Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 12

n Worth noting IN THE NEWS: SMAC Celebrates 40 Years Give a Little, Get a Lot The annual Big Day of Giving lives up to its name with more than $7 million in donations this year BY Robin Epley I nspired by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation's initiative to encourage residents to donate to local charities, the annual Big Day of Giving is now a fixture on the Sacramento philanthropic scene. This massive day of local fundraising, held this year on May 4, saw more than 23,000 donors give about $7.2 million to over 600 charities. “We always get asked what our goals are,” says the Foundation's Community Im- pact Officer, Jeannie Howell. “Last year, we raised over $6 million, and we did not set a [goal] dollar amount. We just wanted to grow the event.” But Howell says the Foun- dation’s staff were blown away by the number they reached this year, accumulated over the course of more than 40,000 donations. The money raised via the campaign is unrestricted, Howell says, meaning nonprofits can raise as much as they want and use it as they see fit. Howell says she and her team at the SRCF “pore over the data every year” and something that’s been consistent has been how many new donors participate. Howell says close to 30 percent of total donors are first-time givers to that nonprofit. “That’s like gold to a nonprofit,” she says, as first time donors represent an untapped audience that the nonprofits can return to in lean times. The number of nonprofits participating each year has grown exponentially, Howell says, growing from 394 nonprofits in 2014 to 599 in 2017 The 2018 campaign will be held on Thursday, May 3. Nonprofits who want to participate will be asked to start registering as early as October 2017. “That’s really when their journey begins for the 2018 campaign,” Howell says. Registration continues through December. And her advice to nonprofits seeking to participate in the 2018 event? “Get on board early!” Howell says. She also advises interested nonprofits to craft goals and a strategy well in advance. That could be marketing to donors, increased community vis- ibility, networking with other nonprofits or just raising a whole lot of money. SNAHC Receives Large Grant for Mental Health Services The Sacramento Native American Health Center has received a $1.25 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, through the Center for Mental Health Services’ Circles of Care program. Through 2020, SNAHC will develop a program for American Indian and Alaskan Native children with mental health challenges, and their families. Wind Youth Gets a Wind Fall The Golden 1 Credit Union announced in July it will donate $1 million over the next three years to fund the Wind Youth Service’s new service center for homeless teenagers, slated to be built inside an existing office space in downtown Sacramento. The new facility is planned to open in Fall 2017. Sacramento Ballet Announces a New Artistic Director The Sacramento Ballet has announced the appoint- ment of Amy Seiwert as Artistic Director for the company’s 2018-19 season. Seiwert was a dancer with the Sacramento Ballet from 1991-1999, and was previously the Resident Choreographer of Smuin Ballet for eight years, and owner of San Francisco-based modern dance company, Amy Seiwert Imagery. California Nonprofits Day Returns for the Second year The California Association of Nonprofits hosted the second annual California Nonprofits Day celebration at the State Capitol in Sacramento on June 28, 2017, honoring nonprofits across the state. The nonprofits were selected by their local legislator and honored at a luncheon. Have something to say? Email us. [email protected]. 12 CAPITAL REGION CARES 2017 | comstocksmag.com In 2017, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Com- mission is celebrating 40 years of grants and support for local arts. Between 2015 and 2016, the Arts Commission awarded $1,090,660 to 90 organizations, and in 2017, they anticipate granting more than $840,000 to 80-90 more, through three grant programs.