Connect to a Cause 2023
Connecting People who Care with Causes that Matter
We are excited to bring together passionate individuals, businesses, and organizations for a heartfelt endeavor to uplift and support non-profit organizations in Lorain County that make a difference in our community.
At the heart of Connect to a Cause is a 12-hour crowdfunding campaign, held on September 21, 2023, where community members can donate directly to non-profit organizations that align with their values and interests. With over 90 non-profits participating, there are sure to be multiple organizations you would like to support!
Be A Part of the Impact Today!
Connect to a Cause and make a difference anytime by downloading the donation form. You can mail your check or cash to the Community Foundation at 9080 Leavitt Rd., Elyria, Ohio 44035, or drop off at our office anytime between Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Plus, explore additional ways to contribute using your IRA or Donor Advised funds. Feel free to download the form and contact our office with any questions. Let’s unite in supporting Lorain County and create a lasting positive change together. Checks will be cashed as they are received.
The Connect to a Cause 2023 Participating Non-profits
- A Dementia Friendly Life Foundation
- American Red Cross North Central Ohio
- Amherst Educational Foundation
- Amherst Historical Society
- Avon Lake City Schools Foundation
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County
- Black River Audubon Society
- Blessing House
- Boy Scouts of America, Lake Erie Council
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
- Brownhelm Historical Association
- City Fresh
- Cleveland Hearing & Speech
- Common Ground
- Community Congregational UCC
- Cornerstone Pregnancy Services
- Easter Seals Northern Ohio
- Echoing Hills Village
- El Centro
- Elyria Arts Council
- Elyria City Schools Endowment
- Elyria Public Library Foundation
- ESC of Lorain County Endowment Fund
- Family Planning Services
- FireFish Arts Inc.
- Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
- Firelands Schools Endowment Fund
- Friends of the Elyria Public Library
- Friends of the Lorain County Junior Fair
- Friendship Animal Protective League
- Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
- Good Knights of Lorain County, Inc.
- Goodwill Industries of Lorain County
- Grafton-Midview Public Library
- Gathering Hope House
- Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity
- Hearts of Patriots
- Henry Johnson Center
- Keystone Educational Endowment (KEEP)
- Leadership Lorain County
- Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Let's Get Real, Inc.
- Lorain Schools Endowment
- Lorain Civic Center Committee
- Lorain Community Music Theater, Inc.
- Lorain County Community Action Agency
- Lorain County Free Clinic, Inc.
- Lorain County Historical Society
- Lorain County Imagination Library
- Lorain County JVS
- Lorain County Metro Parks
- Lorain County Office on Aging
- Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House
- Lorain County Urban League
- Lorain Historical Society
- Lorain Lighthouse Foundation
- Main Street Lorain
- Main Street Amherst
- Main Street Oberlin
- Main Street Vermilion
- Main Street Wellington, Inc.
- Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child
- Mercy Foundation of Lorain County
- Midview Schools Endowment
- National Council of Negro Women
- Neighborhood Alliance
- Nord Center
- North Ridgeville City Schools Endowment
- North Ridgeville Community Care
- Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra
- Oberlin Schools Endowment Fund
- Oberlin Choristers
- Oberlin Community Services Council
- Oberlin Early Childhood Center
- PACE Foundation
- Partners with Paws of Lorain County
- Ruby N Jones Community Scholarship Fund
- Sandstone Summer Theatre
- Save Our Children
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- Sheffield-Sheffield Lake School Endowment
- South Amherst Historical Society
- Southern Lorain County Historical Society
- The Foundation of the Lorain Public Library
- The LCADA Way
- The Salvation Army in Lorain County
- United Way of Greater Lorain County
- UH Elyria Medical Center Foundation
- Voices for Children
- Wellington Exempted Schools Endowment
- Wesleyan Senior Living Foundation
- Western Reserve Land Conservancy
- French Creek YMCA
- YWCA of Elyria
Business Champions
With the help of our Business Champions, Connect to a Cause is taking impact to the next level! Business Champion dollars are the primary source of funding for incentives that are awarded to these dedicated participating organizations on and after Connect to a Cause Day. While our bonus pool is prorated based upon overall fundraising that day, other exciting cash incentives are awarded at random based upon organizational participation. All Business Champion dollars ensure that each contribution is amplified and makes a more significant difference.
‘RAISE THE BAR’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
‘SURPRISE!’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
| Akron Children’s Hospital | Aztec Steel | Bendix |
| Buckeye Community Bank | Custom Cleaning Solutions | Cohen and Company |
| EMC Precision | Emerald Hospitality Associates | Fauver Legal |
| Fifth Third Bank | Geisel by HomeServe | Kidsmile Pediatric Dentistry |
| L.E. Belardo, Attorney | LorainCounty.com | Mermaid’s Tale |
| Modern Poured Walls | PNC Bank | Resilia |
| Ross Environmental Services | Simplified Facilities Group | Stewart Appliances |
| Strategy Design Partners | Vandemark Jewelers | Wickens Herzer Panza |
| Lake Erie Electric | Mercy Health | Kenneth L. Cherney Endowment Fund |
FAQs for Donors
Connect to a Cause is a community-wide day of giving created to support local non-profit agencies in Lorain County. All donations are coordinated by the Community Foundation of Lorain County and then disbursed to participating organizations following the day of giving.
- There is no limit to the amount of money a non-profit can raise during Connect to a Cause. The number of donors is also not limited.
- A minimum of 25% of the organization’s fundraising proceeds from Connect to a Cause will remain in each organization’s agency endowment fund. The remaining donations will be given directly to the organization to support its mission.
- A preliminary donation total will be announced at 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 21, with the final total raised on October 3.
The easiest way to make a donation will be through the Community Foundation website at peoplewhocare.org by using a debit or credit card. However, other forms of payment are accepted as well.
- Checks and/or cash donations must include the Check & Cash Donation Form and be postmarked by Thursday, September 21, or delivered in-person to the Foundation office by 8:00 PM on September 21.
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) donations must include the DAF & IRA Contribution Form. While the DAF/IRA check will come from the DAF/IRA administrator, a copy of the DAF/IRA donation form must be received by email by 8:00 PM on September 21.
- While recurring donations are encouraged, only donations received on the Connect to a Cause day count towards the total.
- The minimum donation amount is $5.
We encourage donors to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to help support their favorite non-profit’s participation in Connect to a Cause. You can also build momentum by responding to the content posted on our Community Foundation Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages. The hashtag #C2CLorainCounty will be the central “hub” for Connect to a Cause communication.
Community Foundation/Connect to a Cause Social Networks:
Facebook
@CommunityFoundationLorainCounty to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
Twitter
@Connectcarematr to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
Instagram
@Connectcarematr to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
LinkedIn
@CommunityFoundationLorainCounty to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
There is no fee associated with participating in Connect to a Cause for the organization. However, any donation made via credit card will incur processing fees of 2.9% plus $0.30. We have implemented an option for donors to cover a portion of the credit card fee at a flat rate of 3%.
The Community Foundation will acknowledge all contributions with tax receipts. Automatic thank you emails with the tax receipts will go out to all donors who donate via credit card at peoplewhocare.org. Donations by check will be acknowledged throughout the month of October.
Unless a donor makes an anonymous donation, donor information will be shared with the non-profits for their own, non-tax-related thank you letters.
For marketing, or general questions:
Brittany Lovett, Marketing and Communications Officer
blovett@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390
For questions regarding your endowment fund:
Laura Malone, Development Officer
lmalone@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390
For questions regarding donations:
Jim Stobe, CFO
jstobe@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390