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Giving Challenge returns April 15-16; Local nonprofits to participate

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April 9, 2026
By Angela McPhillips

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County will host its 10th annual Giving Challenge from noon April 15 to noon April 16, 2026. The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online fundraiser supporting nonprofits across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

Many local charities are planning efforts to encourage supporters to donate during this period, as donations made during the Giving Challenge are eligible for a 1-to-1 match from The Patterson Foundation, up to $100 per donor, per organization. Since its launch in 2012, the Giving Challenge has raised more than $92 million in unrestricted funding for regional nonprofits. The most recent event in 2024 generated $17.2 million in 24 hours, supporting 724 organizations.

Some organizations are using the Challenge to support special goals, including the Englewood Sailing Association. “We’ve set a goal of $70,000, which we will use to provide increased financial aid for disadvantaged youth, finish the modernization of our basic training fleet, and recover from hurricane-related losses from 2024,” said Dan Riehl, the sailing group’s president. “We have a great group of volunteers, members and students. We’re optimistic that they and their families, friends and colleagues will get us across the finish line.”

Many local organizations participating, including the Barrier Island Parks Society, have specific goals for the funds raised. Money from the Giving Challenge directly supports BIPS and the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum. Every contribution is unrestricted, allowing the organization to direct funds where they are needed most.

The Hermitage Retreat on Manasota Key has a second donor match, in addition to the match from the Giving Challenge. In addition to The Patterson Foundation matching the first $100 of its 2026 Giving Challenge contribution, an anonymous Hermitage donor will match the entire gift dollar-for-dollar. For example, a gift of $100 will become a gift of $300. A gift of $1,000 will become a gift of $2,100.

Lemon Bay Conservancy has a number of initiatives supported by the Challenge. They include Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, an 80-acre former golf course restored to a variety of uplands and freshwater and tidal wetlands; the burrowing owl initiative, which aims to protect a small colony in Charlotte County; a research project, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to monitor juvenile tarpon; and a contract with the University of Florida, UF/IFAS and Sea Grant to oversee the spring and summer seagrass monitoring program in Lemon Bay.

“Each unique donation given, up to $100 per donor, is matched 1-to-1 by the foundation,” said Magge Soller, Lemon Bay’s Giving Challenge 2026 chair. “I love the mission of Lemon Bay Con-servancy, and I am so fortunate to be able to participate in the Giving Challenge as a donor and as a volunteer.”

“In addition to the Patterson Foundation match, Lemon Bay Conservancy is blessed to have an in-ternal donor who is also matching every $25 to $100 donation, up to a total of $10,000, meaning donations can have triple the impact,” said Michelle VanderHaar, Lemon Bay Conservancy’s executive director.

Visit givingchallenge.org.

Find favorite charities for the Giving Challenge

A large number of local charities that serve our region, or are supported by local churches, are on the list for the Giving Challenge, run through Community Foundation of Sarasota. At the website givingchallenge.org, you can perform a keyword search to see which organizations are included. Groups include:

  • Bocilla Islands Conservancy
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County
  • Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity
  • Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center Inc.
  • Englewood Community Care Clinic
  • Englewood Helping Hand
  • Englewood Meals on Wheels
  • Englewood Sailing Association
  • Englewood YMCA
  • Gator Wilderness Camp
  • Hermitage Retreat
  • Lemon Bay Conservancy
  • Peace River Audubon Society
  • Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
  • St. David’s Episcopal Church: The Jubilee Center
  • Suncoast Humane Society
  • United Way of Charlotte County

Gifts made during the challenge are strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, which will contribute a 1:1 match for unique donations between $25 and $100, per donor, per nonprofit. There is no limit on the number of unique individual matches a nonprofit can receive. Over nine previous challenges since 2012, more than $92 million in unrestricted funding has been raised for local nonprofits. Of that total, The Patterson Foundation has contributed more than $37 million to the Giving Challenge through its matches and other incentives.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s 10th online giving day is from noon to noon, April 15-16, 2026.