How It Works

What to Expect at Give Fest!

Give Fest is back — and growing! Whether you’re a donor or a nonprofit, we want you to feel confident and excited about what to expect. That’s why we’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

We hope this clears things up, but if you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to help!

What is Give Fest?

Give Fest is a high-energy, 24-hour giving event that brings Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties together to support the life-changing work of our local nonprofits. Created by the Heartland Community Foundation, Give Fest is designed to spark generosity, raise awareness for local causes, and inspire our communities to give back in a big way.

Held each year in mid-October—just before the holiday rush—Give Fest features a playful Oktoberfest twist that celebrates the cultural heritage of our region. It’s philanthropy with a festive flair!

This year, on October 7, 2026, donations to participating organizations will be matched proportionally from a generous $XXX,000 match pool. Donors can also help nonprofits earn bonus prizes by giving during key moments of the day.

When is Give Fest?

Give Fest begins at midnight, Oct. 6, and continues until 11:59 p.m. The online giving platform will be open from Oct. 1-7. Early Bird donations are accepted at HeartlandGiveFest.org. Special in-person events are planned for each county during the day on Oct. 7, with food, music, photo spots, games and prizes! Plan to stop by and visit your favorite organization.

How does it work?

FOR DONORS: Donors select organization endowment(s) to support in person at the Give Fest events on Oct. 7, 2026, by mail, or online anytime between Oct. 1 and 7. Gifts will be added to the principal of the selected organization's endowed fund at HCF. Donor gifts will be matched proportionally, up to 100% from HCF's $XXX,000 matching pool. Those matched dollars from HCF can go direct to the organization for immediate use, if their fund is more than $10,000. There is no minimum donation amount. Checks must be made payable to the Heartland Community Foundation. Mailed donations should be sent no later than Oct. 5 to ensure they arrive on Oct. 7. Donors will include a donation form to direct funds to the nonprofit(s) they’ve selected and in what amounts. Give Fest is one-stop-shop giving made easy!

FOR NONPROFITS: Qualifying organizations from Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties are eligible to participate. They are encouraged to campaign, send email blasts, post on social media, plan events, etc. — whatever it takes to motivate their base to support them during the giving day! Donors can spread the word too. No single organization can receive more than half of the total match. Gifts made direct from the organization are not eligible for matching funds. Only the first $10,000 of a gift is eligible to be matched.

What are the benefits?

The benefits for nonprofits include: a chance to let new donors learn about local organizations, the opportunity to grow donations during a relatively quiet time of year, free marketing materials, extensive publicity, and the opportunity to earn matched dollars and prizes.

Meanwhile, for the community, the benefits include: increased awareness of local agencies, strengthening our local service providers with operation and endowment dollars so they can continue their good work; modeling a culture of philanthropy.

Who is participating?

Nonprofit organizations, schools, and religious institutions serving Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties are welcome to register for Give Fest. Registration is open July 20-Sept. 4. Nonprofits must have a organization, designated, or field-of-interest fund at the community foundation. They must also sign an agreement form and upload profile information in order to participate. Vist the HOME page to see the list of 2026 participants.

How to give?

Donations will be tax deductible and can be applied to multiple organizations with a single check or online gift. Donors will receive a receipt letter by email after the event, if they provide an email address. Donations are irrevocable.

Print out or pick up a 2026 Give Fest Giving Form to make one-stop giving easy!
In-person in Hays, Oct. 7, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Hays Recreation); In-person in WaKeeney, (TBD), Oct. 7, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; In-person, Oct. 7, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (TBD). Nonprofits can set up tables to share information with visitors. Participation in the event is optional.
Drop off at any HCF office, 1200 Main St., Hays, between 8:30-5:30 p.m., Oct. 10.
Online during the Give Fest giving period at HeartlandGiveFest.org Online gifts accepted midnight Oct. 1 through 11:59 p.m., Oct. 7.
Mail to Heartland: PO Box 1673, Hays, KS 67601. Must be received by Oct. 10.
Credit card gifts are subject to a 2.2% credit card fee plus a 30-cent transaction fee
Out-of-town donors can send gifts directly to the organization. The organization will then bring the gift to be counted. Checks must be made out to Heartland Community Foundation with the charity’s name in the memo, along with a donor form.

Eligibility

Participating nonprofits must have an endowed fund with HCF. Participation is at no cost to the organizations. Organization, Designated, and Field-of-Interest Funds are eligible.
A Nonprofit Participation Agreement & Registration Form is due by Sept. 4 in order to participate in Give Fest.
To establish a new fund, the completed fund agreement is also due by Sept. 4. The minimum to open a new fund is $2,000.
Organizations will receive a 1:1 match OR proportionate to the total amount raised, from a match pool of up to $XXX,000.
Donors will indicate their county match pool preference on the donation form. If no preference is given, then the organization's primary county of origin will determine the county match pool.
Participants should market the event to their donors. HCF will supply organizations with a marketing toolkit.
No single organization is allowed to receive more than half of the total match per county.
Only the first $10,000 of a gift is eligible to be matched.
Donations by participating organizations to their own fund will not qualify for the match.
All gifts from donors go to the principal of the organization’s ENDOWED fund and are restricted to the 5% annual spendable rule.
Nonprofits may choose how to receive their matching dollars earned: cash grant for immediate use, only applicable if your fund has a balance of at least $10,000; Or, direct to your fund, non-endowed or endowed.

Who will be at the day-of events?

Give Fest 2026 is the place to be on Oct. 7! Three concurrent celebrations will go on during the day -- one in each county. We expect the bulk of the fun to take place between 10-1 p.m., but donors are encouraged to visit any time between 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Expect food, fun, music, photo spots, games, and prizes! It's Oktoberfest -- Give Fest! We will also once again welcome all of the area 5th graders, who will be visiting throughout the day to learn about the organizations and armed with sponsored donation dollars to give out. Join us at Hays Rec in Hays, TBD.

How can my business get involved?

If you'd like to become an event sponsor or 5th grade sponsor, please reach out to Sarah Meitner via email at heartland@gscf.org by phone at 785-621-4090. If you'd like to implement your own employee match simply fill out our Employee Match Form. Your business will then be listed on our donation form, which will be available on our website and in person on the day of the event. When an employee donates to a participating organization they simply check who they are employed with and your match, along with HCF's match, gets added to their gift! If you'd like to become a MATCH POOL sponsor for 2026 or 2027, please contact us at heartland@gscf.org.

What is an Organization Fund?

Organization Funds offer a simple and efficient way for nonprofits to build capacity and provide long-term support for their missions. Org Funds are comprised of both an endowed and non-endowed account. The non-endowed account has no restrictions, while the endowed account is restricted to the current spending policy, or 5% of a 16-quarter rolling average.

An Organization Fund might be right for you if:

You are a 501c3 nonprofit or church.
If you want to provide your organization with a permanent source of revenue for financial sustainability.
Need a simple and efficient way to manage an endowment so that you can focus on your mission and day-to-day operations.
If you want more giving options for your donors who wish to include you in their estate gifts.

DESIGNATED FUNDS and FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS are also eligible to participate in Give Fest. These types of funds can be opened by an individual, business, organization, or foundation.