(Gettysburg, PA: 12/13/2024) — The November 7, 2024 Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree saw donors making larger gifts to a greater number of nonprofits than in prior years. In total, $3,613,000 was donated to 105 nonprofits. Of that, $1,000,000 was donated as “forever gifts,” adding to endowments to benefit the nonprofits designated by the donors. This year, thousands of donors gave to an average of five different nonprofits each, nearly twice the number in prior years.
Community Foundation CEO Ralph Serpe noted that this year the Giving Spree was preceded by a series of nonprofit information sessions held at Adams County Library branches across the county during October. “The turnout at these sessions and the social media reach was beyond our expectations. People wanted to learn about the nonprofits that make a difference in Adams County and identify those they’d like to support.”
Endowment Milestones
This Giving Spree coincided with the Community Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Campaign, a drive to raise $40 million for Adams County. Reaching this goal would triple the Community Foundation’s annual grants. Giving Spree donors who made “forever gifts” participated in the Campaign, as their gifts were added to endowments at the Community Foundation benefiting individual nonprofits. These designated endowments provide an annual grant to the nonprofit once its endowment reaches $10,000.
This year, “forever gifts” from Giving Spree donors reached $1 million and lifted 50 nonprofits past the $10,000 mark, enabling them to receive the first of their annual grants on February 14, 2025.
Prizes and Incentive Matches
The Community Foundation awarded prizes to the nonprofits that saw the greatest percentage increase in endowment giving during the Giving Spree. This year, East Berlin Area Community Center took the top spot, followed closely by Upper Adams Food Pantry, Adams Christian Prison Ministries, Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs, Inc., Gettysburg Civic Chorus, and Healthy Adams County. Eight other nonprofits ranked in the top tier for growth in endowment giving and received endowment prizes: Adams County Farmers Market, Adams County Library System, Adams Rescue Mission, Gettysburg Garden Club, Main Street Gettysburg, Ruth’s Harvest Littlestown, SCCAP (South Central Community Action Programs), and Thaddeus Stevens Society.
Each year, the Giving Spree includes an Incentive Match Pool, providing donors with the option of making a gift that will benefit all participating nonprofits. The total in the Incentive Match Pool is allocated to all 105 participating nonprofits based on the amount of Giving Spree gifts raised by each. This year, donors lifted the Adams County Historical Society, SCCAP and Shining Stars to the top three spots measured by total donations.
New this year, the LeCompte family provided $50,000 for a special incentive match pool designed to boost nonprofits raising less than those in the top tier. The pool provided an extra gift to each participating nonprofit, allocated in proportion to the amount up to $100,000 raised by each.
A Culture of Endowment Giving
In contrast with most giving days, the Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree aims to create a culture of endowment giving rather than simply redirecting annual donations to specific nonprofits. Donors are encouraged to support the nonprofits they know with an extra gift, to discover and give to a new nonprofit, and to support nonprofits with gifts to an endowment that will sustain them for decades to come. The success of the Giving Spree shows in the strong community culture of support for the nonprofits that sustain a healthy, vibrant Adams County.
Sponsorships
The Giving Spree is only possible with support from its generous sponsors. This year’s Presenting Sponsors included LeCompte Family Fund, Sharon C. Magraw, Cynthia & David Salisbury and Danny Sebright as well as Event Sponsors Adams Electric Cooperative, Brown Advisory, CS Davidson, Kampstra Wealth Management, The GIANT Company, John & Kim Phillips, Julie Ramsey & Bruce Bigelow and Rice Fruit Company.
The Incentive Match & Endowment Prizes were made possible by the J. William Warehime Foundation, Thomas E. & Florence B. Metz Fund, LeCompte Family Fund, Luther & Lois Smith Fund for Adams County, The Adams County Community Foundation and Advent Partners.
In-Kind, Volunteer and Media Sponsors included Members of 1st Federal Credit Union, Rotary Club of Gettysburg, Adams County Library System, Community Media of South Central PA, Gettysburg Times and Grit & Goals Magazine.
A detailed list of 2024 Giving Spree results, sponsors and more may be found at ACCFGivingSpree.org.
ABOUT THE ADAMS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Adams County Community Foundation was created to promote and facilitate charitable giving and to build The Fund for Adams County, a permanent civic endowment for Adams County. The Community Foundation also provides a home for a variety of charitable funds created by donors including endowments directed to a specific organization or purpose, scholarship funds, and donor-advised funds, which may make grants anywhere in Pennsylvania or across the country.