On Feb. 9, we announced a new incentive for Giving Heart’s Day designed in collaboration between Emerging Prairie and Impact Foundation. The incentive challenged local tech startups to get 100% of employees to give. If they were successful, Impact would then donate an additional $1,500 to an organization of their choice.

Following Giving Heart’s Day on February 11, the six participating startups reported each team gave 100% and raised a total of $9,012.43. This, in addition to the incentives from Impact Foundation, brought the total amount donated to $20,512.43. Success!

The participating startups included:

• Emerging Prairie
• Hash Interactive
• Heat Transfer Warehouse
• Clifton Labs
• Myriad Mobile
• Coschedule

Heat Transfer Warehouse raised the largest total amount, and was given an extra $2,500 bonus from Impact Foundation to give to the charity of their choice.

Jessica Ueland, executive manager at Impact Foundation, stressed that while the money is helpful, it’s about so much more.

“The focus of this business pilot project was simply to encourage giving within our business community to some really great causes, regardless of the dollar amount,” she said.

The money raised went to a variety of Giving Heart’s Day participating charities. However, Ueland asked that the names of those charities remain confidential as they do not yet know they are receiving a bonus amount. Impact Foundation is going to announce them at their April 7 awards ceremony, according to Ueland said.

Blaine Booher, CEO and founder of participating startup Clifton Labs, said it was the first time he and his team had participated in Giving Heart’s Day.

“This was a great way to get new people involved,” he said.