In a year when nonprofit organizations experienced significant losses of income opportunities, the Extraordinary Give (ExtraGive) hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF) is of particular importance. For 24 hours, beginning at 12:00:01 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, individuals may make donations via credit card to participating nonprofits at http://www.extragive.org. To inspire generous donations, LCCF has solicited sponsors for more than $500,000 in matching funds and other prizes.
"Every year we have a stretch goal. That allows people to 'give extra,'" explained LCCF communications manager Aaron Spangler.
With the assistance of the stretch goal, last year's ExtraGive raised $10.9 million, for a total of $53.5 million since the event's inception in 2012. The hope is that the 2020 ExtraGive will do as well or better. Spangler noted that when the shutdown was announced in March, the ExtraGive organizers knew that this year's event would be different.
"We were a little unsure about how everything was going to go," Spangler commented, "but we have more sponsors this year than ever before."
More than 500 nonprofits will participate in the upcoming ExtraGive. To qualify, potential participants must serve Lancaster County residents, be registered 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing, and have independent audits or reviews.
In typical years, about 80 to 100 ExtraGive social events are held across Lancaster County during the 24 hours. However, this year, LCCF is requiring organizations to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, so Spangler anticipates fewer socials. To encourage participants to adapt, LCCF will award a creativity prize after the event, and it has posted downloadable photo props and social media images that individuals may use at home at http://www.extragive.org/info/downloads.
"At its core, ExtraGive has been a digital event," Spangler said. "From a pure mechanics standpoint, nothing has changed from past years, but it's no secret that it won't feel quite the same this year."
Rather than host an in-person countdown to the close of the event, LCCF will present a live webcast from 5 p.m. to midnight. It will feature entertainment and spotlights of participating nonprofits so viewers may find new causes to support. A special broadcast with WGAL and Choice Live from Lititz will air from 9 to 10 p.m. Community members are invited to submit videos and post on social media with #IGiveExtra to say why they are participating in the ExtraGive for inclusion in the webcast. Submission information is available at http://www.extragive.org/info/extragivecast.
"Even though we can't be together, we want to build the ExtraGive CAST together," Spangler remarked. "We want folks to really feel like they're prime players in the day. It's their excitement and enthusiasm that has made the ExtraGive as successful as it has been over the years in Lancaster County."
For more information about the ExtraGive, readers may contact Spangler at aspangler@lancfound.org or 717-397-1629, ext. 113.
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