Tag Archive for: givingtuesday

2024 GAGIVES ON GIVINGTUESDAY SHOWCASES NONPROFITS AS THE UNIFIERS OF COMMUNITIES

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/28/24

Global Giving Movement Spotlights How Nonprofits Are First Responders in Times of Crisis and Common Ground for Many in Communities

With the season of giving upon us, it’s time to show our appreciation for those who have supported our communities throughout the year with unwavering commitment and a staggering level of accomplishment. All Georgians benefit, in multiple ways, from the outstanding work of our nonprofits. In this year especially, they’ve truly shown up for us all.

GAgives on GivingTuesday, hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), is once again shining a spotlight on the impact of nonprofits across the state, showcasing the ways they serve as the great unifiers of our communities in times of conflict and crisis. Since its launch in 2012, GAgives on GivingTuesday has given Georgians the chance to demonstrate their generosity. Naturally, they have risen to the occasion with record-breaking giving year after year, both in the number of individual gifts and in total dollars raised. Coinciding with the international day of giving celebrated the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, this year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday will be held Dec. 3, 2024, when Georgians are asked to get into the true spirit of the giving season following the annual shopping-centered tradition of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“This year has been especially trying for Georgia nonprofits as they’ve been called upon for extra resources and manpower, whether that’s a result of the devastation of this year’s storms, the national housing crisis, community support for those directly impacted by the Apalachee High School attack, inflation, or a host of other situations,” said GCN President & CEO Karen Beavor. “No matter the crisis, nonprofits have rallied to support their communities, and GAgives on GivingTuesday is our time to support them in return.”

Last year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday set another new record, with more than 13,800 donors contributing to more than 1,050 organizations through the official GAgives.org platform alone. On that single platform, one of many activated for the event, $3.06 million was donated, exceeding the total amount donated through GAgives.org in 2022 by nine percent. In total, $33.17 million was raised, a 13 percent increase from 2022.

All registered 501(c)3 nonprofits in Georgia can participate in this special day of giving. Nonprofits are invited to raise funds through GAgives.org, a powerful but easy-to-use online fundraising platform featuring complementary resources to assist in maximizing donations – from donation-motivating prizes sponsored by official GAgives partners to toolkits, marketing materials, complimentary online trainings, GAgives success stories, and more, all designed to help nonprofits engage their volunteers, staff, board members, and supporters.

“Nonprofits impact the lives of every one of us throughout the year, whether they’re housing the animal that becomes a beloved family pet, protecting the stunning views along a park trail, staging the latest community theater performance, or doing the research to combat a disease experienced by ourselves or a loved one,” said GCN’s Karen Beavor. “Nonprofits are the thread stitching together the fabric of our community, representing the common causes that we all believe in – care for our neighbors, quality of life, and shared culture – despite how our other beliefs may differ. Let’s come together once again to show our nonprofits how much we appreciate them and break yet another record this GAgives on Giving Tuesday.”

This year, sponsors are encouraging Georgians to showcase their support for their favorite organizations by giving nonprofits that registered for prizes the chance to win additional funds – through “Power Hours,” “Golden Tickets,” and leaderboard contests. Those generous sponsors include WestRock, Arby’s Foundation, and Aprio. Additional GAgives support comes from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cox Enterprises, Georgia News Network, Outfront Media, WSB-TV Family 2 Family, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and others.

Since 2012, GAgives has galvanized Georgians to be a part of the state’s largest giving movement, totaling $155.97 million in donations to date from over 560,000 individual gifts.

Created, executed, and overseen by GCN for the direct benefit of Georgia nonprofits, the GAgives on GivingTuesday campaign is enhanced by generous sponsors, media partners, and participating organizations. Together, their contributions and creativity amplify the impact for nonprofits, allowing nonprofits in turn to continue operations for, and enhance their offerings to, the communities of Georgia.

GCN considers it an honor to champion Georgia’s largest giving movement and serve as the official state lead for GivingTuesday, a generosity campaign covering all 50 states and more than 150 countries.

About GAgives

Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, GAgives on GivingTuesday aims to bring attention to the work and worth of the nonprofit sector. Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has raised more than $155.97 million from more than 560,000 individual gifts for the nonprofits across Georgia working tirelessly for positive and lasting change.

About GivingTuesday

Launched by the 92nd Street Y in 2012 and housed in its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact, GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring people to take collaborative action for their local communities and contribute to the causes they believe in. Throughout the year, the movement reaches millions of people, with campaigns and activities in all 50 states and 150 countries, culminating on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. See the latest updates on Instagram.

About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight-building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members, and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. Learn more at gcn.org.

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.

GAGIVES ON GIVINGTUESDAY 12/1/20

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/18/20

Strengthening Our State by Connecting Georgians with Georgia Nonprofits

GAgives on GivingTuesday, Georgia’s biggest giving campaign, is coming up quickly: This year’s campaign kicks off on Monday, November 2, and culminates on December 1, GivingTuesday, as part of the worldwide celebration that takes place each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

In this time of widespread and mounting need, GAgives aims to bring attention to the work and worth of the nonprofit sector, highlighting the thousands of organizations that work tirelessly for positive and lasting change. Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has rallied 284,000 individual contributions and raised more than $41.5 million for nonprofits across Georgia.

GAgives is organized by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), with invaluable support from a range of corporate, foundation, civic and media partners.

Aprio is one of this year’s returning corporate sponsors, funding Power Hour contests that inspire outsized giving. “We’re thrilled to be supporting GAgives again this year,” said Melisa Beauchamp, Aprio’s Nonprofit and Education Industry Leader. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the results from our Power Hour investment last year, which made an incredible return on behalf of Georgia’s nonprofits.”

Also funding donation-incentivizing contests this year: longtime GAgives partner Arby’s Foundation and new partners Marshall Jones (an Atlanta-based accounting firm serving nonprofits) and Brooks, McGinnis & Company (specializing in nonprofit audits). “At Brooks, McGinnis, we have a passion for serving those who serve others,” said Partner Karen Grosvenor. “By using our donation to generate even more giving, GAgives furthers our commitment to help nonprofits grow their missions.”.

Economic impact and giving trends

Nonprofits make up Georgia’s fifth-largest industry, employing more than 277,000 people. “These people pay taxes and buy local goods and services, and so do the organizations they work for,” said GCN President and CEO Karen Beavor. “All this activity is critically important to local economies.”

Some 80% of all nonprofits operate with budgets under $500,000 annually, doing their work in neighborhoods and towns throughout Georgia, and the lion’s share of their revenue comes in small gifts from everyday people. Currently, however, only 53% of households report giving to charity, down from roughly 67% in 2002.

“On December 1, Georgians have an opportunity to support their local community by supporting the nonprofits that make them thrive,” said Beavor. “Historic places, community gathering spots like parks, river walks, and arts groups need our support. So, too, do the local people who benefit from nonprofit work – whether that’s nursing a stray animal to health so it can become a loving pet, facilitating a support group for a family member dealing with cancer, or providing job training and placement for an out-of-work friend. Where there is a need, there is a nonprofit. Your gift, no matter how small, makes a big difference to your local community.”

This year, Georgians can get engaged with the campaign by going to GAgives.org, where they can search for nonprofits, donate directly, and start their own fundraising campaigns for the causes they support; or by following @GAgives on Facebook, and using the hashtag #GAgives on Twitter and Instagram, to share the call to give.

Get in touch with GCN for exclusive, inspiring stories from nonprofit GAgives campaigners.

You can also help the movement by sharing the GAgives on GivingTuesday date and call-to-action; pointing people to the nonprofit giving portal at GAgives.org; and encouraging your audience to spread the word about GAgives, their favorite nonprofit, and why they donate. Georgia’s nonprofits, and the communities they serve, thank you.

About GAgives

Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, GAgives on GivingTuesday aims to bring attention to the work and worth of the nonprofit sector. Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has rallied 284,000 individual contributions and raised more than $41.5 million for nonprofits across Georgia that work tirelessly for positive and lasting change. Learn more at www.gagives.org and Facebook.

About GivingTuesday

Launched by the 92nd Street Y in 2012 and housed in its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact, GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring people to take collaborative action for their local communities and contribute to the causes they believe in. The movement reaches millions of people, with campaigns and activities in all 50 states and 150 countries, throughout the year, culminating on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight-building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members, and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. Learn more at gcn.org, on Facebook and LinkedIn.