Give Local Isabella returns May 5

What’s Happening: Give Local Isabella returns May 5, 2026 bringing the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and the Isabella County community together for a 24-hour online fundraising event supporting local nonprofit organizations and initiatives.

Held annually on the first Tuesday in May, the event encourages residents to give, connect, and invest in causes that strengthen the community for years to come.

What They’re Saying: “I am really excited about this year’s Give Local Isabella event,” shares Liz Conway, CEO/COO of Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. “Thanks to several generous donors, we are offering more matching funds and prizes than ever before to support participating causes through their endowed funds at the Community Foundation. These funds help nonprofits across our community create real impact, from meeting basic needs to supporting youth programs to arts and culture, and so much more. Most importantly, these gifts are helping to grow permanent endowments that will continue to make a difference in Isabella County forever.”

Why It Matters: Give Local Isabella is rooted in philanthropy—a long-term approach to addressing community needs by bringing people together, leveraging resources, and supporting sustainable solutions. The effort not only raises funds, but also builds awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing local organizations.

For donors, the event offers a direct way to support causes that matter close to home. For organizations, it provides an opportunity to grow endowments that ensure lasting financial stability for generations. For the broader community, it highlights the impact of local nonprofits, strengthens connections, and fosters a shared spirit of giving.

How It Works: Give Local Isabella runs from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on May 5. Donations can be made online at www.givelocalisabella.org using a credit or debit card and are tax-deductible.

The event focuses on building endowment funds—permanent funds that are invested over time, with earnings used to support organizations year after year while the original donations continue to grow.

While primarily a digital event, two in-person gatherings will offer opportunities to celebrate the day. Pleasant City Coffee will host a morning gathering from 8 to 9 a.m., featuring a raffle opportunity. Max & Emily’s will also host a noon event from 12 to 1 p.m., offering a free cookie to attendees.

Prizes and Incentives: Organizers have secured $65,000 in matching funds to help boost donations to participating nonprofit organizations and initiative funds, an increase of $20,000 from last year.

An additional $5,500 in prizes—along with several in-kind awards—will be distributed throughout the day to encourage participation and engagement.

Early and late-day donors can help organizations earn the $500 Early Bird Award and Night Owl Prize, both recognizing donations made during key time windows.

Engagement-based prizes include the $500 Most Creative Award for standout social media posts and the $500 Social Media Maven Award, which rewards organizations that generate strong community interaction ahead of the event.

Further prizes highlight organizational involvement and fundraising success, including $500 awards for 100% board participation, most individual donors, peer-to-peer fundraising efforts and organizations that surpass $1,000 in total donations.

Two in-kind prizes will also be awarded, including a professional photography package and a social media audit for organizations demonstrating strong storytelling and online engagement.

Winners will be announced on the Community Foundation’s Facebook page, with some awards revealed during the event and others the following day.

More Information: For more information about Give Local Isabella or to make a donation, visit givelocalisabella.org or follow the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation on Facebook.