Local, independent, and interested in what happens after the gift.
Pasadena Gives covers the nonprofits of greater Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley: the organizations, the people who raise their money, the funders, and the events. It is especially interested in the part of fundraising nobody writes about, which is what an organization does for a supporter after the receipt.
Who writes it
George Ricciardella. Fifteen years raising money inside nonprofits, most recently as Director of Development at a drug and alcohol treatment center in Pasadena, and now a fractional development consultant working with small organizations on their data, systems and follow-up. He built and runs the website for ADO-SGV, the peer group of development officers in the San Gabriel Valley, and lives in Burbank.
How it is paid for, and what it recommends
It is not paid for. There are no sponsors, no ads and no paid placements, and no organization can buy a showcase. The editor earns his living as a consultant. When this site recommends a person, a firm, a tool or a service, including the editor's own practice, Second Story Consulting, it says so in the same sentence, every time. If a sentence recommends something and does not say who benefits, that is a mistake; write in and it will be corrected.
The list
The list of nonprofits comes from the member roster of ADO-SGV, published at adosgv.org. Organizations are listed by name with a link to the donation page they publish themselves. Individual staff are not named. An organization in greater Pasadena or the west San Gabriel Valley that is not on the roster can ask to be added here.
Suggest an organization, or ask to be listed
Email george@secondstoryconsulting.com with "Pasadena Gives" in the subject line. For a showcase suggestion, send the organization's name and one sentence about something it does after a gift that you think others should copy. Showcases are chosen by the editor and are never paid for.
The sister publication
After the Receipt is the editor's weekly on fundraising nationally: five things that happened each week and the one move each asks of a small nonprofit, plus explainers on receipts, 990s, donor retention, mid-level donors, donor-advised funds and board questions. Separate site, same rules.