San Diego nonprofits say Giving Tuesday means more this year
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Nonprofits across the region are stepping up their game this year for Giving Tuesday.
Why it matters: With federal funding cuts, organizations say there is more need than ever and fewer resources, so they are hoping to bring in extra donations this holiday season.
The big picture: You can't do more with less, Pamela Gray Payton with San Diego Foundation told Axios.
- "However, I'm optimistic that many of our beloved nonprofits will see an increase in giving," she said. "San Diego is a philanthropic town. People give to organizations they care about and to causes they care about."
Friction point: Organizations that have counted on federal dollars are preparing for steep cuts to services people depend on to survive, Gray Payton said.
- "This isn't a theoretical problem, it's happening right now, and the impact will be immediate and devastating," she said.
Places to give: Organizations across the region are looking for help.
🫂 The San Diego Unity Fund was created by the San Diego Foundation in late September to help people who are facing economic hardship as federal support declines.
🍎 Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank sees higher needs around the holidays, CEO Casey Castillo told Axios.
- "Many households are still feeling the ripple effects of missed paychecks, delayed support and rising costs," Castillo said.
🧑⚖️ California Western School of Law's Community Law Project is finding it harder to get grants and private funding as other local organizations face federal funding cuts, executive director Dana Sisitsky told Axios.
- Meanwhile, the demand for their services, which include walk-in clinics for free legal assistance, has increased beyond their capacity, she said.
🚐 Jewish Family Service of San Diego provides meals through mobile delivery, senior dining groups and food pantries. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 through Wednesday.
🛋️ Humble Design San Diego furnishes and decorates homes with donated or upcycled items for people transitioning out of homelessness.
🎨 Art FORM provides art education through schools and community workshops, and accepts donated arts and crafts supplies for its creative reuse store.
🧒 ArtREACH is focused on kids with in-school and mural programs, plus accessible art classes for families. Donations will be matched for the first $5,000.
Between the lines: Most organizations collect the majority of their donations in December, Heather Milne Barger, chief marketing officer for KPBS, told Axios.
- Giving Tuesday kicks off KPBS' busiest time of the year, and this year, their needs are greater.
- Federal funding cuts to public media mean KPBS has a $4.3 million hole in its annual budget.
What they're saying: Milne Barger knows the Giving Tuesday competition is steep.
- "True, on Giving Tuesday you may be receiving an email from every nonprofit you've ever interacted with and we are all asking for a donation," she said. "It makes it harder but it's also beautiful to have one day where every person, even a small child with $5 to donate anywhere they want, feels like a philanthropist."