One day each year, thousands come together across the St. Louis region with a shared goal: support the nonprofits that shape the community. Give STL Day has grown into the region’s largest day of giving, with an impact that continues well after those 24 hours.
In 2025, more than 1,000 nonprofits participated, raising $3.5 million through 25,209 individual donations from 15,178 donors across the region.
For many organizations, that single day does more than provide a boost; it can represent one of the most important funding moments of the year. Smaller nonprofits often raise 10–40 percent of their annual budgets during Give STL Day, making it a critical piece of their sustainability.
“It varies by organization, but for many nonprofits, Give STL Day helps bridge the gap,” says Rae’Jean Alford, assistant director of marketing and communications of the St. Louis Community Foundation. “You’d be surprised what a gift that seems small can do. Those donations allow nonprofits to continue providing direct services to the community.”
Give STL Day is built on a simple idea: With a minimum donation of $10, it emphasizes that every contribution matters. When thousands of people give together, even small gifts add up to meaningful impact.
What Visibility Can Do for a Nonprofit in 24 Hours
Give STL Day also creates visibility. Many nonprofits rely on it as one of the few opportunities each year to connect with new audiences and share about their missions on a larger scale.
“Give STL Day has become one of the few moments each year when our mission can reach a wider community,” says Amanda Lopez, director of culture at MICA. “The visibility and collective generosity of the day help us strengthen our support for low-income immigrants who are working to build safety, stability, and belonging here in St Louis.”
Increased awareness translates directly into impact. For MICA, donations support legal representation, language access, advocacy, and outreach for families who often have nowhere else to turn.
“It helps us respond quickly to urgent cases and take the financial burden away from our clients,” Lopez says. “Donations help our clients focus on what’s important by breaking down barriers to justice.”
That same impact is felt across a wide range of organizations working to meet different needs throughout the region.
“STL Give Day helps us continue empowering young-minded growers by providing neighborhood food access programs across the city,” Urban Harvest STL shares. “It makes seed-to-table classes, youth gardening, and free organic produce distributions possible for families who otherwise lack fresh, healthy options, growing both food and community resilience.”
What Happens After Give STL Day Ends?
Many organizations view Give STL Day as a way to build long-term momentum.
“Give STL Day has truly been a game-changer for our organization,” says Susan Halla, board president of TransParent. “Every dollar we raise fuels our mission to lift up families across the communities we serve.”
As an all-volunteer organization, TransParent directs every dollar raised back into supporting families, demonstrating the power of community giving.
“Thanks to Give STL Day, we don’t just reach our fundraising goals—we expand our reach, share our story, and connect with more families who need our help,” Halla adds. “The generosity of St Louis never stops inspiring us.”
Arts organizations are also seeing that impact in both access and long-term sustainability, where funding directly shapes what audiences can experience and who can participate.
“Over the years, Give STL Day has served as a catalyst for new donor relationships, financial sustainability, and broader visibility in the community,” says Erin Prange, executive director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre.
That ongoing support directly fuels programming and creative work, giving organizations the flexibility to grow and evolve their offerings.
“Give STL Day has allowed us to offer a Community Night for our Spring Series Concert, a pay-what-you-can model intended to give access for all to experience world-class dance,” Prange says. “It has also directly supported our artists’ salaries in past years, the most important investment of all.”
Participation also strengthens connections across the nonprofit sector, bringing organizations into a broader network of support and momentum that continues long after the day ends.
The Momentum Behind a Day of Giving
Since its launch in 2014, Give STL Day has raised more than $37 million for nonprofits across the region, reflecting a sustained culture of generosity.
Still, organizers emphasize that the day is powered by the nonprofits themselves. While the St. Louis Community Foundation provides the platform, training, and resources, it is the organizations that drive the momentum.
“It is the nonprofits who are doing the work,” Alford explains. “They are the ones hosting events, connecting with donors, and telling their stories. That $3.5 million was raised by them.”
A collective spirit of participation moves through the nonprofit community, turning individual efforts into a larger, unified impact.
“Give STL Day goes beyond financial support,” Prange says. “It allows us to be part of a larger conversation that educates the public about the importance of philanthropy and helps ensure the future of organizations like ours.”
Give STL Day unites individual acts of giving into a collective effort that moves the entire community forward.
“For us, Give STL Day is more than a fundraiser,” Lopez says. “It is a reminder that St. Louis cares about their people. It affirms that our community believes in fairness, dignity, and access to opportunity.”
How One Day Helps Sustain Nonprofits All Year
Give STL Day has become an important part of how many nonprofits sustain and grow their work. Support generated in a single day helps power programming, expand services, and provide a foundation for the year ahead.
Through the Give STL Day platform, donors can easily discover and support organizations across the region, creating a direct connection between community needs and those ready to meet them.
The day captures something essential about St. Louis. Collective action, even in small amounts, has the ability to drive real progress across the community.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of St. Louis Community Foundation. For more information, visit givestlday.org.
