Live Give 7B Raises Over $228,000 in Inaugural Campaign Week—And It's Just the Beginning

The first-ever Live Give 7B giving week came to a close on April18th with the results exceeding all expectations. What began as a grassroots effort to shine

a light on local nonprofits, blossomed into a powerful expression of community spirit and generosity. With 480 donors contributing just over $228,000, the campaign more than tripled its original goal of $70,000, sending vital support to nonprofits throughout Bonner County.

While the campaign week was the highlight, the purpose of Live Give 7B is far more than a one-week event. This initiative is designed to serve as a year-round resource that helps our community discover, connect with, and support the nonprofits doing essential work right here at home. The Live Give 7B website allows residents to explore organizations by focus area, find volunteer opportunities, and learn how to give in ways that make a lasting impact.

“This campaign was born out of a simple idea shared during our monthly nonprofit director meetings,” said Dig Chrismer, Regional Director of the Innovia Foundation. “We wanted to help our neighbors focus on the work being done right here in Bonner County—work that often flies under the radar but makes this community what it is. Live Give 7B brings that work into the spotlight.”

Live Give 7B is also an initiative that recognizes and uplifts the local business community, those family-run stores, service providers, and makers who are the backbone of Bonner County’s economy. These are the businesses that not only keep our dollars circulating locally but are also the first to step up when a nonprofit needs sponsorship, a raffle donation, or a helping hand. By encouraging our community to shop local and support these homegrown enterprises, Live Give 7B underscores the powerful, reciprocal relationship between thriving businesses and thriving nonprofits.

When we invest in one, we strengthen the other—and our entire community benefits.

The campaign culminated with celebrations in Sandpoint at Matchwood Brewing and in

Priest River at Timber Town Beer Co., drawing nonprofit staff, volunteers, and supporters from across the county. The effort was supported through a grant from the Equinox Foundation, with additional in-kind support from community partners who stepped in once word of the campaign spread.

Live Give 7B is more than a moment—it’s a movement. It’s a platform that celebrates the

nonprofits and local businesses that give Bonner County its heart and character.

Organizers plan to build on this year’s momentum by hosting additional community events and expanding outreach efforts to ensure that local giving remains strong and accessible year-round.

For more information, to find a nonprofit, or to give today, visit 7bgives.org