At the end of 2015, each of the organizations featured on www.NativeGiving.org participated in a $500 Matching-Gift Challenge with incentive awards for highest number of gifts and most funds raised. Created by and for Native people, this giving platform exists to raise awareness of the remarkable initiatives that are making a real difference in the lives of Native children and families at the grassroots level.
Each of the participating organizations worked very hard during the campaign to conduct local outreach in creative ways via social media, email marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising by staff members — and even a booth at a community market on Molokai!
We are delighted to report that all eight participating organizations met their goal of $500 during the Matching-Gift Challenge. Congratulations to STAR School, Leadership Institute at the Santa Fe Indian School, Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Oyate Teca Project, Sust’ainable Molokai, Tewa Women United, College of Menominee Nation, and Zuni Youth Enrichment Project!
The participating organizations received training in emarketing, peer-learning opportunities and received technical assistance to prepare for the campaign. “The help of everyone made this possible! Congratulations to everyone for taking risks and all the encouragement,” said Tewa Women United Executive Director Corrine Sanchez.
The NativeGiving.org cohort raised a total of $14,176 during the campaign period with a total of 201 gifts. With the matching-gift incentives, that’s a total of $20,176 to further the missions of these high-impact organizations!
The two incentive awards – one for the highest number of gifts and one for the most funds raised – went to:
- Award for Highest Number of Gifts for the Matching Campaign: Tewa Women United (Española, New Mexico) with 84 gifts during the campaign.
- Award for Most Funds Raised for the Matching Campaign: Sust’ainable Molokai (Kaunakakai, Hawaii) raising $5,305.
NativeGiving.org was developed by First Nations Development Institute to maximize its national influence and direct more investments to worthy nonprofits in Native America such as those featured on this site.
By Eileen Egan, First Nations Associate Director of Development & Senior Program Officer