The importance of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ GiVE 365 program is best described by the contributors themselves.

Cameron Mann, director of Memphis Music Resource Center, said: “It’s important that a new generation of Memphians take seriously our civic responsibility to make this city what we want it to be and keep it on the path of progress.  GiVE 365 is an innovative approach to choosing how and where charitable gifts are used in the nonprofit community.  I feel more personally involved and empowered in making my city a better place.”

Paige and Scott Walkup, respectively managing director of Caissa Public Strategy and community development manager for Shelby County Government, said: “When you are immersed in the nonprofit community day in and day out, you see how great the need is for different types of services.  We realized very quickly how many groups were struggling to leverage limited resources to start or even maintain existing programs.  We saw GiVE 365 as a way to increase the resources in our community and make a difference in someone’s life.”

Grace and Rob Thompson said: “Although the Community Foundation is a very established organization, the grant selection process seemed like a very grassroots, peer-led process.  We wanted to be part of because of how it strives to engage people in giving and investing in the future of Memphis.”

Patti Smith, vice-president of communications for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, explained: “We started with the idea of getting young people involved, but we have gotten members of GiVE 365 that are in their nineties.  It’s appealed to a lot of people. There were 100 members last year and this year’s goal is 200.  We’re now at 165 people.”

The annual donation in GiVe 365 is $365.   The Community Foundation matches each new donation up to $20,000, and a number of companies and organizations, including Hyde Family Foundations, are matching employees’ contributions.  A Lifetime membership in GiVE is $3,650.  Half of the money goes directly out in community grants and half is contributed to the endowment fund.  

The program is not only about broadening the reach of the Community Foundation and creating a new cadre of givers, it’s also about getting people involved.   Relying on Facebook and social media, the program is anchored in peer-to-peer recommendations and in its members being directly engaged in setting a theme for the year’s grants.

As part of the process, members review proposals from nonprofits, visit nonprofit organizations, compare notes with other members, and vote on who’ll receive grants.  Last year’s theme was Fostering Community, and dozens of proposals were submitted.  Members advocate for their favorites, and the list is narrowed to 15 potential grants.

From there, the final selections are made.  Last year’s grants went to Indie Memphis, Splinter Youth Inc. for portable skateboard ramps; Overton Park’s Levitt Shell; Dress for Success; New Ballet Ensemble and School; Hattiloo Theatre; Center for Southern Folklore, and Su Casa Family Ministries.

In the end, the best return on investment is that more people are more directly informed about some crucial local agencies, more directly involved in their community, and beginning what a lifetime of giving.