February 20, 2019
To Match, Challenge or Both?
Matching and Challenge Grant opportunities make dollar differences! On average, matching opportunities increase a donor's likelihood to give by 22% and the actual donation amount by 19% . Increase your Spring2ACTion return by reaching out now to your high-level givers or consider enlisting a corporate sponsor. Nonprofits with matching funds raised more than 4.5x more on average than those without a match.

Take a look at these GiveGab resources to guide your planning:

Developing Your Spring2ACTion Plan Training on March 5
Whether you’ve begun to plan for Spring2ACTion or it’s the next thing on your To Do List, this is a session you won’t want to miss.
Fundraising expert Susan Kelly from Kelly Strategies will share crowdfunding best practices and help you develop your own personalized plan to communicate and fundraise in a compelling, effective manner. A customized Spring2ACTion progressive worksheet will encompass all key planning components including matching funds, free agent fundraisers, key messages and timing.
Guided by Susan, each attendee will fill out their worksheet and leave the session with a customized plan for their nonprofit’s Spring2ACTion success. Training will be held on Tuesday, March 5 from 9-10:30am at Washington Street United Methodist Church.
ACT Now Fund Grants
The ACT Now Fund was created to respond to the needs of nonprofit organizations providing critical services to Alexandrians in response to a significant community crisis, in this case, the partial Federal Government Shutdown.

ACT and the City of Alexandria recognize that nonprofit organizations responding to this unanticipated crisis are seeing an increase in the demand for services and need financial support to address these expected needs. Organizations can now apply for grant funding from the ACT Now Fund to help meet short-term unanticipated essential needs affecting community members such as emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, food and medical/health assistance, child care assistance, among others.  

For more information, click here . The next deadline for applications is Friday, March 1. To make a donation to the ACT Now Fund, click here.
Important Spring2ACTion Dates
Month of February - Mention ACT when you dine at Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap or Vola's Dockside Grill for 15% off your bill!
 
February 20  – Nonprofit Registration Deadline to be featured in Spring2ACTion printed materials. Register here .

Month of March - Yates Give Us Your Two Cents - fill up on gas and proceeds will support Spring2ACTion prizes  

March 5   – Develop Your Customized Plan for Spring2ACTion Success, 9-10:30am at WSUMC. Register  here.

March 8 - Deadline for nonprofits to register for Spring2ACTion - don't wait, sign up today!  

March 19  – Last Chance Q&A, Materials Pick-Up and Final Steps to Success Webinar with GiveGab, 9-10:30am at WSUMC. Register  here.

March 27 - April 9  – Early Giving for Spring2ACTion

April 10  – Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s Giving Day!

May 3  – Spring2ACTion Celebration at Mia's Italian Kitchen

May 7  - Harness Your Spring2ACTion Donors to Build a More Robust Fundraising Program, 9-10:30am at WSUMC. Register  here.
Thank You to Our Spring2ACTion Sponsors
Questions about Spring2ACTion?
Contact: Brandi Yee, ACT Chief Program Officer
[email protected]  | 703-739-7778