Before we get started, let’s talk about some words you might see on our website.
Donation: A donation is when you give money, things, or time to help others without expecting anything in return.
Nonprofit: A nonprofit is a group of people who work together to help others, not to make money for themselves. They use donations to do good things for the community, like helping animals, creating art, or protecting the environment.
Philanthropy/Philanthropist: Philanthropy means “the love of humanity.” A philanthropist is someone who shows love by giving their time, money, or resources to make the world a better place.
Talk with your family about how much money you can donate this year. You can use your allowance, earn extra money by helping neighbors, or ask your friends and family to join you in donating. Remember, you don’t have to give a lot to make a big difference. Last year, the average donation on our website from adults was $131, but together we raised $833,596! When philanthropists work together, we can make a huge impact!
Take some time to think about what’s important to you or things you are interested in. Do you love animals? Enjoy spending time outside? Do you like music? Do you know someone who serves in the military or lives with an illness or special need? On our website, you’ll find 73 nonprofits in 11 categories, so there’s probably one that helps with something that matters to you. Make a list of your favorite things and get ready to learn more about the organizations that support them.
Head to the Meet Our Nonprofits page to learn about the different nonprofits in the Give! Campaign this year. Each nonprofit has a website with photos, videos, and an explanation about what they do and why they are asking for your help. To participate in our website, the nonprofits have already passed a test to make sure they are a good organization that really does make a difference in our community. No matter who you choose to support, we promise they are doing good work.
After you’ve done your research, start donating! You can either donate directly from the nonprofit page at the top and add to cart, or you can head to the donate checklist and add your amounts to the list. Once you have finished picking all the nonprofits you want to support and used your budget, you can check out with one credit card transaction.
Woohoo! Yay! Congratulations! You’re now a philanthropist, someone who helps their community! Every donation makes a difference, and together we can create big change, one gift at a time.
Now that you’ve donated money, you can also reach out to the nonprofits to see if there are ways to volunteer or donate your time. Their website and contact information are listed on their page.
And guess what? There are perks for giving! This year, kids get a $5 reward to the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade! Check out the Rewards section to see what other perks are available.
Kids ages 5–21 can take part in our Young Donor Challenge for nonprofits this year. The donation amount doesn’t matter—only their age does!
If your child is donating their own money (even if you’re completing the credit card transaction for them), simply enter their birth year on the checkout page so the nonprofit receives credit for their contribution in the challenge. One Penny Arcade voucher is given per transaction. So if multiple kids are donating, you will need to do multiple transactions to each receive their $5 voucher.
Have questions? Feel free to reach out at give@givepikespeak.org—we’re here to help!
Want to share this Give! Guide for Families with your friends? Download a PDF HERE
