For the second year in a row, the Seattle Foundation has issued a challenge: Make a charitable donation on May 2 to your favorite King County nonprofit and GiveBig sponsors will match your gift. It’s a call to arms on behalf of many of the organizations that make this city feel alive—the local museums and theater companies, SIFF and Film Forum, Town Hall and Seattle Arts and Lectures. The foundation is hoping to top last year’s single day of giving—$3.6 million, with nearly 19,000 people making individual gifts—and there are plenty of local nonprofits that would benefit greatly from your generosity. UPDATED 5/3/12. The Seattle Foundation is reporting donations of $7.43 million yesterday, more than doubling last year’s total, with updates coming at noon today. "The areas receiving the highest overall level of gifts were Arts and Culture ($1.66 million), Health and Wellness ($1.33 million) and Basic Needs ($1.28 million). Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest received the highest number of individual donations, with 1,217 gifts."

Nitty gritty: The more money that comes in, the more that goes to a "stretch pool" that’s spread out on a pro-rated basis to the 1,300 nonprofits. Those donations could support the making of a new 12th Avenue theater center on Capitol Hill for New Century Theatre Company, Washington Ensemble Theatre, and Strawshop; Satori Group’s move to Inspace; SAL’s writers in the schools; and much more.

The giving starts midnight Tuesday and runs for 24 hours. Rally for a cause at seattlefoundation.org/givingcenter/givebig.

GiveBig
May 2, midnight to midnight