Messaging The Facts Valley Gives Day is May 3, 2016. It is a 24-hour event promoting philanthropic giving in the Pioneer Valley. Valley Gives Day supports community organizations working in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Valley Gives is hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Valley Gives began as a three-year pilot in 2012. Since 2012, Valley Gives has engaged over 24,000 donors, together raising $5.8 million for over 550 nonprofits throughout the Pioneer Valley! During Valley Gives 2014 (most recent since we skipped 2015) we supported 463 organizations with $2.6 million raised from over 14,000 donors. Valley Gives participants are They include non-profits, schools and educational institutions, places of worship/religious organizations; and community groups that are fiscally sponsored by charitable organizations. The Goals of Valley Gives There are three goals for Valley Gives Day: 1. Raise unrestricted money for organizations throughout the Pioneer Valley that serve the needs and address the aspirations of our communities 2. Expand and enhance philanthropy throughout our community 3. Provide support and tools to organizations that effectively increase their capacity to raise funds, independently.. There is a limit to the amount of grants the Community Foundation can provide each year to organizations throughout the Pioneer Valley. Valley Gives is a way to enhance the sustainability of those organizations than we cannot fund directly.

Describing Valley Gives Valley Gives is a practical example of “rising tide floats all boats”. This is a day we come together as organizations, donors, businesses and sponsors , and strengthen the Valley we call home. It is a win-win opportunity. Valley Gives Day is a special day when we come together as a community to support organizations up and down the Pioneer Valley. Through the work of the hundreds of organizations and with the generosity of thousands of donors, the needs and the aspirations of our friends and neighbors are supported. We are part of a vibrant community in the Pioneer Valley, full of organizations that do good work. Valley Gives is an opportunity for everyone to come together on one day to support that work and to celebrate our community. Each year on Valley Gives Day, raises funds for the local causes that matter most to us. And a lot of giving happens in 24 hours! Valley Gives involves a full range of causes that individuals, their friends and family can support including: arts & culture, basic human needs, economic development, healthy living, environmental sustainability, education & learning. As single donor may be financially contributing to just one or more organizations but when we come together as thousands of donors, we are truly enhancing the quality of life for the entire Pioneer Valley.