By Jonathan Eppley
Big Rapids Pioneer
Used with permission
BIG RAPIDS — In its first three years, the Mecosta County Community Foundation’s wildly successful Match Day event has raised more than $1.3 million for local nonprofit organizations.
In its first two years, the foundation’s marquee event raised more than $253,000 and more than $425,000, respectively. This year, it raised a whopping $638,424 for the 116 participating nonprofits and endowment funds.
The foundation recently announced the match amounts award for participating nonprofits and endowments.
KID’S CASH: Children from St. Mary’s Catholic School raised more than $300 in a penny-jar challenge between classrooms. They presented their dollar-for-dollar kid’s cash vouchers at the school’s booth during the 2012 Match Day. The money will be used to help fund the school’s recently built playground. (Pioneer photos/Jonathan Eppley)
Some of the top-earning endowments — including match funding — were St. Peter’s Lutheran School Fund, Friends of the Big Rapids Library Fund and Little Kevin Hockey Hope Fund, raising $8,375, $3,005 and $1,430, respectively. The three endowments also earned prizes $1,250, $750 and $500, respectively, for having the highest number of individual donations.
Some of the top-earning nonprofit organizations — including match funding — were Angels of Action, St. Peter’s Lutheran School and Mecosta County Senior Center, raising $33,291, $16,485 and $5,828, respectively. The three nonprofits also earned prizes $1,250, $750 and $500, respectively, for having the highest number of individual donations.
Other top-earning nonprofits include Big Rapids First United Methodist Church at $32,066, Cran-Hill Ranch at $27,799, Animal Rescue Coalition at $27,797 and WISE at $26,759. A complete listing of funds raised for area nonprofits and endowment funds is available at mecostagives.com/match-day-2012-results
Donations collected at Match Day were matched up to 50 cents on the dollar up to a certain amount from the foundation’s $50,000 match pool. All donations and match dollars “pass through” the community foundation. No fees are deducted by the community foundation.
LEARNING TO GIVE BACK: Liz Valvano, a student at Ferris State University, made a donation to Cran-Hill Ranch on Tuesday during the 2012 Match Day. Her initial donation was matched 100 percent through the Mecosta County Community Foundation’s kid’s cash program, which was new to Match Day this year.
With a theme of “Planting Seeds for a Future Harvest,” Match Day 2012 included funds earmarked specifically for donations to endowment funds or the creation of endowment funds within the foundation. The goal was to create more sustainable ways for local organizations to receive funding each year and ensure greater returns on the investment in the future. More than $44,260 was raised for endowment funds, including the match money.
Endowment funds require a minimum investment of $10,000. Organizations receive 4 percent of the total principal each year, while the amount in the fund continues to grow thanks to investment returns and interest.
In addition to encouraging the growth of endowment funds, area children were invited to Match Day to learn about the importance of giving back to the community.
Participating children who presented donations to the foundation’s Youth Advisory Council table received a voucher to give to the nonprofit or endowment fund of their choice. Each donation was matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20 per child. More than $4,200 in Kid’s Cash — including the match money — was donated to local nonprofits.
Although the community foundation is pleased with the results of Match Day 2012, its initial report of funds raised that day was incorrect. Funds that were pre-certified in the days leading up to the event were accidentally counted twice. The error resulted roughly a $100,000 difference.
“In our exuberance, we reported an unofficial result, which included lists that were added twice,” said event chair Tim Zehr, foundation first vice president. “The official numbers and reporting method has been diligently double checked.”