For one month each year, Columbia and communities across 10 central Missouri counties come together in support of CentralMOGives — one of the largest collective fundraising campaigns in the region.
This year, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri made a seemingly big change, shifting the previous campaign name from CoMoGives to CentralMOGives to bring additional awareness and visibility to nonprofits and the individuals they directly impact throughout the region. The mission remains the same as it did when the campaign started in December 2013: supporting nonprofits that strengthen the community and provide life-changing services.
This mission produces significant results. Last year, the campaign reached several milestones, including a record 180 participating organizations and its highest amount raised: $2,056,362. It was the second year in the campaign’s history to surpass $2 million.
After talking with nonprofits outside of Columbia, many did not know they could participate due to the name CoMoGives, under the assumption that they needed to be located in Columbia. The record-setting amount represented three counties, but the Foundation knew it could be more. The name CentralMOGives addresses this confusion, and with less than a month to go until Dec. 1, over 170 organizations have signed up, representing seven counties.
“The generosity of the Columbia community is the single strongest factor sustaining Love Coffee,” said Pat McMurry, co-founder of Love Coffee. “Increasing awareness of the importance of providing personalized and relevant training for our neighbors with disabilities is the lifeblood of our mission. CoMoGives [CentralMOGives] has been a part of that support for several years.”
Love Coffee is one of the many organizations that participate in the campaign each year and feels the benevolence of the community. With continued support, the organization can continue planning for the future.
“We see the next 18 months as a critical point in our journey,” McMurry said. “On one hand, ongoing fundraising efforts, including CentralMOGives, are critical for keeping our doors open. On the other hand, opportunities for growth are perhaps more available now than at any time in our history.”
A defining characteristic for many in the central Missouri community is how generous its citizens are with their volunteer time, donations, skills and engagement. When someone needs help, members of the community step in to support them. CentralMOGives is an excellent example of this generosity.
“We feel like it’s common, but it’s not that common that people are so giving to the nonprofits,” Eric Sappington, executive director of the Foundation, said. “There are so many nonprofits in central Missouri that are thriving because people are giving their time, talent and treasure.”
Central Missouri Community Action is another nonprofit that sees the Columbia region’s dedication to helping others, especially through CentralMOGives. The organization assists low-income individuals and families with the goal of improving their quality of life and helping them achieve self-reliance.
“CentralMOGives and the money we raise during that campaign impacts CMCA and the people we serve directly,” said Jayme Prenger, director of CMCA’s Missouri Women’s Business Center. “We use those funds in a variety of ways to fill funding gaps such as immediate needs our members have while they are working toward their financial goals.”
The work does not stop at CentralMOGives for the Foundation. A nonprofit itself, the organization works throughout the year to establish and manage charitable funds for individuals and businesses. Sappington also talks with local nonprofit leaders about how they can best position their organizations for donor visibility. The organization then assists in connecting clients with the nonprofits of their choice and disburses funds accordingly.
One example Sappington remembers fondly is when five siblings chose to start a fund with their inheritance money. The siblings lived in many cities along the East Coast, but their parents had grown up, lived and passed away in Moberly. Instead of keeping the money or donating to nonprofits in their respective cities, the siblings purposefully chose to donate to organizations throughout central Missouri in honor of their parents’ memory. The fund is now the Foundation’s second-largest account.
“It’s rewarding,” Sappington said regarding his position. “I get to help people be philanthropic, to be supportive and helpful.”
"CentralMOGives and the money we raise during that campaign impacts CMCA and the people we serve directly. We use those funds in a variety of ways..."
"We feel like it’s common, but it’s not that common that people are so giving to the nonprofits. There are so many nonprofits in central Missouri that are thriving because people are giving their time, talent and treasure."