Idaho Gives Best Practices: MCPAWS

“I can’t imagine why anyone would not want to do it,” said Executive Director of MCPAWS, Amber Kostoff, about Idaho Gives. Every year hundreds of nonprofits participate in Idaho Gives, and every year hundreds of nonprofits showcase unique ways to raise funds the day of. Last year MCPAWS – a humane, no kill, animal shelter in McCall – raised over $13,000 during Idaho Gives. Kostoff shared her experience from years past.

​On the day of Idaho Gives, Kostoff got together with other local nonprofits in the heart of McCall to set up booths that promoted and informed about their unique organizations. A puppy kissing booth was set up for folks to visit and possibly adopt available dogs.

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“We did really well with donors,” said Kostoff, but the main purpose of “the event is more morale boosting... The puppy kissing booth is to entice people over to our table,” and a way for them to share more about the organization. A teaser to be more engaging for possible donors; an icebreaker to start the conversation and the ask.

“There was an overwhelming majority of the donations that we received come in from [individuals]” said Kostoff. “Peer fundraising was very effective. Recruiting board members, staff members, and stakeholders of the community is great for fundraising.” Kostoff stressed the importance of how even a $10 minimum donation will hugely impact the overall goal of each organization.

Kostoff's best advice would be to prepare. Start earlier than you think you need to start. “We started having meetings for the day of event, about two months [before], then when it was getting down to the wire we were meeting once a week… Get out in front of it, you don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute.”

​Idaho Gives is a great way to “give smaller and newer organizations a way to connect with people one on one,” said Kostoff. 

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