By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

While the Southwest Nebraska Big Give is still more than five months away, plans are underway for the 11th annual one-day of giving on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. 

Non-profit organizations that would like to participate in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give must register between June 1-30 on the Big Give website, www.swnebiggive.org. This includes those groups which have participated in the past and those which would like to be included for the first time this year.

To join the SWNE Big Give, organizations are asked to fill out an application on the website under “Register Your Non-Profit Now.” Participants must also attend a planning meeting in July, as well as offer support leading up to and on the day of the Big Give.

To be eligible for the Big Give, organizations must have a 501(c)3 exempt status in good standing with the IRS as well as have a physical presence and provide services for Southwest Nebraska. Private foundations and political or governmental organizations are excluded from the event. Religious organizations are also excluded except those providing community programs. All applications are ultimately approved by the Community Chest committee, which organizes the Big Give.

Once the non-profits are determined, the Community Chest will work continuously until the 24-hours of giving on Nov. 5. This includes obtaining sponsorships, which provide the matching dollars for the organizations and the power-hour funds; hosting a free-will dinner at MNB’s Hot Summer Nights in July; and planning the soup supper on the evening of the Big Give for the second year in a row. The committee will also determine the giving stations and online power hours, available from midnight to midnight on Nov. 5. 

All of this information plus the application for the non-profits will be available on the Big Give website, www.swnebiggive, as it becomes available.

Coordinated by the Community Chest volunteer committee, Southwest Nebraska Big Give is one day devoted to philanthropy, where every donation - large or small - makes a difference. From midnight to midnight on Nov. 5, participating non-profits will be eligible for donations, whether they are given online or in person at “giving stations.”

Donors get to choose both how much they would like to give along with where the money should go. There will also be matching funds, provided by local businesses supporting the event, making those donations go even further. Any business or organizations which would like to be a sponsor for Big Give McCook should contact Community Chest members.

Originally known as Big Give McCook, the event is now in its fourth year as Southwest Nebraska Big Give. With so many organizations participating from around Southwest Nebraska, the name was changed in 2023.

Community Chest is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, which is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation. 

For more information about the Southwest Nebraska Big Give, visit the Big Give website or call Community Chest co-coordinators Lisa Felker or Melissa Stritt at 308-345-4240 or MCFF coordinator Ronda Graff at 308-340-3412.