Marietta Foundation Will Host Nonprofit Challenge in November
The Marietta Community Foundation will launch its annual fundraising drive for local groups starting November 2.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Marietta Community Foundation has announced the 2026 Nonprofit Challenge: Change-Makers, a fundraising initiative running from November 2 to November 16. Local 501(c)(3) organizations across Washington County will compete for a total of $30,000 in prize funds.
Why it matters
This challenge is designed to boost engagement among local supporters and drive contributions directly into the Community Impact Fund. It provides a structured platform for regional nonprofits to secure additional capital while building awareness for their causes.
The top five performing nonprofits will share $29,000 in prize money, with a separate $1,000 award granted for the best decorated jug. Prize tiers include $10,000 for first place, $8,500 for second, $5,000 for third, $3,000 for fourth, and $2,500 for fifth.
The players
Marietta Community Foundation
This is a philanthropic organization based in Marietta that manages charitable funds to support various community projects and local nonprofit organizations.
The details
Participating nonprofits are required to decorate a collection jug and gather donations from supporters over the two-week period. Organizations earn points based on the total monetary value of contributions collected for the Community Impact Fund.
Timeline
October 16, 2026: Deadline for nonprofit registration.
October 23, 2026: Jug pickup date.
October 30, 2026: Jug return deadline.
November 2-16, 2026: Nonprofit Challenge: Change-Makers duration.
November 18, 2026: Winner announcement.
Market Landscape
This event follows a common trend of using gamified philanthropy to drive localized donation volume for the Community Impact Fund. By incentivizing competition among local nonprofits, the foundation increases the total capital raised compared to traditional, non-competitive charitable drives.
Donors can participate by contributing to their favorite local 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the two-week event. These contributions directly bolster the Community Impact Fund while helping their chosen local groups vie for significant cash prizes.
The takeaway
This initiative demonstrates how competitive fundraising models can effectively activate local donor bases for long-term community support. Residents should monitor the progress of their preferred local nonprofits to ensure their donations are counted toward the prize rankings.
What happens next
Registered nonprofits will be required to return their decorated collection jugs by October 30, 2026, ahead of the November 2 start date.
Further reading
For additional context on regional charitable initiatives, visit the Philanthropy section.
More information
For more details on the event, visit the Nonprofit challenge registration and information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mariettatimes.
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