The 2026 Giving Challenge Has Ended
The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online giving day hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County that connects 750-plus nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties with donors and supporters to create transformative impact. The 2026 challenge took place from noon to noon, April 15-16, 2026, with a record 751 nonprofits collectively raising more than $16.7 million in unrestricted funds.
At the heart of the Giving Challenge is a shared goal of collaboration and relationship building across sectors, bridging the diverse missions of local nonprofits and inspiring a vibrant culture of charitable giving. Being a part of the Giving Challenge can transform people and nonprofits through meaningful relationships, partnerships, and giving. To learn more about the 2026 Giving Challenge and to see prize winners, access trainings, download visual assets, and more, visit GivingChallenge.org.
Nonprofits interested in participating in future challenges must be a 501(c)(3) organization that serves in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and/or DeSoto County, and must create or maintain a current profile in The Giving Partner, the Community Foundation's centralized nonprofit directory. To learn more about the Giving Challenge and how your organization can participate, click the link below.
Since the initial Giving Challenge in 2012, nearly $110 million in unrestricted funding has been raised for local nonprofits that serve our region.
In 2026, more than $16.7 million was raised to strengthen 751 participating charitable organizations. More than 50,000 donors made 87,815 gifts totaling more than $10.3 million. An additional $6.5 million was provided by The Patterson Foundation through their generous dollar-for-dollar match.
In the aftermath of the 2026 Giving Challenge, we invited participating nonprofits to complete a survey in order to learn more about their insights and outcomes. You can see all the 2026 stats and read about nonprofit takeaways here.
Being a part of the Giving Challenge can transform people and nonprofits through meaningful relationships, partnerships, and giving.
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2026 Giving Challenge Raises $16.7 Million for Local Nonprofits
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