LEXINGTON, Ky. — The preliminary numbers are in for the 2021 GoodGiving Challenge, and they reveal that $2.9 million was raised for 179 local nonprofits during the record-breaking, week-long online giving campaign that launched on Giving Tuesday, November 30.
“At Blue Grass Community Foundation, building greater community generosity is central to what we do,” said Lisa Adkins, President/CEO of Blue Grass Community Foundation. “The GoodGiving Challenge shows that people respond enthusiastically when you make giving simple, rewarding and fun. Of course we couldn’t do this without our funding partners, who helped us set new milestones for giving.”
11 Years and $17 Million Raised
Since its inception in 2011, the GoodGiving Challenge has raised $17 million total for area nonprofits. Last year, the Challenge raised $2.4 million for 126 local nonprofits through more than 13,700 gifts made. This year’s preliminary numbers show a 20 percent increase in funds raised.
With nonprofits from 14 counties in Central and Appalachia Kentucky meeting needs in health and human services, youth development, education and more participating in the GoodGiving Challenge, there was a cause for everyone to support.
“Raising $2.9 million in 7 days through raising awareness of these 179 hard-working local nonprofits is the perfect way to end the year,” said Lauren Parsons, director of strategic initiatives and communications at Blue Grass Community Foundation. “We’re thankful for the thousands of givers who rallied in support of our nonprofits and the vital services they provide across our community.”
“The Good Giving Challenge is one of my favorite weeks in Lexington. It’s exciting to participate in an initiative that ignites a spirit of giving throughout the community and creates an opportunity to invest in worthy projects and services,” said Allison Lankford, executive director of Town Branch Park, the 2021 GoodGiving Challenge’s biggest fundraiser. “We appreciate the generosity of all who participated and are grateful to have this platform to reach new donors in such a fun way.”
Matches and Prizes
The 2021 GoodGiving Challenge featured over $650,000 in matching prizes that increased gifts by as much as 50 to 100 percent. Each day of the Challenge offered opportunities to amplify gifts with matches and prizes, offered by the following sponsors:
- Clark County Community Foundation*
- Murry Foundation
- Marksbury Family Foundation
- Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund*
- Lewis Bizzack Family Fund*
- MacAdam Family Foundation*
- Thomson R. Bryant Jr. & Betty R. Bryant Fund*
- Mitchell Family Foundation*
- Hudson-Ellis Fund*
- Traditional Bank
- THE GROOVALUTION*
- Rubicon Foundation*
- Chris Stapleton’s Outlaw State of Kind Fund*
- Edith D. Gardner Charitable Fund*
- Bulleit Family Foundation*
- Evangelos “Angel” Levas Foundation*
- Mason Companies
- Salomon & Company
- Anonymous Donor*
- and Blue Grass Community Foundation
*at Blue Grass Community Foundation
The 2022 GoodGiving Challenge
Registration for the 2022 GoodGiving Challenge, set to launch on Giving Tuesday, November 29, will open on July 1. Area nonprofits can learn more about the GoodGiving Challenge and how to participate at www.bgcf.org/good-giving-challenge.
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