The citywide giving event Long Beach Gives returns for its fifth year on Sept. 21, but as early as Sept. 14, community members have the chance to start contributing to local organizations.

Initially created by Julie Meenan, executive director of the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation as a graduate school project, and in collaboration with Michelle Byerly, executive director of The Nonprofit Partnership, the online fundraising effort is intended to promote individual giving and increase sustainability in the nonprofit sector.

The event also aims to make philanthropy accessible. With Long Beach Gives, all you need is $5 to make a difference.

Community members can explore 16 different causes, from children and youth, food security, arts and culture, and more, and can even filter results by council district as well, in order to contribute directly to their neighborhoods. Every participating nonprofit directly serves the Long Beach community.

To make the process even easier, the website has a shopping cart function, so you can contribute to as many organizations as you’d like all in one transaction.

In its first year, about 80 local nonprofits participated, but this year is its largest yet, with over 240 nonprofits involved.

Last year, the event raised over $1.96 million, and organizers hope that this year will reach the $2 million mark, said Long Beach Gives campaign manager Matt Guardabascio.

Since the event began in 2019, community members have contributed about $6.6 million to Long Beach Gives.

“Over the past four years, Long Beach Gives has allowed the people of Long Beach to make a collective impact across the city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a statement. “This September, in our fifth year, we can make a meaningful difference by working together and uplifting people in every community.”

Early giving for Long Beach Gives begins on Thursday, Sept.14, and donations will be accepted through midnight on Thursday, Sept. 21. Get more information about Long Beach Gives here.