(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information and to change a video.)<\/p>\n
The Erie Gives<\/a> fundraising total set a record in 2026, marking the Erie Community Foundation event’s most successful year yet.<\/p>\n The Erie Community Foundation<\/a> (ECF) announced that Erie Gives’ Aug. 11 event raised a total of $12,106,344 for local nonprofits and causes. The total was announced at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25 at UPMC Park, 110 E. 10th St.<\/p>\n The foundation said Erie Gives raised $806,344 more than in 2025, which is a 7.1% increase.<\/p>\n For 2026, the Erie Gives campaign supported 546 nonprofits and causes while seeing 31,521 donations from 11,913 donors. According to ECF calculations, donors contributed an average gift amount of $295.<\/p>\n “As we’re in the weeds with our team and as Erie Gives goes on, every year we are surprised at the results,” Karen Bilowith, president and CEO of the Erie Community Foundation said. “There’s an increase in number of givers each year so that helps drive the giving, but also you see more because givers get to know the nonprofits and they trust the mission and good work of all of our nonprofits.”<\/p>\n This year, donations came in from 45 different states as well as other countries including Canada and England.<\/p>\n In 2026, Erie Gives included 44 first-time participating nonprofits.<\/p>\n Who received the most gifts and totals from Erie Gives 2026?<\/p>\n The A.N.N.A Shelter<\/a> received the most gifts in 2026 with 1,178 donors.<\/p>\n “I was blown away and humbled, it makes me want to cry,” Ruth Thompson, executive director with the A.N.N.A Shelter said. “Seeing the amount of donors, sometimes we feel so isolated doing what we do. So then to see that many people on board and wanting to help us is amazing. I’m overwhelmingly thankful to the Erie community.”<\/p>\n The Mercy Center for Women<\/a> received the most dollars with a total of $518,662.<\/p>\n “It feels like we just won the Super Bowl, but more importantly its what the Erie Community Foundation gives back to this community,” Jennie Hagerty, executive director of the Mercy Center for Women said. “I was overwhelmed, along with my staff. It takes a team but when you listen to people share their story on how nonprofits not only show up for themselves but for one another, isn’t that the way Erie should be?”<\/p>\n For the third time in the campaign’s history, each participating nonprofit and cause received a gift from Erie Gives.<\/p>\n The 2026 Erie Gives Bonus Bucks pool reached a record of more than $639,000.<\/p>\n Frontier traffic concerns, Erie Gives, Todd Blanche | Letters<\/p>\n 1 of 10<\/p>\n The Erie Community Foundation squirrel mascot dances on East Sixth Street during an Erie Gives community celebration at the Erie Insurance campus in Erie, Pa., on Aug. 11, 2026. More than 500 nonprofit organizations benefit from donors and matching foundation funds. (GREG WOHLFORD\/ERIE TIMES-NEWS)<\/p>\n This provided each participating nonprofit with additional support, along with a $250,000 contribution to the Bonus Bucks pool from the Erie Community Foundation.<\/p>\n Community partners from North East, Corry, Union City and Findley Lake contributed another $80,000 to support nonprofits in their communities.<\/p>\n How much has Erie Gives raised for local nonprofits?<\/p>\n Since Erie Gives began in 2011, the yearly day of giving has raised a total of $89,819,095. The 16-year campaign is just short of the $90 million mark.<\/p>\n “It shows just how generous the community is,” Tim NeCastro, member of the board of trustees for Erie Community Foundation said. “We all receive gifts each year but this one conservative day a year is like wind in the sails to these nonprofits. Many of them are underfunded, and it reinvigorates these organizations and we need that. They are taking care of people who can’t take care of themselves. It shows the power of the Erie Community Foundation to galvanize the community. We raised the bar again this year so congratulations Erie, Pennsylvania.”<\/p>\n 2027 Erie Gives announced<\/p>\n The next annual Erie Gives will take place on Aug. 10 from midnight to midnight on ErieGives.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@usatodayco.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n