Erie Gives 2023: Unveiling Corporate & Community Partners, Bonus Bucks Match Pool, and Exciting New Features

July 25, 2023


With the support of corporate and community partners, The Erie Community Foundation announced the details of 13th Annual Erie Gives 2023, which will take place on Tuesday, August 8th from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The community-spirited day of giving takes place the second Tuesday in August online at www.ErieGives.org, and at the Foundation, 459 West 6th Street, where donors can drop off checks in support of their favorite nonprofits. Donors can give online, by check or by using their IRA’s RMD.

“Every day at The Erie Community Foundation we help inspire, engage and empower donors and communities to create a united, vibrant region,” said Erie Community Foundation President & CEO Karen Bilowith. “Erie Gives is an important part of this mission as it is a way to engage hundreds of donors in the great work of our region’s nonprofit organizations – all leading to a healthier, more economically vibrant and culturally rich community.”

Over its 12-year history, Erie Gives has raised over $48.3M for local nonprofits. The year 2023 marks the 13th anniversary of Erie Gives, which was first introduced in 2011 to celebrate the Foundation’s 75th anniversary. Erie Gives provides vital financial support to nonprofits and helps nonprofits cultivate lasting relationships with new donors.

“As of today, 467 nonprofits are registered for Erie Gives and 39 are new to Erie Gives,” Bilowith added. During the press conference, Bilowith introduced the corporate partners for Erie Gives Bonus Bucks, formerly the pro-rated match pool. Those sponsors include: Erie Insurance, Wabtec, Presque Isle Downs and Casino, Knox Law, UBS The Murphy Advisory Group, ERIEBANK, National Fuel, Custom Engineering Co., GEEDC-Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation, Bill and Becky Hilbert and Sarah McWilliams. “Their collective support has generated a remarkable BONUS BUCKS match pool of $455,000!” Bilowith said. “Those dollars will be distributed to the participating nonprofits based on percentages of dollars raised at the end of the day.”

The Foundation also recognized the community partners who provide the hourly extra incentives for Erie Gives. Throughout the day, Erie Gives nonprofits will be randomly selected to receive $500 grants provided by Allburn Florist, Altair Real Estate, Cafe 7-10, CMIT Solutions, Erie Beer, JTM Foods, MacDonald Illig, Marquette Savings Bank, Mazza Wine, Pfeffer/Stockard/Cacchione/Bauer Wealth Management Group, Red Letter Hospitality and SKM & Co. The community partners provide $6,500 of extra grants.

The Erie Community Foundation representatives announced the details of the Parking Lot Party, which will take place on Erie Gives, Tuesday, August 8th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During that timeframe, donors can enjoy lunch from the food truck, Food for Thought, which is coordinated by students from the Charter School of Excellence, take photos with local Erie mascots to post on social media, enjoy fun yard games with co-workers and other community-minded members, and drop off any last-minute check donations. Donors also can submit the name of a favorite nonprofit to win a random drawing of a $500 grant, which will take place on Facebook live at 1:30 p.m.

Over the 12-year history of Erie Gives, over $48.3 million has been given to nonprofits:

Year

Nonprofit

Donors

Amount Raised

2011

212

2,770

$776,435

2012

257

3,843

$1,233,888

2013

301

4,613

$1,738,236

2014

313

5,465

$2,271,693

2015

336

6,466

$2,843,371

2016

354

7,395

$3,451,087

2017

374

7,685

$4,427,877

2018

386

7,945

$4,471,123

2019

393

8,976

$5,569,161

2020

422

11,482

$6,358,146

2021

438

10,808

$7,057,176

2022

467

11,234

$8,178,207

For more information about Erie Gives 2023, including how to participate and support favorite nonprofits, please visit ErieGives.org.