08 Mar 2016 Match Day a Success!
The third annual McPherson County Community Foundation can safely be considered a success. Between 7 am and 6 pm, 345 donors contributed a minimum of $25 to help one or more of the 22 participating organizations leverage $40,000 in match and $5000 in prize incentives for number of donors throughout the day.
All donations were placed in the organizations endowment fund administered by the Foundation. An endowment is invested for the purpose of producing present and future income for distribution to a named organization or donor designated annually. An organizational endowment, such as for the Match Day participants, provides a permanent income source to be used for operating, programming or special projects as determined by the organization’s board.
The match was granted to qualified organizations based on the proportional amount raised for each fund throughout the day. For example, if one organization raised 10% of the overall pool, it would receive 10% of the available match. Funds were made possible by a grant from the unrestricted Community Fund and a private donor. The unrestricted fund allows the Foundation to make grants addressing current and emerging needs with proactive grant making since donors do not place grant or use restrictions on the fund.
Each organization was given marketing material including posters, insert cards, donor letters and flyers to promote the day. The response was overwhelming and donors demonstrated they are willing to support gifts centered on building strong endowments to secure an organization’s future. Organizations and the amount received for the day are listed on the back.
“Our three year donation and matching grants total over $500,000 for McPherson County. This is an incredible amount of money generated in basically 33 hours for our local organizations. McPherson County residents should be proud of their generosity,” Goss said.
Prizes were awarded for the largest number of walk-in donors; the largest number of online donors; two random act of kindness prizes; and the largest number of new donors. They include The Cedars, $250, Circles of McPherson County $1,250, McPherson Hospital $500, Meals on Wheels $1,000, Opera House $1,000, YMCA $1,000.