Early giving is now open for the 2026 CV Giving Day, launching a month-long opportunity for residents to support nonprofit organizations across the Coachella Valley ahead of the annual 24-hour giving event on March 3, 2026.
Presented by California Bank & Trust in partnership with the Desert Community Foundation, CV Giving Day is held each year on the first Tuesday in March and is designed to raise funds, increase visibility and strengthen long-term support for local nonprofits. Donations made during the early giving period qualify for the same challenges and prize incentives as gifts made on Giving Day itself.
“Each year, CV Giving Day demonstrates the power of collective generosity across the Coachella Valley,” said Lance Barney, executive vice president and regional president of Coachella Valley for California Bank & Trust. “Early giving provides donors the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on causes they care about, while helping local nonprofits prepare for a strong CV Giving Day in March.”
(Far L) Andrew McDuffie, Vice President at CB&T and (Far R) Guillermo Becerra, Vice President at CB&T present a check to representatives from the California Indian Nations College at the CV Giving Event.
Since its launch in 2023, CV Giving Day has raised more than $2 million for local nonprofits. In 2025 alone, the event generated more than $800,000 in donations, according to organizers.
To encourage participation in 2026, California Bank & Trust and the Regional Access Project Foundation have each committed $50,000 to the prize incentive pool. The funds will be distributed through a series of challenges during both the early giving period and the March 3 giving day, rewarding nonprofits that engage broad community support.
“Early giving is where a lot of the momentum for CV Giving Day really begins,” said Mary Panesar, executive director of the Desert Community Foundation. “It gives nonprofits time to engage their supporters and build toward March in a meaningful way. While many people experience CV Giving Day as a single day of giving, for us it’s a year-round effort — stewarding resources and working behind the scenes so early generosity leads to lasting impact for local organizations.”
Regional Access Project Foundation CEO Leticia De Lara said the event highlights the work being done daily by local nonprofits.
