Community Shares of Wisconsin (CSW) has announced it will host the 2016 Big Share™ on Tuesday, March 1, to benefit 70 local nonprofits that are building a fair, just community and protecting our environment.
The Big Share is a 24-hour online fundraising event in support of Community Shares’ nonprofit groups. Now in its second year, The Big Share is an easy, flexible way to donate to and learn more about organizations that help our community. From a single web page, donors can select from among all 70 nonprofits and direct their gifts to the causes they care most about.
Community Shares launched The Big Share in 2015, collectively raising over $232,000 from 1,750 donors. CSW member nonprofits raised much-needed funds to support their missions, while also increasing their skills and knowledge of online fundraising and social media outreach.
Cash prizes from local businesses will offer nonprofits and donors a way to increase the impact of any single gift. This year’s business partners that are offering incentive prizes or hosting special events throughout the day include Mini of Madison, ZenDesk, Home Savings Bank, Delta Properties, National Guardian Life, MG&E, Sprinkman Real Estate, Madison Community Foundation, Supranet, Plan B, Java Cat, Yelp and others.
“The results of the 2015 Big Share show that donations of any size can have a collective impact,” said CSW Executive Director Crystel Anders. “Beyond the funds raised, The Big Share engaged new individuals in the work of our members. Participating organizations were able to connect with new supporters and reconnect with past donors—all thanks to the viral nature of this online giving day.”
The Madison Community Foundation will again serve as partnering sponsor of The Big Share, contributing both funding and leadership.
“In its inaugural year the Big Share raised significantly more than planned,” said Bob Sorge, Madison Community Foundation President. “That’s a great testament to all the partners who participated in the day – and particularly to Community Shares. We have March 1 highlighted on the calendar. We will participate. We will give. And we invite the community to join us.”
A key reason for the success of The Big Share is the training and technical assistance offered by CSW to its member nonprofits in the areas of online fundraising and social media campaigns. CSW can provide this, thanks to sponsorship from MG&E and a generous grant from The Evjue Foundation, which supports CSW’s long-standing partnership with the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Student interns from that department, as well as UW staff, provide additional expertise and support to CSW and its members. Furthermore, UW-Madison students receive real-world experience in strategic communications and project evaluation.
