Nonprofit organizations in Dunn and Pepin counties have been added to a major fundraising effort by the United Way of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys: Give Big Valleys, which takes place Tuesday, April 29.
Steve McCarthy, Executive Director of the United Way of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, said Give Big Valleys is a 24-hour intensive fundraising effort that his organization sponsors and gives all 501(c)(3) organizations the tools needed to connect with donors during that period.
In July 2024, United Way St. Croix Valley merged with the Dunn County United Way to form United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, encompassing the counties of Burnett, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix. McCarthy said the United Way has sponsored a one-day fundraising event for about a decade, but it was rebranded as Give Big Valleys this year after Dunn and Pepin counties joined the organization.
“United Way provides the platform, marketing tools and exposure for the nonprofit organization to run their own fundraising campaigns,” said Sarah Weiske, United Way Director of Development. “We try to make it easy for the nonprofits to participate.”
McCarthy and Weiske said it is important for all nonprofit organizations in Dunn and Pepin counties to sign up to participate in Give Big Valleys. Nonprofits can sign up at https://www.givebigvalleys.org/.
“This is a great strategy for the nonprofits to reach their donors and give them an opportunity to raise awareness of their existence, mission and impact,” McCarthy said. “We encourage all types of nonprofits to join us in Give Big Valleys.”
Nonprofits that sign up for Give Big Valleys can use the fundraising resources on the United Way site “all year around to run fundraising campaigns” because many nonprofits can’t afford their own fundraising platforms, Weiske said. Nonprofits also are encouraged to seek matching dollars.
McCarthy said the goal is to have 125 nonprofit organizations participate, which would be 35 more than last year. The effort raised $500,000 last year, which is split among participants according to their fundraising efforts.
“In one day, that is a remarkable amount for our area,” McCarthy said. “We hope to exceed that this year.”
