The Prairie Godmothers group’s next event, a Match and Mingle Cocktail Party on Monday, Dec. 1, will give the nonprofit organization a jump start on the third annual Giving Tuesday.
The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Knights of Columbus, 723 Main St. This holiday cocktail party will include refreshments, live music, and opportunities to make end-of-year, tax-deductible donations,
 Prairie Godmothers, a group of women (and men) helping women, is one of 30 non-profits participating in Giving Tuesday through the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Giving Tuesday inspires personal philanthropy and encourages bigger, better and smarter charitable giving during the holiday season, showing that the world truly gives as good as it gets. New this year is a $30,000 pool of matching funds and incentive grants provided by local donors.
Gifts turned in to the foundation on Dec. 2 will be used to proportionately match donations and to reward the endowment funds that bring in the most donations on Giving Tuesday, said Melanie Calcara and other members of the Prairie Godmother Funds Advisory Board.
“Think of it like a pie. If the Prairie Godmother’s Fund brings in 10 percent of all donations given that day, then we will receive 10 percent of the matching funds available. There are also two other incentive grants available. One will be awarded to the fund with the highest dollar amount endowed on Giving Tuesday. The other will be awarded to the fund with the greatest number of individual donors.”
With 200 members and growing, Prairie Godmothers aims to get its share of the pie. Members and prospective members are invited to make their donations during the Dec. 1 mixer. “Even if you can’t attend, please plan to send in your year-end donation for Prairie Godmothers,” sponsors said. Donations are accepted any time, but will only count toward the proportional matching funds or incentive grants on Giving Tuesday.