Organizers of the annual “CV Giving Day” fundraiser urged community members Wednesday to begin donating early as the Coachella Valley-wide online campaign returns next month to support local nonprofit organizations.
Presented by California Bank and Trust in partnership with the Desert Community Foundation, the 24-hour online event on March 3 aims to increase nonprofit visibility, generate critical funding and encourage long-term community engagement across the region.
“Each year, CV Giving Day demonstrates the power of collective generosity across the Coachella Valley,” CB&T Executive Vice President Lance Barney said in a statement. “Early giving provides donors the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on causes they care about, while helping local nonprofits prepare for a strong CV Giving Day in March.”
Since launching in 2023, the campaign has raised more than $2 million for Coachella Valley nonprofits, including more than $800,000 in 2025 alone, according to organizers.
“Early giving is where a lot of the momentum for CV Giving Day really begins,” said Desert Community Foundation Executive Director Mary Panesar.
“It gives nonprofits time to engage their supporters and build toward March in a meaningful way. While many people experience CV Giving Day as a single day of giving, for us it’s a year-round effort — stewarding resources and working behind the scene so early generosity leads to lasting impact for local organizations.”
California Bank and Trust and the Regional Access Project Foundation will each contribute $50,000 to a prize incentive pool that will be distributed through various challenges during the event.
“It’s inspiring to see the generosity that runs through our community. CV Giving Day is about supporting the people and nonprofits doing the hard work on the front line every single day,” Leticia De Lara, CEO of RAP Foundation, said in a statement.
Early giving will remain open until the event next month, and nonprofits may register through Feb. 24.
More information is available at cvgivingday.org.