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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.

Category Prize 2017 Donors 2018 Donors Increase Winner
Nonprofits earning $0-$1,000 $2,500 13 25 15 Ocean View PTA
Nonprofits earning $1,001-$5,000 $2,500 43 68 25 Juneau Arts and Humanities Council
Nonprofits earning $1,001-$5,000 $2,500 56 81 25 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Nonprofits earning $5,001+ $2,500 335 382 47 Alaska SeaLife Center


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.

 


Permanent Fund Division Expects Slightly Less PFD Applicants Than Last year

Posted March 28
By Cameron Mackintosh at KTUU
See original story here.

 

ANCHORAGE (KTUU) – Just a few days remain before the deadline to file for the 2018 Permanent Fund Dividend, which could be one of the largest in history after the House approved a $2,700 dividend Monday night.

The payout would be second only to that of 2008, when Alaskans received an additional $1,200 on their dividend checks. That money was taken out of the state treasury in a effort to offset the rising cost of fuel, a proposal by then-governor Sarah Palin. The total dividend that year was more than $3,200.

According to the Permanent Fund Division, the possibility of a full dividend in 2018 spurred many Alaskans to file their applications on Tuesday. Lines at the PFD offices in Anchorage and Juneau were out the door.

As of 7pm Tuesday evening, around 498,000 PFD applications had been submitted, which officials said is actually more than at the same time last year. The division expects to receive tens of thousands more applications before Saturday, though the total number of filers is expected to decrease slightly for the third year in a row.

Meanwhile, Pick. Click. Give. this year expects about 26,000 Alaskans to donate some or all of their PFD money, for a total of about $2.5 million in donations. That figure is similar to last year.

However, while the organization has seen a downtrend in its fundraising efforts since 2015, program manager Sofia Fouquet said the dollar amount per donor continues to rise.

This year’s deadline for PFD applications falls on a Saturday, when PFD offices will be closed. Friday will therefore be the last day anyone can receive in-person assistance on their applications. Any documents that need to be mailed must be postmarked on or before March 31.


Alaskans May Be More Generous in Times of Economic Hardship -Alaska Business Monthly

Posted March 14, 2018
Alaska Business Monthly feat. Sofia Fouquet
See original story here.

 

If you were in Anchorage, Bethel, Haines, Homer, Juneau, Seward, Sitka, Petersburg, or Wasilla two weeks ago, there’s a good chance you heard or saw nonprofits promoting local philanthropy in partnership with Pick.Click.Give. (PCG).

March 1 ushered in rallies, radio interviews, community discussions, and loads of photos as nonprofits across the state came together to encourage Alaskans to give locally this winter.
If you were in Seward, you heard Allison Fong talking shop on KIBH; those heading to the grocery store in Sitka probably had a friendly chat with local volunteers offering to help with the technical end of a PCG donation; the lucky folks in Haines might have joined in on a community brown bag lunch where nonprofits could celebrate PCG experiences before taking a publicity shot in front of the library; and if you were heading to Homer you might have seen some enthusiastic sign waivers.

Friday, March 2 told an interesting story. Statewide daily contributions to the PCG program spiked by 1% the day after the rally and cumulative giving (the percentage of all Alaskans who have applied for a PFD and who have contributed through the program) went from 4.24% on Thursday to 4.28% by Monday morning. As of this report, the average pledge per donor sits at $103.99, nearly $4 more than the average pledge per donor in 2015, when the expected dividend was twice as much as it is now.

The purpose of PCG day is remind Alaskans that now more than ever is the time to support local nonprofits and organizations that provide services to community members among us. Whether it’s providing a hot meal, caring for rescued animals, or creating a place for children to read books after school, Alaskan nonprofits enrich our communities on a daily basis. The nonprofit sector, perhaps best known for ‘tightening its belt’ and ‘doing more with less’, is feeling today’s economic hardship as much, if not more than the rest of us. A $25 donation, given directly or through PCG, might mean ten more meals in your local shelter, or several new books in your local libraries.

You can still take part in PCG Day by making a pledge through PCG when you apply for your PFD online at pfd.alaska.gov. For those who have already applied for your PFD, you can make a donation on the same website through August 31; just log in to your account and follow the green button.

Want to hop on the philanthropy train, but not sure who to give to? Check out the Pick Tool at pickclickgive.org for a fast and easy way to choose your next favorite nonprofit.

 

 

 


Juneau nonprofits rally for Pick.Click.Give donations

Posted March 2, 2018 07:08 am
By Gregory Philson Juneau Empire
See original story here.

      

Making people aware of a simple charitable donation brought out a group of sign-holders braving the early-morning wind encouraging people to “Pick.Click.Give” at the Douglas Bridge stoplight Thursday morning.

The Alaskan Community Foundation, in partnership with several Juneau nonprofits, hosted the rally as a way to raise awareness of PCG. PCG encourages Alaskans to support charities by donating a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividend.

“This rally is really a way to encourage people to participate in PCG,” Saralyn Tabachnick, Executive Director of AWARE, and who serves on the operations board of the Foraker Group said. “We want people to keep it in their thoughts and to donate to causes that are important.”

The rally is in its second year throughout the state, but this is the first time it is happening in Juneau.

Tristan Knutson-Lombardo, Executive Director at Southeast Alaska Independent Living and a participant on the statewide committee for PCG, explained this is a key time of the year for the rally to happen.

“The busiest times of the year for people to file for their PFD are the first two weeks of January and the first two weeks of March because March is the last month to file,” he said.

The program has grown over the years, with 2015 being the biggest year to date as 33,421 people contributed $3,330,250. Last year, 26,128 people contributed $2,702,450, according to Sofia Fouquet of the Alaska Community Foundation.

Last year, Alaskans pledged $2.5 million, but if everyone participated, it would grow substantially. Knutson-Lomabrdo said since PCG started in 2009, almost $18.9 million has been donated across the state and Juneau had $26,000 donated to locally-based nonprofits. SAIL received $9,450 last year and has received $64,753 total, according to the pickclickgive.org.

“If everyone who applied for the PFD gave the minimum of just $25, it would accumulate to $15 million dollars donated to nonprofits,” Tabachnick said. “It is a simple and very meaningful way to give. Most people really don’t miss the money they give. It is a nice way to give without having to dig too deep into your pockets.”

Julie Hamilton, treasurer on the board at Cancer Connection, said she understands that some people probably have an idea in mind with what to do with their PFD, but expressed that even if people contribute a little, it will help. Cancer Connection received $5, 075 last year and $51,800 total through the program.

“People have thought out what they are going to do with their PFD check,” Hamilton said. “They may not want to take a piece out of that pie, but even if they donate $25, it really adds up.

Mandy Cole, of AWARE, said she came out to the rally because she wanted to express how important it is to help the community nonprofits. AWARE received $20,983 last year and has received $165,803.37 total, according to the pickclickgive.org.

“It’s a super easy and kind of fun thing to do,” Cole said of PCG. “There are so many organizations in town that do so much and this is way to show your support and show that you care.”

The morning rally was the first of three PCG events held in Juneau Thursday. There was also a group photo at the State Capitol which included Juneau PCG nonprofits and supporters. Another rally occurred at the Douglas Bridge intersection between 4:15-5 p.m.