Amid the chaos and corporatization of the holiday season, a delightful, heart-warming trend has emerged in the last decade: donations as gifts. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday started to make people manic, the grassroots Giving Tuesday trend has become a beloved part of holiday traditions. It’s also become essential to non-profit organizations, growing by an average of 65 percent each year in the last decade, with some 35 million Americans donating $3.1 billion dollars in 2022.
More than half of Americans would rather receive a donation to a charity in their name than a gift and for those who want to keep it local, plenty of Mercer Island organizations would love to be on the receiving end of that gift. For this year’s gift guide, we’ve rounded up some of the non-profit organizations doing amazing work on the island – the kind of places anyone would be honored to see a donation land in their name. And don’t forget, that gift is worth double if your employer matches.
Mercer Island Community Fund
For those wanting to support multiple aspects of island life or who aren’t sure exactly where to direct their donation, the Mercer Island Community Fund makes giving easy. The organization uses donations to mete out grants for projects and programs serving the Mercer Island community across a broad spectrum of fields, including arts, education, health, and more. Last year’s grantees included many of the organizations listed below here, plus community programming like Mostly Music in the Park and the island’s Summer Celebration.
Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation
If you’ve ever shopped at the Mercer Island Thrift Store, you’ve already supported the Mercer Island Youth and Family Service Foundation. But the organization, a department of the city government, depends on a variety of sources for funding, including grants and private donations. The money funds placement of mental health professionals in local public schools, services for seniors, and family and emergency assistance for islanders in need – including help with holiday gifts for 360 families in 2022.
Mercer Island Schools Foundation
One of Mercer Island’s biggest draws is the excellent schools, and the Mercer Island Schools Foundation is a key player in that success. It fills in the gaps in public funding by equipping schools with needed supplies, supporting teacher-led extra-curricular programs, and offering an annual scholarship for a college-bound islander.
Youth Theater Northwest
From tots to teens, kids are known for bringing plenty of drama, but Youth Theater Northwest shows them how to channel that energy into the more prestigious form of drama. The island-based arts organization runs year-round classes and programming, teaching school-age kids the skills needed for live performances – and life.
Mercer Island Visual Arts League
It fits that such a beautiful place inspires a thriving artistic community, but it takes more than nice scenery to foster a supportive and art-filled town. Mercer Island Visual Arts League, in partnership with Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, is the force behind the annual Art Uncorked event. It also runs a gallery in the Mercer Island Community and Events Center and curates exhibits of all sizes in local businesses. Donations to MIVAL help fund scholarships and awards for local aspiring and working artists.
Mercer Island Historical Society
A small but mighty force, the Mercer Island Historical Society collects, researches, and preserves the island’s previous lives. Its book is a must-have coffee table accessory for locals, and the newsletter shares fascinating snippets of the work they do. The organization is tiny, and donations allow it to continue sharing history through school presentations and community events.
And so many more…
Along with the island’s own unique organizations, Mercer Island hosts chapters of national organizations, including the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club (MIBGC) and Rotary Club of Mercer Island, that work toward the greater good of the island. For MIBGC, you can make a donation to directly to support the Mercer Island location or you can let the organization allocate your donation to wherever the need is greatest.
If you are unable to make a donation, most of these local non-profit organizations are seeking volunteers. Giving your time can often be the most impactful gift of all.