Local nonprofits taking part in 'Idaho Gives' campaign

More than 500 nonprofits — including a number in Bonner and Boundary counties — have signed up to take part in Idaho’s annual day of online charitable giving, which takes place on May 5 this year.

In the two northern counties, nonprofits which have signed up to participate include:

n Bonner County — American Heritage Wildlife Foundation, Clark Fork; Memorial Community Center, Hope; Cords of Hope, Priest River; Bonner County Homeless Task Force, Sandpoint; Community Cancer Services, Sandpoint; Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Sandpoint; Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, Sandpoint; North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, Inc., Sandpoint; and Rock Creek Alliance, Sandpoint.

n Boundary County — The Pearl Theater, Bonners Ferry.

The deadline to sign up is today.

“We are thrilled to see organizations new to Idaho Gives participating for the first time, as well as organizations who have helped make this such an outstanding event over the past three years,” said Janice Fulkerson, Executive Director of the Idaho Nonprofit Center, which is presenting the event.

“Idaho Gives allows nonprofits large and small to join together to raise awareness for the critically important role that these organizations play in building stronger, healthier communities across the state.”

On the day of giving, nonprofits use events, street teams, online videos, email, social media, traditional media, and other creative tactics to elevate their profiles, call attention to their work, and raise critical funds from thousands of generous donors.

Last year, Idahoans raised nearly $1.1 million for 660 nonprofit causes from every region in Idaho, with donors from each of the state’s 44 counties pitching in to help.

Modeled after highly successful giving days in other cities and states, Idaho Gives organizers hope to see a similarly successful event this year, in terms of increased donations. The event mostly takes place online, driven by a central idahogives.org website, where donors can learn about and designate funds for nonprofits in a variety of categories. A pool of award funds will be distributed to nonprofits through random drawings and daylong contest, allowing organizations and donors to multiply their donations.

Idaho Gives is sponsored by Idaho Central Credit Union, PacificSource Health Plans, and the Idaho National Laboratory.

Information: www.idahogives.org