Christmas is coming early for the 200+ nonprofits involved in Long Beach Give’s fourth annual online fundraiser.
The biggest day of the year—stretched out to be the biggest week of the year—for Long Beach nonprofits is taking place on Sept. 22, inviting residents to support their favorite community organizations with a click of a button. The event raked in over $2 million last year, benefitting over 200 various nonprofits.
This year, Long Beach Gives has a goal of $2.2 million for its participating nonprofits and 410 grassroots fundraisers.
“We think the time is right to really expand and kind of increase what we’re doing as far as our marketing and outreach and just trying to get the word out there,” said Matthew Guardabascio, campaign manager for Long Beach Gives. “There’s a lot of people who have seen the logo … But they don’t really know exactly what we are and that was intentional. We focused very much on building something very strong within the nonprofit sector and getting that buy-in.”
There are over 15 different categories for the types of resources provided by the participating nonprofits including education, LGBTQ+, children and families, mental health, social justice, seniors and more.
Long Beach Gives stemmed from a handful of foundations—Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation, Long Beach Community Foundation, The Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation, The California Endowment, The Earl B. and Lorraine H. Miller Foundation and the Arts Council for Long Beach—who regularly give grants and sponsorships to nonprofits in the city.
“Seeing that kind of excitement is really invigorating for me because it helps me see, helps remind me that the work that’s being done by organizations in this city is—on top of being important—is exciting.”
Matt Guardabascio, Long Beach Gives campaign manager
While going through grant applications, Julie Meenan of the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation realized as the years progressed, the amount of donations from individual contributions continued to shrink.
“It stemmed from a desire to increase awareness, to help really connect individuals who live and work in the city, [and] the nonprofits that are serving the city … and help really strengthen and provide a more sustainable nonprofit sector in Long Beach,” Guardabascio said.
Long Beach Gives provides more than just funding for its participants. The citywide event increases visibility for nonprofits by connecting similar organizations with each other and using the Long Beach Gives hashtag and website to promote organizations.
“It’s just a great opportunity, especially for grassroots organizations. We’re small, we don’t have a lot of money for budgeting and we don’t even have staff,” said Maleka Chris, founder of Love Beyond Limits. “So to be a part of this … really helps us and also encourages us as leaders and executive directors to just know that there are people that are alongside us, helping us and cheer[ing] for us.”
Chris founded her nonprofit in 2013 to assist families emotionally and financially by teaching life skills to both parents and their children. The organization also provides families with school supplies, Thanksgiving dinners and a 13-step program teaching interpersonal skills such as love, respect, accountability and more.
Love Beyond Limits intentionally focuses on the entire family in order to “keep the family together and as strong as possible,” Chris said.
Love Beyond Limits is one of the nonprofits hosting events for the community throughout the week of Long Beach Gives. They will be hosting a youth flag football game on Sept. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., a small business volleyball game on Sept. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. and a nonprofit softball game on Sept. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. All games will take place at King Park at 1133 E. Rhea St.
In the first year Chris’ nonprofit participated, they were able to raise over $3,000. Last year Chris said they received over $6,200 from donations.
“Seeing that kind of excitement is really invigorating for me because it helps me see, helps remind me that the work that’s being done by organizations in this city is—on top of being important—is exciting,” Guardabascio said.
Guardabascio said that for a nonprofit to participate in the annual event, they must be established for at least three years so they have a chance to “build internally before they start looking externally.” The only other requirement is that the services provided are for residents of Long Beach or Signal Hill.
Each organization also receives up to 20 hours of professional development for any staff on their board.
Other events being hosted throughout the week include:
- Long Beach Gives will host its virtual kickoff on Sept. 19, from noon to 2 p.m.
- The Long Beach Blues Society will host a concert on Sept. 22 from noon to 8 p.m. The concert will also be streamed online.
- Bluff Park Neighborhood Association will host “A vintage night under the lamp light,” a fundraiser benefit featuring live performances, food, drinks and the chance to win prizes on Sept. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m.
- California Families in Focus will host a basketball shoot-a-thon on Sept. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Love Beyond Limits will be serving free food to-go for residents on Sept. 22 at King Park. From 6 to 11 a.m., they will be handing out pancakes, from noon to 2 p.m. they will hand out sandwiches and from 3 to 7 p.m. they will be handing out tacos. All meals will be free.
