We did it last year — we raised a little over $3,000 for the North Port Art Center in the first annual Giving Partner Challenge! And now we’re hoping that this year we can beat that number. But your help is needed.
There are 300 non-profits in the Sarasota County area competing for $600,000 in matching and incentive prizes in this 36-hour fundraising event. That’s almost 200 more organizations that entered last year, so the competition has gotten pretty tough. But we’re counting on our members to commit once again to helping the Art Center reach its goals.
First, a little background information - this event is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation, with sponsor organizations Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, The Charlotte Community Foundation, and Manatee Community Foundation. The purpose is to provide additional funding for local non-profits and to encourage our citizenry to donate to worthy organizations.
Beginning this Tuesday, March 5, donors can go to the Giving Challenge website and make donations of $25 or more to their favorite non-profit. If you donate online right at 7 a.m., there’s a chance your gift will be matched by the sponsoring foundations. But even if that doesn’t happen, there are round-the-clock incentives all through the 36 hours where random donations will be matched or incentive prizes will be awarded.
The most important thing is to give during the event. And we are asking all of you to donate $25 during the Challenge to support the Art Center and mark its 25-year history at the same time.
We’ve simplified the donation process for you. Here’s how to do it.
Before the Challenge begins:
To donate BEFORE the beginning of the challenge, you have two choices. You can bring a check or cash to the Art Center, and we will make the online donation for you.
Or, you can click HERE for our online form. Your credit card donation will be processed on Tuesday by a member of our staff on our secure server.
When the Challenge begins on Tuesday:
Beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. – but not before – Click HERE. This will take you to NPAC’s personal donation page especially set up for us by the Community Foundation of Sarasota. Fill it out and then submit. You’ll receive an acknowledgement from the Challenge right away, and a thank you from NPAC before the Challenge is over at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6.
That’s all there is to it. Please do what you can to help your Art Center! We’re counting on you! If you have any questions, please call NPAC at 941-423-6460.
