ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - "Our non-profits need our help more than ever." Those are the cryptic words of Amelia Bond, the President and CEO of the St. Louis Community Foundation, the organization behind Thursday's Give STL Day.
The annual day of online giving to local non-profits comes in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic that has severely hampered the ability of organizations to raise funds.
A recent survey, according to Bond, found 87% of local non-profits are seeing a drop in donations. For 20% of them, the decline tops 50%.
"Our non-profit system relies on fundraising and fundraising is all about bringing people together, and socializing," Bond says.
In Ferguson, EarthDance Organic Farm Founding Director Molly Rockamann says their big fall fundraiser is in doubt along with other money making efforts. "We often would have dinners on the farm and various fundraising events that are smaller throughout the year. We're just not at the point yet of being able to schedule those. We're really trying to think creatively and thank of what we can offer folks to support us."
Sweet Babies and EarthDance are among record over 1,000 non-profits that have signed up to take part.
You can donate at givestlday.org until midnight Thursday. "Donations are $10 or more, via credit card," says Bond. "You can sort by category. You can just type in the name of a non-profit. It is very, very simple."
During the day there will be what they call power hours. where competing non-profits can win matching funds. The non-profits talk to donors online and tell them, 'Okay we're focusing on a certain hour...trying to raise the extra money. It makes it fun. It makes it a little competitive."
Give STL Day has raised more than $0 million dollars since 2014. Bond hopes this year will set a new standard. "This is a day for the non-profits. Put them out in front and show our community support of how important they are to us. We suspect, it's entirely possible this day will break many records."