Record 70 applicants reflect growing demand for a program that builds fundraising capacity while bringing Cobb together to give
Thirty-one nonprofit organizations have been selected to participate in Cobb Community Foundation’s 2026 Match Magic: Cobb’s Holiday Giveathon, the largest group in the campaign’s four-year history.
The organizations were chosen from a record 70 applicants, up from just over 50 in 2025. The increase made this year’s decisions more difficult than ever—and speaks to how far a simple holiday giveathon has come.
Match Magic began in 2023 as the Cobb Thrives Gift Guide, a print and online catalog featuring specific year-end wishes from 30 local nonprofits. Community members responded with $71,000 in gifts. The guide helped important requests find generous donors, but it also revealed a larger opportunity: What if a holiday campaign could help nonprofits raise not only money, but also visibility, stronger fundraising skills and relationships with new supporters?
In 2024, that idea became Match Magic. The campaign shifted from a catalog of individual wishes to a time-limited, nonprofit-led fundraising effort. Participating organizations received storytelling instruction, coaching, ready-to-use communications tools, a dedicated online giving page and the reach of a coordinated communitywide media campaign. A Match Pool was added so every qualifying organization’s fundraising could earn additional dollars.
The community’s response changed the scale of what was possible. Twenty-five organizations raised more than $703,000 in 2024, and a $108,000 Match Pool brought the total distributed to more than $811,000. In 2025, 27 organizations raised nearly $1.6 million; with almost $138,000 in matching funds, the campaign generated $1,710,586 in just three weeks.
The growth was measured in relationships as well as dollars. Among 2025 participants, 93% reported gaining new donors, 89% reached a new audience and 78% received larger gifts from existing supporters. Nearly nine in 10 said the time they invested was worth the exposure and donations they received.
“The numbers are extraordinary, but the real magic is what remains after the campaign ends,” said Shari Martin, president and CEO of Cobb Community Foundation. “Nonprofits leave with clearer stories, practical tools they can use again and new and more people who understand and care about their work. At the same time, neighbors, businesses and families have an easy way to discover organizations strengthening our community and to be part of what they make possible.”
Community leaders make the selections
Participation in Match Magic is determined through a community-led competitive application process. Trained local leaders review the applications and consider each organization’s eligibility, service to Cobb residents, story, fundraising plan and readiness to make the most of the campaign. Reviewers then meet to discuss the applications together and ultimately decide which organizations will participate.
That process is intentional. It places the decision in the hands of people who know and care about Cobb while bringing multiple perspectives to a difficult choice. With 70 applications for 2026 and 31 available places, reviewers faced the most competitive selection process in the program’s history.
The selected organizations address needs and opportunities across Cobb, including food security, housing, economic mobility, health care, mental wellness, youth development, animal welfare, the arts and tailored support for people facing distinct challenges.
Building capacity that lasts
Match Magic advances two priorities in Cobb Community Foundation’s strategic plan: expanding nonprofit capacity and creating opportunities for collective giving.
For participating nonprofits, the program is not a fundraiser done on their behalf. Each organization develops and leads its own campaign. Cobb Community Foundation and its partners provide the platform and practical support: storytelling training and coaching; a professionally developed communications toolkit; reusable templates for email, social media and donor outreach; individual online donation pages; a printed Giving Guide; paid and earned media; promotion to the foundation’s audiences; and timely donor information so nonprofits can personally thank and continue engaging their supporters.
The Marietta Daily Journal helps carry those stories throughout Cobb by inserting the physical Match Magic Giving Guide into its newspapers a few weeks before the campaign begins—at no cost to Cobb Community Foundation. That contribution gives participating organizations valuable visibility and helps more readers discover the work happening in their own community.
Those resources are designed to keep working long after Dec. 1. A stronger appeal can be adapted for a grant application. A campaign plan can guide another fundraising effort. Photos, messages, email templates and social content can be used again. Most importantly, a first-time donor can become a recurring giver, volunteer or advocate.
For the wider community, Match Magic offers two ways to give together. Beginning Nov. 10, donors can support any of the 31 organizations directly through its Match Magic page and know the gift may be increased by a share of the Match Pool. Donors may also contribute to the Match Pool itself, leveraging the gifts that hundreds of other people will make across all 31 organizations.
The 2026 Match Magic campaign will open Nov. 10 and continue through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 1, GivingTuesday and GA Gives Day. Although giving to individual participating organizations has not yet opened, contributions to build the Match Pool may be made now at https://cobbfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2122.
Generosity behind the campaign
The community’s gifts to participating nonprofits and the Match Pool are the heart of Match Magic. The 2026 pool has already reached $160,000 toward Cobb Community Foundation’s $250,000 goal.
The Atlanta Braves and Walton Communities Apartment Homes have each contributed $50,000 as lead Match Pool donors. Genuine Parts Company has contributed $25,000, and S.A. White Oil Company has contributed $20,000. Gifts from additional donors bring the current pool to $160,000—with every additional dollar increasing the support available to the 31 participating organizations.
Another kind of generosity makes the platform itself possible. Stephen W. “Steve” Imler is personally underwriting the expenses associated with the campaign, including printing, mailing and paid social media. His support allows donated Match Pool dollars to remain available to increase the contributions raised by participating nonprofits.
Cobb Community Foundation’s Corporate Champions and Catalyst Society members also make this work possible through investments that help equip nonprofits, connect people with causes and create ways for the community to act together. Their support provides the foundation beneath Match Magic; the participating organizations and the people who rally around them bring it to life.
“Steve, our Corporate Champions, our Catalyst Society members, our reviewers, our media and communications partners, our Match Pool donors and every person who gives during the campaign each play a different role,” Martin said. “Together, they give 31 organizations the chance to tell their stories, invite more people into their work and turn generosity into lasting capacity.”
2026 Match Magic participating organizations
The organizations selected for 2026 are:
Animal-Related
· Atlanta Humane Society & Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Arts, Culture & Humanities
· Friends of The Strand Inc./Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre
· Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Basic Needs
· 10 Women of Hope
· Cobb Moms Helping Cobb
· Family Life Restoration Center Inc.
· HOPE Family Resource Center
· Simple Needs GA
· The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Command
· Tillman House Resource Center at First United Methodist Church of Smyrna
Economic Mobility
· Circles Cobb Inc.
· CobbWorks Inc.
· St. Vincent de Paul Georgia
Food Security
· BackPack Blessings Inc.
· Encompass Ministries Inc.
· PORCH Marietta
Healthcare and Mental Wellness
· Aloha To Aging Inc.
· Cumberland Counseling Centers
· Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb Inc.
· HHH Equine Inc.
· The Extension
Housing
· Family Promise of Cobb County
· Emmanuel’s Village by Passion with Purpose Inc.
Public & Societal Benefit
· Blue Thanksgiving
· Chattahoochee National Parks Conservancy
Tailored Support
· Georgia Kids Belong
· LiveSafe Resources Inc.
· Special Needs Cobb
· Waymark
Youth Development
· Four Corners Group Inc.
· Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading and Serving Inc. (YELLS)
More information about the campaign and participating organizations will be available at www.cobbfoundation.org as Nov. 10 approaches.
About Cobb Community Foundation
Cobb Community Foundation brings people, ideas and resources together to address Cobb County’s needs and opportunities—helping businesses and individuals give with purpose and empowering nonprofits to do their best work. By connecting donors with causes they care about, managing charitable funds, fueling community solutions and equipping nonprofits with resources they need to serve, the foundation helps individuals, businesses and organizations activate good—together. Learn more at www.cobbfoundation.org.