Giving Tuesday first emerged in 2012 as a response to the commercialization of the holiday season, inspiring people to give back to their communities and support charitable causes. Since then, it has evolved into a global movement that champions generosity and philanthropy on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
At the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, we believe that one day of giving is just not enough. Seven years ago, our dedicated team developed the Annual #GivingTuesday Fort Wayne Challenge to amplify this spirit. While we were already supporting our agency endowments through our Gifts from the Heart brochure, we wanted to create a more dynamic way to engage with our nonprofits, donors, and fundholders.
The #GivingTuesday Fort Wayne Challenge is a turnkey initiative designed to involve all agencies that hold a fund with us. We provide marketing assets and support, and the more agencies that participate, the louder our collective message becomes!
From November 1 through November 20, we challenge all nonprofits with endowment funds at the Foundation to raise funds for their endowments. We match gifts to eligible endowment funds with a 20% match. Our #GivingTuesday Fort Wayne Challenge, combined with our Gifts from the Heart brochure, has raised an impressive $2.17 million in contributions to 109 agency funds over nine years.
To make this challenge even more exciting, the top-raising organizations from our five Let’s Rise! Vision Plan pillars will receive a surprise unrestricted gift on December 3, in celebration of #GivingTuesday!
How to Give: As a donor, you can make a lasting impact by contributing to a specific endowment fund or by making a general gift. If you’re a fundholder, you can give through your Donor Advised Fund, further amplifying your philanthropic goals. Simply log in to your fundholder account or contact us to facilitate your gift.
Learn more about how to get involved and give today!
Join us in this exciting opportunity to strengthen our community and make a lasting impact together!