Giving Days

In Miami, a small nonprofit is inspiring the next marine scientist and bay ecosystem caretaker. Across the southwest, a large organization is working to protect the land, water, air and wildlife you depend on for daily life and our adventure get-a-ways. In Texas a volunteer board and small team is cleaning up and protecting one of the great national parks in the US national park system. Yet – nonprofits take care of these special places we visit. A team of city dwellers clear paths and do the upkeep for an urban park in Oregon, while a group of scientists and researchers work to synthesize the best data to tell our leading businesses and governments on what are the most strategic solutions on climate.

These organizations are just a few of the nonprofit participants in the early efforts of Earth Gives Day – the first US-wide singular focused giving day working to bring attention, engagement and investment in front line action of the critical climate work. This small, diverse group of 501c3 organizations from across the country trusted our start up efforts to galvanize the country around this most consequential issue AND one of the least funded issue areas.

As we began to build our database, introduce ourselves, and earn the trust of other nonprofits, we managed to bring in a modest group to help us test out the potential to get those off the sidelines and into the climate action mix. We learned plenty that year and the next, still in a part time mode. By the third year, we were able to introduce the ideas to more than 1,000 organizations, host nine professional development and eco-gathering sessions, pull together our first public training program during the giving day known as Power Hours, and celebrating dozens of new donors to individual groups across the US, bring in donations from outside the US, and inspire more than 1,110 volunteer hours for groups that have a local and global reach.

What is a giving day or giving platform and why did Earth Gives choose this technology tool?

 Nearly everyone understands what it means to give a donation. In fact, 64% of donations are made by individuals – more than dollars given by business, foundations or through other entities. The most common way people give is to donate money AND volunteer. Because environmental causes only receive 2% of all giving, yet everyone is facing the consequences of the climate emergency, we believe that providing an easy way in to find a place that fits for your climate action was called for.  

And at a moment of societal division, doing so by centering community and connection during this process is our big audacious goal. Seeing one another might make the solutions we connect people with more sticky.

Our signature event – US-wide…for now!

EARTH GIVES DAY

This effort is a 25-day catalyzing event that rallies businesses, nonprofits, philanthropists, and the public in a time-constrained, highly publicized, highly inspired effort to drive resources and attention to overlooked and underfunded environmental and climate-focused nonprofits. Giving days have raised millions, inspired thousands of volunteer hours, and built community impact.

The initiative is “gamified” through prize funds that inspire a bit of friendly competition for the nonprofits to rally more donors or dollars and receive the prize dollars on top of what they bring in. (See more on prize funds here.) The tech platform allows nonprofits to showcase what they do, invite others to set up a peer-to-peer fundraiser for them, which might only take about 10 mins, and feed off the group promotional efforts. “Early giving” starts 24 days prior to the giving day. (The largest giving day raised $66m based off a $1.5m prize fund.)

• Earth Gives partners with Neon One and its secure platform that offers a variety of turnkey engagement solutions.

• Take a look at the giving day platform here (Neon One is adding additional tools that Earth Gives will be adding in early 2024)

• For companies seeking unique ways to engage your employee teams in Earth Gives Day, email us at connect@earthgives.org and we will be happy to co-create the best pathway for you and your company’s interests.