401Gives: The Early Bird Catches the... 3x Matching Opportunity!?

#401Gives, the second-annual statewide day of giving facilitated by United Way of Rhode Island, is this coming Thursday, April 1st! It is your best opportunity to do the most for your favorite nonprofits, like the MLK -- to make the most impact on the organizations that move you, uplift our communities, and pave the way to a better tomorrow.

Throughout the day, participating organizations are eligible for a variety of different prizes based on donor participation. The biggest matching opportunity of the day is the Early Bird match, beginning at 6 AM: the first $50,000 donated to any 401Gives organization will be matched dollar-for-dollar, by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Match 1: The Early Bird $50,000 matching opportunity starts at 6 AM sharp and ends once the first $50,000 of the day is raised. Now, this sounds like a lot of money (and it is!), but with 450 organizations participating, each with rockstar supporters like you, this money will go fast. (*Gifts up to $500 per donor, per organization, are matched 1:1. If you gave more than $500, your first $500 will be matched 1:1, while the match lasts.)

Match 2: We have another exciting opportunity being offered simultaneously just for donors to the MLK. A generous friend of the Center will match the first $20,000 raised for the MLK. (*Gifts of up to $1,000 to the MLK are matched 1:1. If you give more than $1,000, your first $1,000 will be matched, while the match lasts.)

Challenge: Stay with us here: there's another way your gift will go even further for the MLK this April 1st! Another friend of the Center has agreed to pitch in $15,000 if 100 donors give to the MLK by 4:01 pm (get it?). These funds are available to us only if 100 different donors give by 4:01 pm, so we need your help.

By giving early, you can help the MLK take advantage of all three of these incredible opportunities.

Make Your Gift Go 3 Times As Far: So, if you give early enough to meet the Early Bird match AND the MLK friend's match, your gift could be tripled, at no additional cost to you. This would mean gifts of $25 become $75. Gifts of $500 become $1,500. And at 4:01 pm, the MLK would receive another $15,000 to fund our essential programs. (So, do you see why we're asking you to set that alarm!?) https://www.401gives.org/organ...

If you're not in a position to give, we understand. That's exactly why we're spreading the word about these matching opportunities: so donations of all amounts can potentially have 3-times the impact. This is a time where money is tight for so many, where so many new people are looking to the MLK for necessities

For MLK Super Fans:

• Make your own fundraising page to benefit the MLK. Donations raised will all still go to the MLK, but you'll be able to send your personal fundraising link to your friends, include a story as to why the MLK is important to you, and track how you measure up against other MLK fundraisers. Click the "Fundraise" button on our page to start - it only takes a sec.
• Bookmark your fundraising page on your phone and/or computer, so you're ready to go on the morning of Thursday, April 1st!
• Remember to share your unique fundraising link to your social media, and in messages to friends and family. Don't forget to share to LinkedIn, too! "Peer-to-peer fundraising," as it's called, is proven to be at least 2x more effective than conventional fundraising methods.
• Set your alarm for 5:45 AM on April 1st, so you're ready to give right for 6 AM.

401Gives is the best chance to support the organizations that support you, and your community. We're in this together, Newport County.