(Columbus, OH)– The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) is expanding power2give.org, a crowdsourcing fundraising platform to support arts and cultural projects, to the surrounding counties of Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison and Union. The new URL for the central Ohio portal is www.power2give.org/CentralOH.
The Arts Council launched power2give in October 2013 in partnership with the Arts & Science Council (ASC) located in Charlotte, N.C. and with generous support from the City of Columbus through the Arts Council’s grants program, Cardinal Health, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, PNC, Loann Crane, The Columbus Foundation and the Puffin Foundation West for matching grants.
Local nonprofit organizations continue to look for innovative and creative ways to engage their audiences and secure more resources. power2give.org offers a direct way to connect local arts and cultural projects with individuals and corporations interested in turning specific needs into realities. Nonprofit organizations with arts and culture projects listed their needs through clearly identified project postings – for example, instruments for children in a youth orchestra or costumes for an upcoming theater production.
The Arts Council will also release $20,000 in matching funds to support projects taking place within the city of Columbus.
People visiting the site can pick a project that interests or inspires them and direct their giving to making those efforts come to fruition.
power2give.org debuted in Charlotte, N.C. in late August 2011 and since then has launched in 17 additional communities. Columbus was the 20th city in the country to launch the program. Since its launch last year the program has generated over $150,000 in directed giving in the Franklin County area.
power2give.org, conceived and developed by ASC, is borne out of the recognition that future funding of the cultural sector requires increasingly diversified and innovative means, and is in direct response to current trends in philanthropy.
Meanwhile, trends continue to indicate an increased number of gifts with smaller average gift sizes, further growth in online donations and a strong desire from donors to see where their gifts go. The site also creates a closer relationship between donors and the organizations they support.
“Responding to the needs of the Central Ohio community, this expansion will provide another entry point for individuals to learn about and financially support local grassroots arts projects,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, President of the Greater Columbus Arts Council. “We hope this platform will continue to grow and contribute significantly to the foundation of funding support for the cultural community.”
With this expansion, non-profit organizations in Franklin County and surrounding counties can post arts and cultural projects needing up to $10,000 on power2give.org. Organizations promote their projects to individuals through a variety of print, electronic and social media channels. Arts and cultural organizations already receiving funding from the Arts Council through the agency grants process are eligible to post projects.
Projects have up to 90 days to achieve their funding goals. Posting events is free for organizations. The organization receives the money raised even if they do not meet their funding goal. The Arts Council applies a 10 percent administrative fee to funds raised by each project to cover credit card fees, site maintenance and marketing costs.
Another exciting feature of the site is the ability to purchase gift cards in any denomination. Individuals can use these as gifts and companies can use them as employee rewards or incentives.
Follow power2give.org on Twitter @power2give and ‘Like’ on Facebook at facebook.com/power2give.
Media support is provided by: CD102.5, CityScene Magazine, Lamar Outdoor and WCBE 90.5.
For information about posting a project or purchasing gift cards, contact Ruby Harper at rharper@gcac.org.
About the Arts & Science Council: The Arts & Science Council is a non-profit organization in Charlotte, N.C. that builds appreciation, participation and support for the arts, science, history and heritage in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. ASC works to shape a vibrant cultural life for all through fundraising, grant making, cultural planning, public art, capacity building and community engagement. For more, visit ArtsAndScience.org.
About the Greater Columbus Arts Council: Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, we fund exemplary artists and arts organizations and provide programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community. GCAC thanks the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council for their continued support of all our programs.
CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
