Amplify Austin Celebrates 5 Years and Over $25M Raised for Local Nonprofits

On March 2 starting at 6 p.m., Amplify Austin Day will be in full swing with a goal of raising $9 million in 24 hours. Last year $8.5 million was raised, with 40 percent of donations attributed to first-time donors and 31 percent of site users being millennials.

Editor’s Note: Amplify Austin ended up raising over $9.8 million in 2017! This was their most successful fundraising event to date. There were more than 64,500 individual donations supporting about 700 nonprofits in Central Texas. Thank you to all of our neighbors who contributed!

The nonprofit organization I Live Here, I Give Here created Amplify Austin Day in 2012. Five years later, Amplify Austin has raised over $25 million for more than 600 local nonprofits. Austinites can now visit one place to support 700 mission-driven organizations of their choice that are providing real, tangible solutions within our community.

There are nine categories for participating nonprofits:

1. Animal Care & Services
2. Arts & Culture
3. Basic Needs
4. Community/Capacity Building
5. Education
6. Environment
7. Sports & Recreation
8. Health Care
9. Human Services

Organizations are searchable by category, keyword or fundraiser name, making it easy to find the cause you wish to support.

10 Years of Giving With I Live Here, I Give Here

In 2007, Patsy Woods Martin Founded I Live Here, I Give Here (ILHIGH) after seeing Austin’s ranking in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Out of 50 of the nation’s largest cities, Austin ranked 48th. Due in large part to Martin’s determination, our city has steadily risen in its philanthropic position over the past 10 years. Today, Austin has a robust nonprofit infrastructure that ILHIGH Executive Director Celeste Flores says, “is providing the programs and services to make this a vibrant, sustainable and equitable community for all.”

In addition to Amplify Austin Day, ILHIGH facilitates four mentoring programs: Austin Involved, Community Needs Spotlight, Give Back Jack and See Jane Give. Amplify Austin Day is ILHIGH’s main event of the year, for which Martin was a visionary.

Martin and the ILHIGH Board of Directors are excited for the future. They want the Amplify Austin platform to be used as a giving tool throughout the entire year to get people engaged in finding solutions to challenges that exist within Central Texas communities.

2017 Outstanding Local Philanthropist

On Feb. 15, Martin was honored with the “Outstanding Philanthropist” award during the 2017 Philanthropy Day Luncheon hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, along with her husband, Jack.

Formerly the Vice President of Resource Development for the United Way Capital Area, in 2006 Martin resigned to focus her efforts on ILHIGH. Currently, Martin is the CEO of Annie’s List after serving as their Board of Directors Chair-elect.

When asked about what drives her, Martin told me she enjoys “working with a team to build something–creating a strategic plan that is focused on bettering lives and building community.” Martin continued, “Right now I’m really fired up about the issue of equality, particularly when it comes to women’s rights.”

Martin has served on a number of boards, including the Long Center for the Performing Arts and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Junior League of Austin, Leadership Austin, and is a founding member of Impact Austin and UWCA’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Get Involved and Amplify Austin

To quote Martin, “Anyone can be a philanthropist–all you have to do is find a cause and give. The reward comes from seeing that you have a part in effecting change.”

On Thursday, March 2, you can become a donor (what ILHIGH refers to as a “changemaker”) by supporting your favorite local nonprofit (aka “solution provider”). A full list of resources and options for getting involved can be found on the #AmplifyATX website.

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Which Austin nonprofits do you plan to support this year on Amplify Austin Day?