraiser.
For 24 hours, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation raises money for hundreds of nonprofits throughout Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties.
“Those that help animals, the environment, veterans, children, cancer research,” said Kelly Siefkin, the foundation’s chief philanthropy officer. “If you love making an impact locally, through a nonprofit with philanthropy is a great place to start.”
Since its inception in 2013, Big Day of Giving has raised more than $117 million for Sacramento area nonprofits.
“The Big Day of Giving is critical for so many organizations,” Siefkin said. “Of the 900 that are participating this year, about half of them have no paid staff, and the Big Day of Giving is our largest fundraiser of the year.”
Siefkin said the idea for the one-day fundraiser was sparked after a study came out showing Sacramento wasn’t as charitable compared to other major cities.
“That wasn’t true, but we didn’t have a way to show it. The region foundation combined forces with some other organizations and cooked up Big Day of Giving,” Siefkin said.
In 2013, Siefkin said the foundation invited arts organizations for a 24-hour fundraiser. They raised more than $500,000.
“We realized we were onto something. We immediately expanded it to more nonprofits in the area, kept growing, growing and growing over time,” Siefkin said.
The dollars raised through Big Day of Giving are unrestricted, which means organizations can use the money where they need it the most.
“If you are concerned about any of the issues happening in our region, philanthropy is the best place to start. I encourage everyone to find their favorite nonprofit organization and make a gift,” Siefkin said.
People can find a cause close to them on Big Day of Giving’s website.