Today I am making an unsolicited announcement about a fundraising effort that I think is pretty cool. It is called Give to the Max Day (you probably guessed this from the title) and this will be its 3rd year. I first heard about it last year, and although I didn't actually end up donating anything, I am certainly taking it more seriously this year!
Q: What is Give to the Max Day?
A: Give to the Max Day is essentially a massive fundraising effort on behalf of all non-profit organizations in the state of Minnesota. This includes charities, colleges, community organizations, choirs, private scholarship funds, and many more! It is a one-day online fundraising drive which has had enormous success since it began in 2009.
Q: Really? How successful?
A: I'm glad you asked! Since 2009, GiveMN has raised more than $33 million for more than 5,000 nonprofits. In 2010, 42,596 donors participated, donating their hard-earned money to 3,663 nonprofit organizations. Whaaaat? We rock, Minnesota!
Q: So how exactly does this work?
A: It's very simple. Go to this website: http://givemn.razoo.com/
Find a cause (or multiple causes!) or an organization (or multiple organizations!) that you support, and donate whatever you feel called to give. I have only scratched the surface of nonprofits listed on the site, but so far I have come across a huge handful of awesome projects and organizations that I really like!
Q: Alright. How is this different from other fundraisers?
A: Another great question! Give to the Max Day is a really cool way to fundraise because your donations are not the only money that organizations can receive. This year, GiveMN has partnered with a number of community foundations and other large (corporate) donors to create and incentive system.
Here are just a few of the prizes that nonprofits can win:
- The "Golden Tickets": 24 $1,000 grants will be given out, one each hour, on behalf of one individual donor. So essentially, it pays to donate at 3am, because your odds of winning money on behalf of your organization of choice are greater!
- Grand prizes of $15,000, $10,000, and $7,500 are given to the three organizations that raise the most within the 24-hour period.
- AND, prizes of $15,000, $10,000, and $7,500 are given to the three small organizations (with budgets under $750,000) that raise the most within the 24-hour period.
- And many more!
Q: Whoa! Who's paying for those awesome prizes?
A: Good question.
Winners of all Give to the Max Day prizes will receive the grants funded from the Minnesota Community Foundation.Check them out here.
Q: Cool! When is this happening?
A: November 16! It begins when the clock strikes twelve (midnight) on November 16th and goes until midnight on November 17th. It goes for 24 hours online, and prizes ("Golden Tickets") are given out every hour, so if you happen to be awake at 4am, consider making a donation ;)
Q: Why are you telling me all this?
A: Two reasons, really. The first is that I really believe in the importance of nonprofit organizations and the work they do. From teaching our children to making music, from supporting sustainable agriculture to lifting up those in need, I believe that every action done in good faith and with a loving heart makes the world a more beautiful place.
The second is that even though I don't live there right now, Minnesota is the land my heart adores, and I am fiercely proud to call it home. All of us, for the most part, have called Minnesota home at some point, and I hope we can all agree that it is one of the best places to live. Minnesota is a place where we value education, family, health, beauty and nature. Minnesotans are giving and caring people, we are a state of volunteers, and we can make a difference!
That being said, I realize that this is a tight economic time for everyone, especially those of us who have just graduated, so please don't feel like I'm trying to pep-talk you into anything. My goal with this post is just to make you aware that this fundraising effort is taking place, and hopefully make you aware of all the awesome work that these nonprofits are doing to continue to make Minnesota the best place to live. And maybe, just maybe, you'll find an organization you want to contribute to. Remember, every dollar counts, so even if $5 is all you can spare right now, that's still better than nothing :)
If you'd like to read the article I cited in this post, click here!
Much love!
Boo
PS Check out what St. Olaf has to say about Give to the Max Day:
“We were so appreciative of the generosity alumni, parents, and friends of the college displayed during Give to the Max Day last year,” said Tracy Fossum, director of annual giving of St. Olaf College, a first-place grant winner in 2010. “Give to the Max Day resulted in the single most successful day in annual giving at St. Olaf, and we are thrilled to be participating again in 2011.”PPS I was in a meeting this morning and the woman asked what my background was. I said that I had recently graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in Environmental Studies. She said, "Oh I'm familiar with St. Olaf." I assumed she was referring to Betty White's St. Olaf from Golden Girls, but she said no, she knows of St. Olaf for reasons which have nothing to do with Betty. Whaaat? She didn't elaborate, but it is still cool to know that news of Olaf's existence has preceded me down here. :)
Minnesotans are giving and caring people, we are a state of volunteers, and we can make a difference!
ReplyDelete... so please don't feel like I'm trying to pep-talk you into anything.
certainly not. you? peptalk?? now where would we get a crazy idea like that?
actually very supportive of this effort. CRF where i worked this summer got a huge boost from this dqy...definitely donate!!