Nonprofit Participant Eligibility:

• Agree to the Terms of Participation
• Be a registered 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization for at least two years by April 1, 2021 and be prepared to provide a copy of your tax determination letter, if requested.
  • If your organization utilizes a fiscal sponsor, be prepared to provide a copy of their 501 (c) 3 tax determination letter, if requested.
• The following organizations are not eligible to participate at this time:
  • Schools, churches or government organizations. If your organization is fiscally sponsored by a school or church, and meets the eligibility requirements, you are eligible to participate.
  • School groups such as PTAs, sports teams, band boosters or other affinity groups.
  • Private foundations filing IRS Form 990PF.
  • Supporting organizations with a charity status of 509 (a) 3.
  • Public safety organizations with a charity status of 509 (a) 4.
• Be prepared to provide the last two years of one of the following: IRS Form 990 or 990EZ, or 990N, if requested.
  • If your organization utilizes a fiscal sponsor, be prepared to provide their filings, if requested.
• Have a program site address that is actively operating and providing programs or services within Long Beach.

Requirements to Participate in Long Beach Gives:

• Selected nonprofits will be asked to participate in two orientations which will be provided as an online webinar and Q&A but will also be recorded for later viewing.
  
  • Campaign Orientation Sessions: these two sessions will provide selected participants an overview of how to best set your organization up for a successful campaign and how our team will support your efforts. Please save the date for both orientation sessions that will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Tuesday, April 20 and April 27
• Organizations have spent between 25 to 80 hours depending on their experience in social media and fundraising over the 7-month campaign period. This includes attending trainings, updating your fundraising page, creating content for emails and social media, recruiting and supporting your peer fundraisers, obtaining sponsors for challenge funds, and other related campaign activities.
• While Long Beach Gives is a team effort that benefits from having the entire staff, board of directors, and volunteer base involved, we recommend that your organization dedicates someone from your nonprofit to represent you as your Long Beach Gives Champion. Their role is very important to the success of your campaign and is as follows:
  • Be the point-of-contact for the Long Beach Gives team for communications,  possible logistical campaign questions and to provide items (logos, photos, etc.) for overall promotional efforts on social media, press, etc.
  • Steer your organization’s effort throughout the campaign towards its fundraising goal.
  • Set-up and regularly maintain your organization’s fundraising page. We will provide training on how to develop your organization’s fundraising page by adding your logo, description (mission, services, etc), photos, and other promotional items. Check out last year’s pages for an example.
  • Promote your organization on social media, through emails, and other platforms.
  • Recruit and support your organization’s supporters and networks, including staff, board of directors, volunteers and donors, to become peer fundraisers for your campaign efforts.
  • Most importantly, champion your fundraising goal! 

• Attendance by your organization’s Champion to marketing trainings and campaign workshops provided at no-cost to Long Beach Gives participants. While other staff may be invited to attend, organizations found that consistent attendance by their Champion contributed highly to their fundraising success. 
  • As an example of the learning opportunities you can expect, last year’s topics included; online marketing strategy, creating video and photography content for social media, increasing your social media presence, recruiting and supporting volunteer peer fundraisers, using data to make your case, incorporating the power of storytelling into your campaign, long-term donor stewardship, and hands-on campaign workshops.
  • The training dates and times will be provided at the orientation and will be held online with safety as a priority. 
• Become an Organizational Member of The Nonprofit Partnership (TNP) for access to professional development, training, consulting, sector updates, and access to a network of community based organizations and nonprofits.  By joining TNP, you are supporting training efforts not covered by sponsorships and grants associated with Long Beach Gives.

• Represent a range of organizations from grassroots to national in scope, diversified funding base, variety of program types, fund development experience, program capacity, social media expertise, number of years delivering services, impact and demand of mission critical services. 
• Represent a variety of populations served by your programs and services, including but not limited to age, race, zip code, and diverse communities.
• Present a compelling appeal to donors.

• Raise unrestricted funds from the broader community, utilizing a crowdfunding campaign.
• Learn fundraising techniques, tools and tips that will not only be utilized during Long Beach Gives but can support your ongoing efforts. Organizations gain skills such as leveraging social media; donor and board engagement; fundraising and marketing methods; goal setting; capacity building; and more.
• Be provided with marketing assets that set you up for fundraising success such as a toolkit with social media graphics, promotional templates and a giving day work plan.