Giving Day Created in Response to COVID-19

Support Nonprofits in Linn County on May 5, 2020 for #GivingTuesdayNow

Toyota Provides 1:1 Matching Gift Up to $25,000

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is encouraging community members, families and businesses to support nonprofits in Linn County by participating in #GivingTuesdayNow. The global day of giving takes place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to community needs caused by COVID-19.

“Nonprofit organizations are facing unprecedented challenges to meet the demand for their services and to sustain their organizations during this time,” said Michelle Beisker, Senior Vice President of Development at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. “This day of giving provides a time for Linn County residents to show their support of their community.”

On May 5, community members are encouraged to give to nonprofit organizations they have always supported, and to consider giving to new needs emerging from the pandemic.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation opened the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund in mid-March to provide rapid response grants to help minimize the impact of COVID-19. Since then, needs have continued to grow.

Carrie Walker, Nonprofit Network Manager at the Community Foundation explains, “Not only are there new challenges for nonprofits in the health and human services sector, there are also challenges for arts and culture, environment, and education organizations. They are all experiencing a need for resources to serve our community and sustain their operations. Each of these sectors are important to our community vibrancy and recovery.”

To encourage giving, Toyota is providing a 1:1 match up to $25,000 for donations made for #GivingTuesdayNow.

“Together, we can help support the critical work nonprofits are providing right here in our community,” said Joe Trabucco, general manager, Toyota Financial Services in Cedar Rapids. “Through this match campaign, we want to encourage others to give and rally as a community to meet the increased needs.”To contribute to the Toyota matching gift, make a contribution to the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation here.

Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, says, “As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities.”

For more details about #GivingTuesdayNow, visit now.givingtuesday.org.

For youth and families interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas.

To download #GivingTuesdayNow social media images designed for Linn County, click here.

To make a contribution eligible for the Toyota matching gift to the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, click here.

For information about the Community Foundation’s response to COVID-19, click here.