The Give Where You Live Initiative is the flagship effort of Douglas County Philanthropy.
It exists to help generosity in Douglas County work better — not by creating another program, but by strengthening the systems, relationships, and shared understanding that make local giving effective.
This initiative brings nonprofits, businesses, donors, and professional advisors into closer alignment around one simple idea:
When giving is rooted locally and guided intentionally, everyone benefits.
Douglas County is one of the most generous communities in the country.
Yet much of that generosity moves without coordination, shared context, or long-term connection.
Nonprofits work hard to tell their stories but often compete for limited attention.
Businesses want to support their communities but struggle to manage requests and define consistent giving practices.
Donors and professional advisors care deeply about local impact, yet don’t always have clear, trusted pathways to engage with confidence.
The challenge is not generosity.
It’s alignment.
Give Where You Live helps generosity move closer to home — with intention, clarity, and shared stewardship.
The Give Where You Live Initiative functions as the civic backbone for local philanthropy in Douglas County.
It does this by:
Connecting nonprofits with resources and relationships
Helping organizations strengthen visibility, coordination, and capacity — not by competing louder, but by connecting more intentionally.
Supporting businesses in establishing intentional local giving practices
Providing structure, shared norms, and guidance so corporate giving feels thoughtful, manageable, and aligned with community priorities.
Creating trusted pathways for donors and professional advisors
Offering clear, credible ways to understand local needs, identify aligned organizations, and connect philanthropic goals to meaningful local impact.
This work is about infrastructure — not bureaucracy — and about relationships that make generosity easier, not heavier.
The Give Where You Live Initiative is not:
Instead, it is a place-based philanthropy initiative designed to strengthen how local giving works over time.
We focus on:
The goal is a healthier local ecosystem — where generosity flows with confidence, coordination, and care.
The Give Where You Live Initiative is activated through education, convenings, and shared resources, including:
Each element is designed to build long-term capacity — not just one-time outcomes.
The Give Where You Live Initiative serves:
Nonprofits
seeking stronger relationships, clearer visibility, and sustainable fundraising practices.
Businesses
looking to engage locally with intention, consistency, and impact.
Donors and professional advisors
who want trusted insight into local needs and aligned opportunities for meaningful giving.
Community leaders
who care about the long-term health of Douglas County’s philanthropic ecosystem.
Douglas County Philanthropy convenes this initiative as a neutral, independent entity — focused on strengthening the ecosystem, not owning it.
The work is collaborative by design.
Success is measured not by individual recognition, but by stronger systems, healthier relationships, and generosity that moves with shared purpose.
The Give Where You Live Initiative was launched with the support of founding partners whose early stewardship helped establish strong foundations for this work.
White Whale Events serves as a founding partner and fundraising event and education sponsor, bringing decades of experience in leadership-driven fundraising, event strategy, nonprofit engagement, and board leadership to help shape early programs and shared learning.
Vaughn Law serves as a founding legal partner, providing guidance across governance, organizational structure, partnerships, and compliance. With deep experience advising businesses, nonprofits, and professional advisors across a wide range of industries, Vaughn Law helps ensure the initiative is built responsibly, transparently, and positioned for sustainable growth over time.
This partnership helped shape early programs, learning opportunities, and shared resources, grounding the initiative in collaboration, credibility, and long-term value for the Douglas County community.
Douglas County Philanthropy operates independently as a neutral civic entity, while benefiting from the early stewardship of partners committed to strengthening local philanthropy with care, clarity, and accountability.
There is no single way to participate.
Some engage through learning.
Some through partnership.
Some through sponsorship or civic leadership.
It all begins with a conversation.
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