Pick.Click.Give. Nonprofits Translate Winnings into Community Impact

Posted May 2, 2018
By The Alaska Community Foundation via Alaska Business
See original story here.

(Alaska Business) Five hard-working organizations gained more than they bargained for from this year’s Pick.Click.Give. (PCG) cycle. Alaskan Animal Rescue Friends, Ocean View PTA, Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Alaska SeaLife Center all won awards from The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) ranging from $1,000-$2,500 thanks to their achievements in new donor acquisition.

For many Alaskans, PCG is their gateway to philanthropy, making it necessary for nonprofits to encourage those who might not otherwise give to take advantage of the program’s convenience. In 2018, ACF offered prizes in three categories for nonprofits showing the greatest commitment to donor retention and acquisition. The table below demonstrates how each nonprofit competed against its 2017 records, proving its ability to increase donors in 2018. A tie between Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention resulted in an additional award.

Credit: TO THE RESCUE PHOTOGRAPHY/AARF

Alaska Animal Rescue Friends (AARF) won in the New Nonprofit category, which awards $1,000 to the nonprofit able to raise the most pledges in 2018 during their first year of participation with PCG. AARF managed to raise $9,200 in their first year of the PCG program.

CREDIT: ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER

The winning nonprofits are eager to put the funds to good use within their communities. Nancy Anderson of the Alaska SeaLife Center shares how far the extra cash will go: “$2,500 will feed a rescued sea otter for 5 months, or provide 12 distance learning classes, or will feed the birds in our aviary for a month.” Organizations like Ocean View PTA and Juneau Arts & Humanities Council plan to add the funds to ongoing projects. Jessica Newell of Ocean View PTA states “All of the Pick Click Give donations go to a playground fund….we plan to add this $2,500 to that fund.” Nancy DeCherney of Juneau Arts & Humanities Council has plans “…to use this wonderful prize to help fund free summer events for families, weekly on Friday evenings.”

CREDIT: AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

PCG donations are unrestricted, meaning the nonprofits can use them to best serve their mission. Often, these funds make additional community programming possible. Dennis Lasley of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is excited to turn their winnings into statewide programming opportunities: “The Alaska Chapter is going to use the $2,500 to provide free suicide prevention and awareness trainings across the state.” No matter how Alaskans decide to give- to animals, children, education, or public health – money raised through the Pick.Click.Give. program continues to impact our communities across the state. For those still wishing to make a contribution, PCG pledges can be made through August 31 at pfd.alaska.gov.