ERIE GIVES 2024 HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK-- RAISING OVER $9.7 MILLION!
September 19, 2024
For the 14th consecutive year, Erie Gives donors swung for the fences and hit a home run! The community-spirited event broke records in dollars and donors AND raised over $1.4 million than the previous year. A grand slam total of $9,709,602 for 513 nonprofits marks a new record and was the first time in Erie Gives history when ALL participating nonprofits received a gift from donors and Country Fair. Of the 513 nonprofits, 38 were new and collectively raised $104,492.
“As part of our three-year strategic planning process, we learned that Erie Gives is often the initial introduction to giving, to philanthropy and to the work of The Erie Community Foundation, our regional affiliates, affinity funds and The Nonprofit Partnership,” said Karen Bilowith, president & CEO of The Erie Community Foundation. “Our team, alongside the Nonprofit Partnership, began planning Erie Gives in January, all culminating for a successful 24-hour day of giving.”
Summary of Erie Gives 2024:
- For the first time ever, ALL REGISTERED Erie Gives nonprofits received a gift.
- A total of 11,237 donors gave a total of 34,763 gifts.
- 38 new nonprofits raised $104,492 and the top five were:
- (1) 88 Live to Ride Inc. $17,005
- (2) Erie’s Women Empowerment $11,230
- (3) Edinboro United Methodist Church $7,150
- (4) Faces of Erie $5,600
- (5) Avery’s Pawsitive Change Pet Food $5,060
- The largest number of gifts, 1,176, was received by the Anna Shelter for $169,894.
- 270 nonprofits received $5,000 or more.
- 184 nonprofits received $10,000 or more.
- The average donation was $264 overall. (Avg. online $138 and by check $580.)
- On average donors gave to three nonprofits at a time.
- Erie Gives received 18 donations from other countries including: Canada, Ireland, France, Germany and Sweden.
- Erie Gives received gifts from 45 different states:
- (1) Pennsylvania 32,836
- (2) New York 334
- (3) Florida 304
- (4) Virginia 80
- (5) North Carolina 73
- (6) California 65
- The gross prorated match was 5.21%.
Since inception, Erie Gives has had transaction fees. The new website platform offered donors the choice to cover fees. Over 76% of donations covered fees.
To keep the 14th Annual Erie Gives event fresh and vibrant, The Erie Community Foundation introduced many new features including a new logo, new partnerships with Country Fair and Erie Apparel, a new phone bank headquarters and new hours with the website being open for 24 hours. Plus, the Foundation hosted a Block Party to generate community spirit. Donors enjoyed lunch from the food truck, Food for Thought, which is coordinated by students from the Charter School of Excellence, took photos with local Erie mascots, enjoyed performances by the Erie High School marching band and cheerleaders and learned about various nonprofits.
“To make giving more convenient for donors in different time zones and donors who work second and third shifts, the Erie Gives website was open from midnight to midnight,” said Erin Fessler, vice president of Marketing and Community Relations. “It worked! From midnight to 8 a.m., online donations exceeded $240K, and from 8 p.m. to midnight online gifts totaled nearly $564K. The generosity from all over the country and even from other countries for Erie Gives is amazing!”
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL ERIE GIVES ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025!
Founded in 1935, The Erie Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire, engage and empower donors and communities across the region, today and tomorrow.
We envision a united, vibrant, and thriving region for all.
The Foundation signed the Nonprofit Partnership’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion Pledge in 2019 to demonstrate our commitment to our community. To learn more visit www.ErieCommunityFoundation.org.
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