In the last six weeks of 2025, fundraising campaign Santa Cruz Gives raised more than $2.1 million for 72 local nonprofits—an increase of more than 30 percent for the second year in a row.
“We didn’t know what to expect this year following the extreme federal cuts,” said Jeanne Howard, one of the founders of Santa Cruz Gives. “Everyone has been deluged with requests for donations all year. But our community stepped up on behalf of local projects, and the average gift was much higher than last year.”
Donors choose the organizations they wish to support, and an online leaderboard tracks the amount each nonprofit raises in real time. The campaign is closed but may be viewed at santacruzgives.org. Funds provide food, health care, and housing for residents in need; education and activities for underserved youth, the disabled and seniors; local environmental work; and more.
“Informing the community about the work of local nonprofits is as valuable as funds raised. Our goal is to strengthen the County by building a wider network of donors,” said Howard. “Each organization has a page on the website that describes their work and Good Times publishes stories weekly during the campaign. Other media have been gracious in promoting the campaign, too.” [Disclosure: Good Times sponsors Santa Cruz Gives as a key component of its mission.]
The following sponsors provide matching funds, expertise, promotion, and many volunteer hours, in addition to Good Times:
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Driscoll’s, Inc., 1440 Foundation, Applewood Foundation, Joe Collins Foundation, West Coast Community Bank, Wynn Capital Management, Bay Federal Credit Union, Press Banner, and the Pajaronian.
