Great Give Day sets new record with over 118-thousand for Clayton County non profits

Our region's biggest day of giving also set a region-wide record of over $820,000 raised.

CLAYTON COUNTY, Iowa – For the first time in its 12-year history, Great Give Day raised over $800,000 for nonprofits across the Dubuque region, providing important funding at a time when organizations need it most.

In total, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s annual online giving day on May 20  raised $820,657* for participating nonprofits spanning Dubuque, Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Jackson and Jones Counties. This year’s total topped last year’s of $640,000, and passed the Community Foundation’s $700,000 goal for 2026.

In Clayton County, donors gave $118,271 to 31 participating organizations, far surpassing last year’s total donations of $92,600. Organizations that raised $300 or more will each receive an equal share of a $3,000 matching pool from the Leroy and Colleen Darby Family Endowed Donor-Advised Fund. Plus, Ewalu Bible Camp & Retreat Center won a $500 bonus prize for having the most donors in Clayton County on Great Give Day.

“We are beyond grateful to the people in our region for the incredible outpouring of generosity we saw in just 24 hours,” says Emily Sadewasser, executive director of the Clayton County Foundation for the Future, one of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s eight affiliate foundations that participate in Great Give Day. “We also know that this level of generosity doesn’t just happen on Great Give Day – it happens every day in our community.”

The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque hosts Great Give Day each year as part of its work to strengthen local nonprofits and ignite generosity. Since 2014, it has raised more than $5 million for organizations across the seven-county Dubuque region. A record 232 nonprofits participated this year, competing for $33,250 in bonus prizes from local business sponsors. (See below for lists of prize winners and sponsors)

“Nonprofits are facing many challenges right now,” says Peter Supple, director of nonprofit relations for the Community Foundation. “There is a lot of uncertainty around funding. At the same time, the need for services continues to grow. That’s why seeing such generosity from our community members makes us so happy. People stepped up in a big way to strengthen the nonprofits that strengthen our region.”

The Community Foundation thanks the many generous sponsors, donors and participating nonprofits that made Great Give Day 2026 a success.

Presenting Sponsors

• Avantax Wealth Management

• Ohnward Bancshares

• Radio Dubuque

• TH Media

  
  
  
  

  Platinum Sponsors

• Dubuque Bank and Trust

• First Community Trust

• Mason Investment Advisory Services Inc.

• MidWestOne Bank

• U.S. Bank (Great Give Day Live sponsor)

  
  
  
  

  Gold Sponsors

• Bill Klauer/Klauer Manufacturing

• Friday Financial

• Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto

• The Vogt Group

  
  
  
  

  Silver Sponsor

• Lamar Advertising

  
  
  
  

  To view the final results and a full list of sponsors, visit greatgiveday.org.

  
  
  
  

  The Clayton County Foundation for the Future offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Emily Sadewasser at 563-880-6044.