Several years ago, Patsy Woods Martin, a fundraiser at Austin’s United Way came across The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of the 50 most and least charitable cities in the country and didn’t like what she saw: Austin — a city with one of the strongest economies in the country — ranked 48th on the list, well below Texas’s other big cities of Dallas (number 4) and Houston (number 5).
After a bit of research, Martin concluded that the problem was not one of stinginess, but one of knowledge: People in Austin just didn’t know how to meet the needs in their community. So in 2007, she started I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH), a nonprofit whose mission is to make Austin the number one most charitable city in America through a combination of marketing, nonprofit training, mentorship and fundraising.
In 2013, ILHIGH launched Amplify Austin, a 24-hour online giving event that doubled its goal and raised $2 million for local nonprofits. This year, the annual event raised $10 million for more than 700 Austin area nonprofits, including through small donations from individuals.
ILHIGH’s current executive director, Piper Stege Nelson, will join us on November 15 for the 7th annual Ideas We Should Steal Festival to talk about Amplify Austin, and how Philadelphia might replicate the efforts to support our local nonprofits.
Listen to her speak about her work below, and then secure your seat to the Festival.
