Eastman wants boroughs and municipalities to get shot at Pick. Click. Give donations

WASILLA — Since 2009, Pick. Click. Give. has raised more than 18 million dollars for nonprofits around the state. House Bill 256, authored by Rep. David Eastman (R-Wasilla), aims to spread that wealth around with the municipalities and boroughs.

Pick. Click. Give. allows Alaskans filing for a PFD to choose one or more nonprofit organizations to donate their money to. Donations can be as small as $25, or, according to Eastman, as large as the PFD itself. In 2017 alone, 2.7 million was raised for 668 nonprofits, with the number of organizations qualifying for Pick. Click. Give. expected to rise. The peak year for donations saw about 3 million donated, but most of these gifts come from only 5 percent of Alaska residents. The top earners from Pick. Click. Give. last year were KSKA, Planned Parenthood and Beans Cafe.

"Pick. Click. Give. really does more than just creating a conduit for Alaskans to give to nonprofits, it creates an opportunity for those who might not be able to engage in philanthropy throughout the year. In addition to those funds raised, it's a really wonderful mechanism for nonprofits to connect with new donors," said Sofia Fouquet, Program Manager at the Alaska Community Foundation.

Eastman's HB 256 is one of three bills concerning PFD donation. SB 8, sponsored by Senator Gary Stevens would allow tribal governments to receive donations. Senator David Wilson's SB 154 would allow contributions to the general fund. Eastman sponsored an amendment last year that sought to allow donors to give to the Police and firefighters survivor fund. Law enforcement, however, is excluded from receiving donations.

"Coming from a law enforcement background, I'm all about supporting law enforcement. But I don't think that this is the way to do it. I think we have to keep them in a separate category. Money has to come from a different source," said Eastman. "Pick. Click. Give. Has done great things. This is just expanding on their success. Do you have good things your community is doing? Great, we want you to be able to support that."