In November, The Miami Foundation will mark the 15th anniversary of Give Miami Day, hailed as the largest single-city donation event in the United States. Participants, including Cuban-Americans, are invited to contribute to charities of their choice.
The 2026 event lineup features a race, a free cultural festival, and a fundraising day benefiting over 1,000 nonprofit organizations across the Miami metropolitan area.
The schedule kicks off on November 14 with the opening of early donations. On November 15, the Give Miami 5K Race + Festival will take place at Maurice A. Ferré Park, located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard.
While the post-race festival is free to attend, it requires prior registration due to limited capacity. Miami native Flo Rida will headline the event, joined by V12 and Soleil River Nation, offering family-friendly activities, food stalls, and appearances by participating organizations.
Participants can choose which nonprofit the full registration fee from the race will support.
The main donation day is set for November 19, with a minimum contribution of $25 per participant. The online platform allows anyone to discover a cause that resonates with them, ranging from education and health to environmental and arts initiatives.
Beneficiary organizations include well-known entities like Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, focused on affordable housing; YWCA South Florida, offering educational and support programs for women and families; Chapman Partnership, providing services for the homeless; The Children's Movement of Florida, dedicated to child welfare; and Food Rescue US – South Florida, which redistributes surplus food to communities in need.
The Origins of Give Miami Day
Give Miami Day was established in 2012 by two prominent figures in the Cuban community: Javier Alberto Soto, then president of The Miami Foundation and son of Cuban immigrants, and Alberto Ibargüen, head of Knight Foundation and of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent.
The initiative was sparked by a study highlighting Miami as one of the communities with the lowest civic engagement in the nation.
"Give Miami Day was born from a breakfast meeting I had with Alberto Ibargüen," Soto recalled in a commemorative video by The Miami Foundation. Ibargüen suggested each donor choose their cause freely and offered a $250,000 incentive from Knight Foundation if the event was held before the end of the year.
Soto traveled to Pittsburgh to study similar models, leading to the inaugural event on December 12, 2012, which raised $1,124,050 through nearly 5,000 donations for 300 organizations. By 2013, donations had already reached $3.2 million.
In 2026, organizers aim to exceed the previous year's records, where over 60,000 donors made more than 120,000 donations, raising $43.8 million for over 1,000 organizations.
"We can show the world that we are generous, that we are charitable, and here is the proof," Javier Alberto Soto summarizes in the commemorative video.
Your Guide to Participating in Give Miami Day
What is Give Miami Day?
Give Miami Day is an annual event organized by The Miami Foundation, encouraging participants to donate to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the Miami area.
How can I participate in Give Miami Day?
You can participate by making a minimum donation of $25 through the event's online platform, where you can choose a cause that aligns with your interests.
When is the Give Miami 5K Race + Festival?
The Give Miami 5K Race + Festival will be held on November 15 at Maurice A. Ferré Park.