The final tally for this year’s El Paso Giving Day fundraiser hit a record $7.2 million, surpassing last year’s total by $5 million and benefiting hundreds of nonprofits in the region.
“This has been the most raised in the 11 years that El Paso Giving Day has taken place,” said an elated Kellie Burns-Franco, director of engagement at the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, which manages the fundraiser.
More than 13,000 individual donations have been committed and will be distributed to 309 participating nonprofits.
“The community really showed up,” she said. “The nonprofits themselves also ran fabulous campaigns. They were innovative and motivated. This translates to donations going back to nonprofits to meet their goals for their missions.”
Founded in 2016, El Paso Giving Day is the area’s largest online charitable event. The annual campaign highlights the work of nonprofit organizations and mobilizes a network of donors to raise money through direct donations and matching funds.
This year’s Giving Day was Oct. 15.
“Giving Day is really to bring greater visibility about the important work done by our nonprofit community, and for nonprofits to raise funds, and share their stories, connect with new supporters and engage with existing donors,” Burns-Franco said.
This year’s record fundraising was due in part to a $2.5 million matching contribution from Meta’s The Future is for Everyone fund.
Other matching fund donors included the Hunt Family Foundation, the Shiloff Family Foundation, the Melinda and Meyer Marcus Family Foundation and Marathon Petroleum.
Six local nonprofits declined Meta’s funding, likely because of the tech giant’s development of a controversial data center in El Paso. They are the Border Network for Human Rights, Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach, Desert Spoon Food Hub, La Fe Preparatory School and Muttlove Dog Rescue.
“While these nonprofits opted out of receiving Meta funds, and we respect their decision, they proceeded to participate in El Paso Giving Day,” Adriana Candelaria, director of communications for Paso del Norte Health Foundation, said in an email.
Meta did not respond to inquiries on its matching donation.
With this year’s Giving Day wrapped up, the results show that El Paso steps up “when it comes to our nonprofit community,” Burns-Franco said.
“Seeing this year’s generosity and people coming out with their support, it was really encouraging,” she said. “We hope it inspires people to stay connected and to continue to give throughout the year.”