WHAT IS ANNIE B'S COMMUNITY DRIVE?

In 2007, NVCF launched an innovative program, Annie B’s Community Drive, to stimulate private giving to local nonprofits. Through Annie B’s, NVCF is offering challenge grants that provide a percentage grant for donations received during the period August 1 through September 30. Any local nonprofit organization is eligible to participate. During 2008, 167 organizations were involved.

In 2007, and again in 2008, a grant pool of $100,000 was made possible with significant contributions from community members, businesses, and service clubs. An anonymous donation of $50,000 per year has provided half the grant pool.

Advantages of donating through Annie B’s

•    Consolidates giving into one campaign that is open to all local nonprofits.
•    Encourages donations from community members.
•    Encourages nonprofits towards greater self-sufficiency and sustainable income.
•    Promotes cooperation among local nonprofits and supports a community-wide effort.

Co-Challengers make a contribution of at least $5,000.  As a Co-Challenger, you would be among a small group featured prominently in all Annie B’s events and promotional material, including display of your logo in our advertising and a thank you flyer that goes to all 4000 donors. Co-Challengers are also featured at the Annie B’s Celebration at the Chico City Plaza on October 17, when campaign results are announced.

Co-Challengers have included the following: Prudential California Realty, Pacific Gas & Electric, New Urban Builders, SAFOR Corporation, Merrill Lynch (Stuart Murray), Holbrook’s Clearance Center, and the Cootsona Family.

Sponsors make a contribution of at least $1,000. As a sponsor, you would be listed in all promotional material, including Annie B’s advertising and a thank you that goes to all 4000 donors. Sponsors are also featured at the Annie B’s Celebration at the Chico City Plaza on October 17, when campaign results are announced.

Sponsors include the following: Tittle & Co Accounting, Stoner and Jeffers Accounting, Smuckers Quality Beverages, Soroptimist International, Noon Exchange Club, UBS Financial Services, Sweeney Family, Lundberg Family Farms, Rollie and Phyllis Berger, Richard Matson Law Firm, Stewart Humphreys Burchett & Molin Law Firm, and the Nishio Family.

 $2 MILLION IMPACT

Following are a few examples of the services funded through the 167 nonprofits participating in Annie B’s Community Drive in Butte, Glenn, Tehama and Colusa Counties.

•    Addressing agricultural waste issues
•    Supporting local families with seriously ill children
•    Helping homeless veterans
•    Providing Meals on Wheels in Chico and Paradise
•    Supporting the Butte County public libraries Literacy Program
•    Supporting a variety of school programs K-12
•    Providing scholarships for graduating High School students
•    Bringing jobs to the North Valley region.
•    Supporting volunteer fire companies
•    Providing compassionate in-home care for people with advanced life-limiting illnesses
•    Providing innovative art exhibits and performances
•    Supporting local environmental efforts
•    Supporting the Volunteer Center that is connecting community elders with local nonprofits
•    Building affordable houses
•    Helping students prepare science fair projects
•    Promoting tolerance for diversity in our community
•    Supporting a variety of health related causes
•    Supporting local museums and arts organizations
•    Promoting youth development for at risk youth

IMPLEMENTATION

The Annie B’s Community Drive is named to honor Annie Bidwell, wife of John Bidwell, a California pioneer, and founder of Chico. Their philanthropic efforts set a high standard for succeeding generations, a standard we hope to emulate.

During the Annie B’s Community Drive, participating nonprofits ask donors to make contributions to NVCF in the name of that designated organization. At the end of the two month campaign, donations are tallied. Nonprofits receive 100% of all their donations, plus a portion of the grant funds, which are distributed in proportion to the total amount donated. To be fair to all organizations participating, only the first $25,000 in donations for any single organization are eligible for this percentage match.

All local nonprofit organizations are eligible to participate in Annie B’s. During 2008, 167 local nonprofits participated, covering diverse community needs. We expect 200 organizations to participate this third year.

The Annie B’s Community Drive has been made possible with a gift of $250,000 from one (anonymous) source, to be dispersed as percentage grants over five years. This five year commitment provides an opportunity to solidly launch the program through a period of introduction and to increase community support and awareness in the future. The lead donors feel that their gift (of $50,000 per year) serves as a “challenge” for others with substantial means to contribute to the pool available for distribution as percentage grants to participants.

NVCF has targeted local businesses and individuals with the capacity to give at least $5,000 and be featured as “Co-Challengers”. In addition, smaller donations are welcome. During the 2008 campaign, sponsorships came from six Co-Challengers and twelve “sponsors” for a total of $50,000.

The most important measure of success of Annie B’s is the volume of donations generated through the efforts of participating nonprofits. We were surprised when donations reached $787,000 during the first year, with 2200 donors participating. The second year brought substantial growth, with $1,200,000 in donations from close to 4000 donors.

NVCF is spending $6,000 for marketing the 2009 Annie B’s campaign. This is funded entirely by the lead donor, in addition to the $50,000 donation provided for grants. We also enjoy widespread participation from the local media, with an estimated $25,000 in ads donated by radio, TV and print media.

In addition to the traditional donation method of mailing checks, we offer on line donations on the NVCF website. All participating organizations that have the ability are also offered the option of creating a link on their home page. This is especially useful for smaller organizations lacking this capacity.

The Annie B’s campaign ends with the final deadline for donations on September 30. Organizations will learn the total of their donations during a culminating celebration on Saturday, October 17, at the Chico City Plaza. In addition to announcing the total donation results, this event encourages participating organizations and sponsors to display information on their services. This celebration also includes musical performances by participating nonprofits, such as the Children’s Choir of Chico.

GOALS OF ANNIE B’S COMMUNITY DRIVE

•    Raises the level of philanthropy in the region by educating donors, potential donors, businesses, etcetera, about the needs of the nonprofit sector, and the good works being done by nonprofits with the support of local donors.

•    Encourages donors to support the local causes they care about. The percentage grant is an incentive for donors to start giving and/or give more, than they might otherwise. Approximately $2,000,000 in donations from community members were contributed to local organizations during the first two years (2007 & 2008) of the Annie B’s Community drive. Surveys indicate approximately 25% of these donations would otherwise not have been made without the incentives offered by the Annie B’s Community Drive.

•    Encourages cooperation among nonprofits that are working towards a common goal, maximizing giving through Annie B’s. This is the first program of its kind to unite all local nonprofit organizations in one concerted fundraising effort. In 2008, 167 nonprofits participated.

•    Establishes NVCF as a source of funds for local causes. NVCF distributed $200,000 in grants through the first two Annie B’s Community Drives in 2007 & 2009. This provides an opportunity for NVCF to distribute grants to a wide range of local organizations.

•    Encourages nonprofits to diversify revenue sources. In addition to special events and grants, private donations should be a key revenue source for nonprofits. This program gives nonprofits at all stages of development the tools and incentive to expand donations as a source of revenue.