EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso Giving Day returned Thursday with more participating nonprofits and increased matching funds.
Paso del Norte Community Foundation Vice President of Development Mica Short said the event has expanded significantly since it began in 2016.
Short said organizers raised $100,000 in the first year and that last year’s total was close to $3 million. The goal this year? $5 million.
Paso del Norte Community Foundation Vice President of Development Mica Short (left) with KFOX14/CBS4 Reporter Jordan Salas (right). Credit: Paso del Norte Community Foudnation
The campaign highlights the stories and missions of local nonprofits and connects them with donors.
Short said the focus is intentionally local, designed to elevate smaller organizations that can be overshadowed by national fundraising efforts.
“There is such a thing as Giving Tuesday, but our local non-profits are competing against large organizations [like] St. Jude’s or the American Heart Association that have a big following nationally,” Short said. “And it’s important to keep all of those resources that are raised here local, supporting our local community.”
Short pointed out the expanded matching opportunities.
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Short said the event has just under $540,000 in matching funds donated by private foundations, donors and corporate partners, in addition to $2.5 million in matching funds from Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and the data center going up in Northeast El Paso.
Participating organizations span a range of community needs, Short said, including animals, arts and culture, education and senior services.
El Paso Giving Day returns to help local nonprofits with more matching funds and donors. Credit: Paso del Norte Community Foundation
Short also said the fundraiser can provide flexible funding that nonprofits can use throughout the year as they are not tied or restricted to a grant.
“For a lot of these organizations, this is their largest fundraiser of the year,” Short said.
Looking ahead, Short said she hopes the event continues to grow in participation and awareness.
“We’d like El Paso Giving Day to grow every year,” she said, because it helps residents learn about local services and stay connected to causes in the community.
Early giving went on from Oct. 8 until Wednesday.
People who want to participate can go online to ElPasoGivingDay.org.
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