Ten years ago, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound was looking for ways to invite more people into philanthropy. The South Sound was already a generous place, but as our President & CEO, Mindie Reule—who served as Philanthropic Services & Programs Director at the time—recognized in those early days, generosity is a tradition that needs nurturing.  

When the Community Foundation launched Give Local in 2017, the goal was to make philanthropy more inclusive and to broaden and deepen the habit of giving across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties. “We recognized that the impact of many small donations can rival that of some of our largest and most prosperous donors,” Mindie explained.

That first Give Local was small, but it demonstrated what could happen when more people had an easy way to discover local nonprofits, give to causes they care about, and strengthen their communities together.  

This November, we will all come together again for our 10^th annual Give Local. This milestone has us looking back at what our communities have made possible together—and looking ahead to what we might make possible next.

A Growing Tradition of Generosity

A lot has changed since 2017. Give Local has grown from an initial group of 50 nonprofits and $165,000 raised into a region-wide celebration of community generosity. In 2025, 154 nonprofits participated, and 2,740 people came together to raise a record-breaking $1,611,433. Altogether, over the years, our communities have raised more than $6.7 million through Give Local.  

This year, we are celebrating what those numbers represent—all the ways people across the South Sound have said yes to Give Local over the years and the thousands of choices they’ve made to care for our shared home and each other. Together, we’ve funded the work of food banks, storytelling and arts organizations, housing, mutual aid, environmental groups, youth programs, and so much more. These gifts have come from people supporting the same beloved nonprofits for years and from people discovering organizations for the first time.

Those gifts have also come in all sizes. Give Local has always been rooted in the idea that philanthropy belongs to everyone, and year after year, the majority of gifts have been $200 or less. As one Give Local participant put it, “Give Local provides a unique forum to be a part of all the good that is happening in our community without feeling like I need to break the bank.”

She described using Give Local to make smaller gifts to many organizations, stay connected with causes they care about, and discover new ones along the way. In her words, “Give Local makes seeing good and doing good easy!”  

An Invitation Worth Saying Yes To

One of the hopes behind Give Local was to help build a habit of local generosity. Ten years later, we can see that habit growing in big and small ways.

For some people, Give Local has become an annual tradition. As one community member shared, “It is a special night when I sit down and see all the organizations I like to give to already and discover new ones I did not even know about. We live in a great place!”

That 2024 participant captured something we hear often—Give Local isn’t only a way to support organizations you already know. It’s also an opportunity to look around and learn more about the people doing good work all around us.  

And new people keep joining in. In a survey of 228 people who gave through Give Local in 2025, 93 said it was their first year participating. Nearly all respondents said they planned to participate again.

“I believe that charity begins at home, and this community is my home,” one supporter shared.

Over time, Give Local has become one way for people who love the South Sound to act on that sense of connection to place. For many, it’s a way to learn more about what’s happening around them and put their time, money, and energy behind the many people working to make local communities stronger.

More Ways to Be Part of Give Local

As the response to Give Local has grown, so has the invitation to take part.

Giving remains at the heart of Give Local, but the ways people can participate have expanded since the campaign began. In 2025, 100 people created their own fundraising pages and raised more than $36,000 alongside participating nonprofits. Nonprofits also shared 45 opportunities for individuals, families, and local groups to volunteer, attend events, and connect with their work beyond donations. This year, Give Local is adding another way to participate: a new text-to-give feature will allow nonprofits to share a keyword community members can text from their phones to make a gift.

For nonprofits, those connections can be as important as the dollars raised. As one participating organization shared, “We love Give Local. It generates momentum around supporting local causes and gives us and others exposure to the important work we all are doing.”

That has been part of the vision from the beginning. Give Local raises money for nonprofits, but it also helps more people discover their work and find ways to get involved.  

Someone who makes a first $25 gift might make giving an annual tradition. Someone exploring Give Local might discover an organization they want to volunteer with. And someone who has supported the same handful of organizations for years might find another doing work they never knew was happening in their own backyard.

The Invitation Is Still Open

When Give Local began in 2017, the Community Foundation hoped to invite more people into philanthropy. Nine campaigns later, thousands of people have responded in ways big and small, contributing more than $6.7 million and helping Give Local become a community tradition.

Now, as we celebrate our 10^th Give Local, the invitation remains open.

From November 9 – 20, we invite you to find your way to Give Local:

• Give to what you love. Explore participating nonprofits across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties and make a gift to one—or several—that matter to you. Every gift will receive an extra boost through the $100,000 Bonus Fund.

• Discover something new. Spend some time exploring the people and organizations doing good work across the South Sound. Side effects may include gratitude, joy, and feeling inspired.

• Get involved. Look for volunteer opportunities, attend an event, start a fundraiser, or share the work of a nonprofit you love with your friends and neighbors.

• Spread the word. Know someone who would love to be part of Give Local? All are welcome, so please pass the invitation along!

You can learn more and join Give Local through spsgives.org.

Ten years ago, Give Local began with an invitation. Thousands of people have answered it in the years since, showing again and again what can happen when we choose to care for this place together. We can’t wait to see what more is possible in the years ahead.