For the 15th consecutive year, Erie Gives donors swung for the fences and hit a grand slam! With record-breaking donor participation and dollars raised, this community-wide day of giving exceeded last year’s total by more than $1.6 million. A grand slam total of $11,357,387 was raised from more than 12,000 donors, who made nearly 40,000 gifts to benefit 539 nonprofits: a new record for Erie Gives, and 34 were new nonprofits and collectively raised $140,679.
This year’s results reflect strong growth across the board:
- Total dollars raised increased by 17% over 2024, with nearly $1.6 million more contributed.
- Donor participation grew by 6.7%, with 735 more individuals stepping up to give.
- Online giving surged, jumping nearly 47% in dollars raised, with more donors and gifts than ever before, and offline giving held steady in total dollars (+0.7%).
“Erie Gives is a powerful reminder that when a community comes together, anything is possible. Our mission throughout the year is to inspire, engage, and empower our community, and Erie Gives is the epitome of inspired giving,” said Karen Bilowith, President & CEO of The Erie Community Foundation. “Now in its 15th year, Erie Gives continues to reduce barriers to giving and encourages inclusive philanthropy, proving the power of collective generosity.”
Since 2011, Erie Gives has raised more than $77.7 million to strengthen nonprofits and enrich the community. The event, powered by The Erie Community Foundation and its partners, highlights the lasting impact of generosity when a community comes together.
“Each year, Erie Gives highlights our community’s generosity. With its 24-hour format and the addition of no fees, this year’s event broke all records for both donor participation and dollars raised,” said Erin Fessler, vice president of Marketing and Community Relations.
Summary of Erie Gives 2025:
- Thanks to the $634K+ Bonus Bucks from The Erie Community Foundation and Community Partners, all fees were covered PLUS nonprofits enjoyed an extra02%!
- Together, our community gave a record-shattering $11,357,387 to 539
- For the second time in Erie Gives history, every nonprofit received a gift.
- A total of 12,604 donors made an incredible 39,998
- The ANNA Shelter ranked highest with the most gifts of 1,346 for $206,012.
- PA Free Enterprise Week topped the leader board raising the most dollars: $355,266.
- Corry YMCA received the largest single gift of $300,000.
- 34 first time nonprofits joined Erie Gives and collectively raised $140,679 and the top five were:
- PA Major Elks Projects $50,250
- Our Lady of Mercy $13,197
- Taradooles Toybox $8,500
- Erie’s Veterans Behavioral Health $8,200
- The Crate Escape Crisis Comfort $7,450
- 25 nonprofits raised at least $100,000.
- 27 nonprofits raised at least $50,000.
- 68 nonprofits raised at least $25,000.
- 68 nonprofits raised at least $10,000.
- The average donation was $273 (Avg. online $162 and offline $706.)
- The Foundation answered 863 phone calls and processed 1,848 offline donations.
- Erie Gives received gifts from 46 different states and 18 donations from 2 countries.
- To date, Erie Gives has raised $77,712,751 in 15 years!
SPECIAL THANKS TO…
Leading by example, 100% of The Erie Community Foundation Board of Trustees supported the Bonus Bucks!
GOLD BONUS BUCKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
Erie Insurance, Erie Community Foundation, Wabtec
SILVER BONUS BUCKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
Presque Isle Downs & Casino
BRONZE BONUS BUCKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
ERIEBANK, GEEDC, Knox Law Firm, The Plastek Group
COPPER BONUS BUCKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
American Tinning & Galvanizing, Custom Engineering, Logistics+, Hilbert Family, Industrial Sales & Manufacturing, Inc., MacDonald Illig Jones Britton, LLP, Merrill Pfeffer/Stockard/Cacchione/Bauer Wealth Management Group, National Fuel, Red Letter Hospitality, and VNET.
SUPPORTIVE IN-KIND PARTNERS:
Community Access Media (CAM), Colony Pizza & Catering, Cumulus Radio, Erie News Now, Erie Times News, Erie Reader, Fox 66, Go.Erie.com, Haines Printing, Happi 92.7, i-Heart Radio, LECOM Radio, Printing Concepts, Talk Erie Radio, The Nonprofit Partnership, Red Letter Hospitality, VNET, WPSE Radio, WJET TV and YourErie.com.
ERIE GIVES 2025
