The Missoula & Bitterroot Gives community fundraising event wrapped up last night and raised $1.1 million for area nonprofits. An initiative of the Missoula Community Foundation, Missoula & Bitterroot Gives supported over a 195 nonprofit organizations this year in Missoula and Ravalli Counties.

“This day tells such a wonderful story of who we are as a community, it celebrates the work of our nonprofits but also the generous individuals and businesses that give,” said Marcy Allen, Executive Director of the Missoula Community Foundation. “We had 196 organization raise funds and share their stories this year, a record. 245 nonprofit staff attended our pre-day trainings. We had 6,340 donations and of those 1215 were new donors to an organization. The day comes together because of hundreds of people and organizations planning the event and working behind the scenes. It is truly remarkable to see Missoula come together like this and support our non-profit sector.”

The money raised isn’t the only benefit to the organizations that participate. The campaign also provides a structure for non-profit staff, volunteers and board members to work together to reach their goals. We had 172 peer to peer fundraising who brought in almost $200,000.

“Missoula Gives platform provides a great framework for nonprofits at any level to raise funds. We hear so many great stories throughout the day, my favorite this year was about a donor who told the person who had solicited him to give ‘Thank you for asking me to give, it brought me such joy’. There is so much joy in giving and I hope every felt some of that yesterday” Allen explained.

The Missoula Community Foundation has hosted Missoula Gives since 2014 and in that time has raised over $6 million for area nonprofits. The foundation also manages charitable funds, connects donors and causes, and is a resource for planned giving.

The day officially ended at 7PM on the 5th but donations can be made through May 13th at MissoulaGives.org.