By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

If organizers for the 2025 Southwest Nebraska Big Give had to sum up the day in one word, it would be “impressive.” The one-day of giving on Nov. 6 reached a new record in 2025, with $410,855.49 in donations for 45 organizations in McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

While the Southwest Nebraska Big Give is technically 24 hours long, donations trickle in on the days following the event. The total at the end of the Big Give earlier this month was $370,000, already a new record total. But with additional donations and sponsorships, the total surpassed $400,000 for the first time in its 10-year history. 

Additionally, the number of donations reached record levels with more than 1,200 individual donations, surpassing the 954 donations in 2024. 

Along with individual donors, the Big Give is made possible because of generous sponsors which provide matching funds for the organizations.

The 2025 platinum sponsors include the Graff Charitable Foundation and MNB Bank. Gold sponsors are Community Hospital and First Interstate Bank.

While donations can no longer be made online, the Big Give website is still available at swnebiggive.org with a complete list of the organizations, the goals and their totals. 

The Southwest Nebraska Big Give is organized by the Community Chest, a committee of local volunteers. As they wrap up the 2025 event, plans are already underway for the 2026 Big Give, which will be Thursday, Nov. 5. 

The McCook Community Chest is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation.