Brackets for Good pits Ann Arbor-area nonprofits against each other for $10,000 prize

For the second year in a row, the nonprofit Brackets For Good is helping Ann Arbor-area organizations raise money and awareness by pitting nonprofits against each other in a bracket-style competitive online giving tournament.

Since its 2012 founding in Indianapolis, the nonprofit has expanded to 11 cities including Ann Arbor. Each participating nonprofit gets to keep all donations raised during the competition, and the top winner gets a $10,000 prize from a sponsor.

Valeo Financial Advisors was a major sponsor in other cities, so when Valeo opened a new office in Ann Arbor, it brought the Brackets For Good fundraiser with it last spring.

Until March 31, supporters may make online donations to help a favorite Ann Arbor-area nonprofit organization advance toward the final $10,000 Championship Grant. This year's 38 participating nonprofits range from the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre to Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County.

Last year’s Championship Grant winner in the Ann Arbor area was the Ecology Center, an environmental education and policy action nonprofit.

Ecology Center deputy director Rebecca Meuninck says she thinks the organization’s success the first year was due to its efforts to engage board, staff, and supporters while keeping things fun.

The Ecology Center did a lot of outreach on social media and organized watching parties at the office for staff and board members as the climax of each round of the competition played out. A clock on the Ann Arbor bracket's home page counts donations and time left to donate.

"Everybody pitched in. In the last few minutes, donors would make last-minute gifts to push us over each week," Meuninck says.

Besides receiving the $10,000 grand prize, the competition also helped the Ecology Center bring in a large chunk of money much earlier in the year than usual. Many charities receive the bulk of their donations toward the end of each year, but the Ecology Center brought in about 20 to 25 percent of its annual budget by March due to the competition, Meuninck says.

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and editor in Ypsilanti Township. You may reach her at sarahrigg1@gmail.com.