ECF Announces What's New for the 12th Annual Erie Gives

July 26, 2022


At today’s press conference in Perry Square, Karen Bilowith, President and CEO of The Erie Community Foundation, introduced the Erie Gives 2022 corporate partners, unveiled the record-breaking $470,000 prorated match pool and shared exciting new features of Erie Gives 2022.

“The 12th annual Erie Gives will take place on Tuesday, August 9th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and our team is ready for an exciting day of community spirit,” said Bilowith. “Erie Gives is the result of a dynamic partnership between the Foundation, our corporate partners and most importantly, the 400 plus participating Erie Gives nonprofits.”

Modeled after giving days across the country, Erie Gives was first unveiled in 2011. As a gift to the community and to celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Foundation introduced the giving day to support the nonprofit sector through both donations and the chance to build relationships with donors. Since inception, Erie Gives has raised over $40M for hundreds of local nonprofits thanks to generous donors. Last year, Erie Gives broke all records when nearly 12,000 donors collectively gave over $7M for 438 nonprofits, despite a global pandemic. Online gifts range from $25 to $100,000.

To encourage giving, the Foundation and its corporate partners create a prorated match pool which means an additional percentage is added to each gift. For example, last year when the prorated match pool was $400,000, an online gift received an extra 4% added and a gift by check included an extra 6.5%. The 2022 Erie Gives prorated match is a record-breaking $470,000 thanks to

  • Erie Insurance
  • Wabtec
  • Country Fair
  • Presque Isle Downs & Casino
  • ERIEBANK
  • Frontier General Contracting
  • Knox Law
  • UBS-The Murphy Group
  • E.E. Austin Companies
  • National Fuel

In addition, the community foundations in North East, Corry and Union City will add to the prorated match for their local nonprofits by $30K, $20K and $10K respectively.

The Foundation also announced hourly extra incentives which is new for Erie Gives 2022. Throughout the day of Erie Gives, we will randomly draw winners of special $500 grants provided by our Extra Incentive Sponsors including:

  • MacDonald Illig
  • Pressed
  • Interstate Nissan
  • Red Letter Hospitality
  • SKM
  • Allburn Florists
  • Merrill Lynch-Pfeffer, Stockard, Cacchione, Bauer
  • Jordan Financial
  • Mazza Vineyards
  • Marquette
  • CMIT Solutions

The participating nonprofit with the most donors at the end of the day will receive a $1,000 grant.

Erie Gives donors can give online, by check, by stock, by utilizing IRAs or purchasing a $1 or $5 acorn placard at Country Fair. Donors are welcome to mail in checks by August 8th. Donors need to download the check distribution form at www.ErieGives.org and send the check to The Erie Community Foundation, 459 West 6th Street, Erie PA 16507. Donors can also make a required minimum distribution gift from their IRAs by calling their advisors or the Foundation’s Philanthropic Services team at 814-454-0843.

“Every dollar adds up to make an impact, but the value of Erie Gives is immeasurable community spirit and the opportunity for the nonprofits to cultivate relationships with new and current donors,” added Bilowith.