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It’s the Big Day of Giving: How Sacramento nonprofits are doing so far

As of early Thursday afternoon, Sacramento region nonprofits have raised more than $8.7 million in the Big Day of Giving.

The annual event, a Sacramento region tradition launched by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation in 2013, has raised more than $117 million since its creation.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to rally around our nonprofit sector and provide contributions,” said Kerry Wood, the foundation’s chief executive officer, at her organization’s command center on Thursday.

The center was enjoying a visit of kittens from Mission Meow Cat Rescue and bunnies from the Sacramento House Rabbit Society.

Donors can select from 910 nonprofits that have signed up to participate, a record. Donations can be made at bigdayofgiving.org.

Top Big Day of Giving recipients

From the foundation’s leaderboard of 1:30 p.m. Thursday:

  1. Yolo Food Bank: 339 donations for $241,617
  2. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services: 400 donations for $179,917
  3. Volunteers of America: 115 donations for $150,434
  4. Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera: 54 donations for $141,443
  5. Meals on Wheels Yolo County: 252 donations for $136,521
  6. Capital Public Radio: 374 donations for $126,258
  7. Sacramento Splash: 327 donations for $124,614
  8. First Tee — Greater Sacramento: 217 donations for $124,231
  9. The Salvation Army of Sacramento: 106 donations for $121,164
  10. Sacramento Children’s Home: 181 donations for $118,407

The Bee’s Hector Amezcua contributed to this story.

A kitten from Mission Meow Cat Rescue walks on a computer displaying the total donations on Thursday morning as the Sacramento Region Community Foundation hosts the annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento.
A kitten from Mission Meow Cat Rescue walks on a computer displaying the total donations on Thursday morning as the Sacramento Region Community Foundation hosts the annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation hosts the annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday.
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation hosts the annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
An English angora bunny that was rescued sits in a pen from Sacramento House Rabbit Society as he participates in Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday.
An English angora bunny that was rescued sits in a pen from Sacramento House Rabbit Society as he participates in Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Shelby Snowden, a volunteer with Mission Meow Cat Rescue, holds a pair of kittens at Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday.
Shelby Snowden, a volunteer with Mission Meow Cat Rescue, holds a pair of kittens at Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s annual Big Day of Giving in Sacramento on Thursday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 11:50 AM.

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