BUCHANAN — United Way of Southwest Michigan is inviting the public to attend its third Pop Up Giving event from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Lehman’s Orchard Brewery & Farmhouse in Buchanan.

This event gives the community the chance to decide where funds go. Three local health nonprofits — to be announced prior to the event — have three minutes to pitch a project that will impact the community, followed by two minutes of question and answer with the audience. The audience has five minutes to complete their ballots to determine the winner. Proceeds from ticket sales are combined to create a “donation pot.” Second and third place finishers each receive consolation cash prizes of $250, while the organization with the most votes wins the rest.

“We are very excited to be holding our third Pop Up Giving event at Lehman’s Orchard Farmhouse & Brewery in Buchanan,” said Charlotte Becker, director of Annual Campaign at United Way of Southwest Michigan. “This event has quickly grown in popularity, so we hope to get more and more people involved as Pop Up Giving continues. It’s such a fun, fast and easy way for anyone to make an instant impact in southwest Michigan, which makes this event so unique.”

The event’s sponsor, United Federal Credit Union, has already kicked in $1,000 to get the pot started.

Terry O’Rourke, president and CEO of United Federal Credit Union, said the business was happy to contribute.

“United Federal Credit Union’s mission is to make a positive impact on the Berrien County community, and sponsoring this important event is just one of the many ways we live that mission,” O’Rourke said.

Individual tickets are $20 and include one free drink and light appetizers provided by Lehman’s. Doors open at 5 p.m. Presentations begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at uwsm.org/pop-up-giving.