GAGIVES RETURNS GIVINGTUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2021
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/26/21
Sharing #GAgenerosity to the Nonprofits that Have Supported Georgia Communities
GAgives on GivingTuesday, Georgia’s biggest giving campaign, has already begun: Giving is now open for this year’s campaign, which reaches its pinnacle on November 30, GivingTuesday, as part of the international day of giving that takes place each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.
Despite pandemic conditions, last year saw Georgians showcasing true #GAgenerosity and breaking GAgives records across the board. In 2020, more than 1,200 nonprofits across the state received funds through the official giving portal at GAgives.org, with more than $24 million dollars raised overall (topping 2019’s record total by 84 percent) from 260,546 individual donations, 94 percent more donations than the previous year. As the 2021 season of giving is about to commence, Georgians are being asked to renew their commitment to generosity for the nonprofits that have done so much for their communities – especially over the past two years.
Organized by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) for the benefit of all nonprofits located in our state, GAgives is able to expand its efforts and impact each year through the ongoing support of local corporate, foundation, civic, and media partners.
“After the frenzied holiday spending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GAgives on GivingTuesday empowers Georgians to showcase our commitment to the true meaning of the giving season. On Tuesday, November 30, be a part of GAgives on Giving Tuesday, and support the nonprofits that have been keeping our communities going, even as their needs have multiplied,” said GCN President and CEO Karen Beavor.
One of this year’s new corporate sponsors is WestRock, offering “Power Hour” prizes that encourage even more donors to contribute to the nonprofits they find most meaningful. Additionally, they’re using GAgives as an employment engagement strategy for those based at their Georgia headquarters. “We’re inviting employees to join in recognizing the invaluable role of nonprofits in their community,” said WestRock Director of Corporate Giving Mandy Burnette. “To further encourage team members to participate in GAgives, we’re leveraging the WestRock Foundation’s Matching Gifts program to enhance their personal giving.” This program gives WestRock teammates, as well as their spouses and domestic partners, the ability to raise additional funding for the nonprofits they support by volunteering, making financial contributions, or both.
Others companies showing their #GAgenerosity for GAgives are Aprio; Arby’s Foundation; Atlanta Business Chronicle; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Autotrader; Brooks, McGinnis & Company; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Coca-Cola; Cox Enterprises; Gas South; Georgia News Network; Georgia’s Own; iHeart Media; Kelley Blue Book; Marshall Jones; Outfront Media; Primerica; and WSB-TV Family 2 Family.
Making Giving Personal
This year, the GAgives team has provided participating nonprofits with additional trainings and resources to assist in maximizing their fundraising potential. Person-to-Person (P2P) campaigning skills are being taught and supported, empowering nonprofits to engage their board members, volunteers, and other supporters in fundraising. Tapping their own networks, these P2P campaigners share personal stories about the organization they support, explain why they give, and encourage others not only to give, but to use the same P2P campaign methods themselves.
With this approach – using personal connections to spread the word about the specific impact that nonprofits make in the community – more and more Georgians will discover the difference nonprofits make in the lives of people, moving them to give back. Whether by phone, email, or social media, these P2P campaigns are positioned to grow awareness for Georgia nonprofits and #GAgenerosity exponentially.
“Nonprofits, and the people that they support, need our assistance to continue their work – work that benefits us all, from educational resources for students to job trainings and placements for the unemployed to meals for the elderly; protection for our rivers, parks, and nature preserves; medical attention and health care; housing the homeless; rescuing animals; supporting the arts; and more,” said GCN’s Karen Beavor. “We all have causes that are meaningful to us and our communities, and a gift of any size will make a difference – as will encouraging others to give. Together, we hope to lead another record breaking day of #GAgenerosity.”
Whether Georgians have a specific organization they’d like to support, or want to find a nonprofit that aligns with their values, supporters can easily locate nonprofits by name or cause and donate to them at GAgives.org. GAgives.org also offers full-featured campaign tools that anyone can use to launch their own fundraising efforts.
To further spread the call to give, follow @GAgives on Facebook and Instagram, and use the hashtags #GAgives and #GAgenerosity. Be sure to share the GAgives on GivingTuesday date (November 30) and call-to-action; direct contacts and followers to the nonprofit giving portal at GAgives.org; and encourage everyone in your network to spread the word about GAgives, their favorite nonprofit, and why they donate.
