Each year at our Exemplary Leadership Celebration, we honor networks for the common good that demonstrate ALF values and practices of cross-sector collaboration and impact for equity. This recognition is known as the Network Leadership Award.
One of this year’s awardees, Coastside Gives, raised a record $1.4 million for 59 nonprofits while the urgency of the pandemic was waning, but the need remained significant.
Here, ALF’s Marketing and Communications Director, Richard Ángel Vega, shares a Q&A session with Mary Oldham, Vice President at Mavericks Community Foundation, the sponsor and presenter of Coastside Gives.
Richard: What is the goal of Coastside Gives?
Mary: Coastside Gives is a 24-hour online giving day held on the first Thursday in May sponsored and presented by Mavericks Community Foundation. Additionally, thanks to local businesses, private donors, and foundations, each nonprofit that participates in Coastside Gives is eligible for thousands of dollars in prize grants.
In 2021 we distributed $85,000 in grants directly to nonprofits who participated in Coastside Gives by posting social media, videos, random draws, and other gamification to engage the community and their donors. We also help nonprofits by offering capacity-building seminars to help nonprofits succeed. We also have an in-person donation drop-off available on gives day as well.
Since our inception, we have raised over $5.2 million dollars which have directly benefited over 30,000 Coastside residents. We strive to make a lasting impact on the San Mateo County Coast by encouraging community engagement, support, and collaboration.
R: Where is Coastside Gives based, or where does it operate?
M: Coastside Gives is a fundraiser sponsored and presented by Mavericks Community Foundation to benefit nonprofits who operate in the community between Montara and Pescadero, CA. We partner with a technology provider that processes donations online for over 50 nonprofits over a 24-hour period.
R: What’s your role within the organization?
M: I am one of the founding members of Mavericks Community Foundation and served as secretary until recently becoming Vice President. We now have seven dedicated Coastside community members who serve on our all-volunteer board. Thanks to community partners and donors, we now have a year-round, part-time Executive Director, as well as a program manager for Coastside Gives.
R: What would you say is your organization’s biggest win in the last year or so?
M: We have increased funding to our local nonprofits every year since our inception of Coastside Gives in 2015. Thanks to our donors, local businesses, and foundation support, this year we funded a year-round, part-time Executive Director, to ensure the future success of our organization and Coastside Gives. Additionally, our giving day has provided an opportunity for nonprofits to engage together, learn, and create opportunities to collaborate on shared goals.
R: Has Coastside Gives been required to change their approach or pivot in any way due to the pandemic?
M: This is a virtual fundraiser, so as far as execution, we have been fortunate. Before the pandemic, our kickoff meeting, trainings, and wrap-up events were held in person, and those had to (become) virtual because of the pandemic.
Face-to-face collaboration between organizations suffered, as it is difficult to do that virtually. The upside is that Coastside Gives has become a critical source of funding for Coastside nonprofits. Many nonprofits depend on in-person fundraising events that were canceled by the pandemic. Many are small nonprofits that have no dedicated fundraising staff and do not have the technology in place for online fundraising.
Thanks to Coastside Gives support, they have a platform to engage their donors and raise much-needed funds for their organizations. Our platform ensures an equal playing field, from the smallest nonprofit to the largest; our platform, training, and development information provides a roadmap for all nonprofits to succeed. Nonprofits can also publish in-person and virtual events and request volunteers from the community through our giving day platform.
We are proud to facilitate this so we can continue to provide much-needed services in the community.
R: Are there any particular partners, supporters, staff, or beneficiaries that have made the work of Coastside Gives possible or worthwhile over the last few years?
M: Coastside Gives was formed by a small group of passionate Coastsiders who reached out to local members of the community, businesses and community foundations who were dedicated to supporting local nonprofits.
Coastside Gives began in 2015 as part of Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Giving Day, which was the spark for our foundation to continue a yearly giving day. In 2016 we joined East Bay Community Foundation’s Giving Day. We have operated as the sole presenter of Coastside Gives since 2017.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation has funded our giving day since its inception. In addition to providing funding, Silicon Valley Community Foundation has formed a new alliance of small foundations that operate in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and Mavericks Community Foundation is part of this outstanding group. Thanks to Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s sponsorship and mentoring, we have received training on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, implicit bias, provided memberships to organizations who provide concrete information and training in areas including strategic planning, board recruitment, donor development, and stewardship.
The Kirby Foundation and Sand Hill Foundation are also important strategic partners for funding, as well as many local businesses.
Finally, we are grateful for a core group of community members who fund Coastside Gives every year.
R: What do you think is the key to the continued success of Coastside Gives moving forward?
M: Creating a stable funding stream for future growth to ensure we can fund our nonprofits year over year. Becoming a sustainable foundation that has an endowment fund that can offer multiple grant opportunities as needed to nonprofits in our community, not just one time a year.
R: How can others help contribute to the work of Coastside Gives?
M: Donate on May 7 at coastsidegives.org to one of over 50 organizations that operate on the San Mateo County coast! These nonprofits provide support to the community in arts, education, environment, health & human services, youth development, and social advocacy. We would also welcome any grant opportunities that would continue to fund our mission to support nonprofits here on the coast.
Mary Oldham is Vice President of the Mavericks Community Foundation. She received a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture with a minor in Biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mary has worked in the ornamental horticulture industry on the Coastside since 1980, handling purchasing, customer service, marketing, copyrighting and event planning for a large wholesale nursery. She has been an investor in the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company since 2004, and retired from her role as director of marketing in 2019, to pursue some of her hobbies and other interests.
Mary lives in Montara with her husband, Tim, where they raised three daughters; all of whom attended schools within the Cabrillo Unified School District. This gave Mary many opportunities to volunteer in the community including the Coastside Infant Toddler Center, Farallone View Elementary School, Cunha Middle School, and Half Moon Bay High School in various capacities such as Fundraising Chair, PTA Board, Classroom Volunteer, Chaperone, Grad Night Chair, Co-chair and Committee member. Cooking is a passion for Mary. Her grandfather was a railroad cook, and food is always a highlight of every family and friend gathering. Currently Mary serves as a board member for The HEAL Project; providing the opportunity to combine her horticulture, event and marketing skills for a wonderful cause.
