Updated 1:18 p.m. May 13.
Centre Gives returns starting Wednesday for another 36-hour online fundraising marathon in support of more than 230 local nonprofit organizations.
Now in its 14th year, Centre Foundation’s annual giving event has raised $19.7 million for nonprofits working in areas such as arts, animals, education, environment, health and social services. This year’s edition will be looking to eclipse the record total of $2.49 million from 16,570 total gifts set in 2024.
Centre Gives begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and concludes at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Participants can choose from a long list nonprofits to support with a gift of $10 or more at CentreGives.org.
A stretch pool of $500,000 — up from $300,000 last year — is provided by Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation to help those gifts go further. The more money a nonprofit raises, the greater its share of the pool.
“We’re beyond excited to grow the stretch pool to an incredible $500,000 this year, thanks to a phenomenal, matched gift from the Hamer Foundation,” Molly Kunkel, president and CEO of Centre Foundation, said in a statement. “This partnership supercharges every dollar given during Centre Gives 2025, amplifying impact and opening the door for local nonprofits to do even more of the work that makes our community shine. It’s not just about giving; it’s about creating lasting change. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together this year during Centre Gives.”
Donors also can help organizations compete for $40,000 in additional prize money throughout the event. Power hour prizes will be awarded to large and small organizations throughout Centre Gives based on unique donors during a specific hour, and dozens of other prizes will be given out during and at the conclusion of the event.
See the full list of participating nonprofits at centregives.org/organizations.
“Centre Gives is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together,” Nathaniel Rasmussen, Centre Foundation community impact director, said in a statement. “It’s not just an event; it’s a movement. It energizes our community, brings visibility to vital causes, and empowers people to be part of the solutions shaping a stronger Centre County.”
For the second consecutive year, Centre Foundation will celebrate the final hours of the event with a festival at Brass 16823, located at 2042 Axemann Road, Bellefonte, behind Titan Hollow.
Centre Gives Fest will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and will include music by DJ Elbow Knee Knee and Kevin Clair of Gorinto Productions; face painting by Faces and Spaces; giving stations, prizes and family-friendly activities hosted by Centre Foundation and 38 participating organizations. Food and drinks also will be available from vendors including Bonnie Blue’s Smokeys and Sweets, Super Duper Café, Good Day Café, Sunset Slush Happy Valley and Inside Out Cookie.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday proclaimed May 14-15 as Centre Gives Days in the county, and Commissioner Amber Concepcion said the event is not only important for fundraising but also for raising awareness about the variety of nonprofits in the community.
This is always such a big community event and I think it’s sometimes a way people in the community find out about nonprofits they might not have even known were out there addressing needs that might be important to them and that they’d like to support,” Concepcion said. “It really is a great way to demonstrate to the community how many different philanthropies there are out there and so many needs are being addressed by nonprofits in our community.”
