#GivingTuesday Inspires Civic Campaigns Around the Country
New York, NY (PRWEB) October 19, 2015 -- Communities from Maine to California and South Carolina to Michigan are rallying government, business, nonprofit and community groups to work together towards creating change in their towns, regions and states as part of the fourth annual #GivingTuesday on December 1. In Arkanasas, 220 organizations are coming together for #GivingTuesday; in Oregon, 400 nonprofits have signed on; and in Illinois, organizers have set an ambitious $6 million goal.
“The civic campaigns we have seen around the country exemplify the best of #GivingTuesday,” said Henry Timms, executive director of 92Y and co-founder of the movement. “We are inspired by the creativity and dedication of people in so many regions – from Boothbay, Maine, to Baltimore, Maryland – who are using new ideas and technologies to bring people together, address challenges and help those in need. In the end, this kind of collaboration provides not only a formidable financial boost to local organizations doing good in their own communities, but a renewed sense of civic pride among those who contribute in whatever way they can.”
#GivingTuesday, created by 92nd Street Y (92Y) and celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is a movement that aims to bring together individuals, communities and organizations in the spirit of giving; 30,000 partners around the world participated in #GivingTuesday 2014.
In 2014, from Alaska to Delaware, more than 40 civic groups ran #GivingTuesday campaigns. This year, the number of participating civic organizations is expected to rise; an interactive map provides a guide to campaigns around the country and is updated continuously as additional regions, cities and towns finalize their plans for 2015. A selection of civic campaigns for #GivingTuesday 2015 – with goals ranging from $150,000 to $6 million – are listed below.
- Arkansas: The Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance is bringing together 220 organizations through #GivingTuesdayAR, which last year raised more than $1.2 million dollars to support its important work in Arkansas communities. From helping get books to children who have none to helping blind citizens train for meaningful employment, #GivingTuesdayAR is truly where generosity meets opportunity in Arkansas. (http://www.arkansasnonprofits.org/connect/givingtuesday/)
- Boothbay, ME: An alliance of 40 nonprofit organizations, all located on the Boothbay peninsula in mid-coast Maine, have created the #BoothbayTreasures campaign to promote philanthropic giving on #GivingTuesday to local charities. #BoothbayTreasures aims to gather a group of its supporters—staff members, volunteers, donors, clients—for a giant photo opportunity to demonstrate how many people treasure Boothbay. (https://www.facebook.com/boothbaytreasures)
- Bucks County, PA: With 53 organizations participating and the help of corporate partners such as Anthony Perno (Allstate), Approved Mortgage Group, Doylestown Brewing Company, Green Street Real Estate, Doylestown Brewing Company and the John Meulstee Home Selling Team, #GivingTuesdayBucks has set a goal this year of raising $201,500. The steering committee will throw a free kickoff happy hour event on October 20 to raise awareness of the initiative with nonprofits, businesses and community members. (http://www.givingtuesdaybucks.org/)
- Charlotte, NC: Organized by SHARE Charlotte, 108 nonprofits and partners like Duke Energy, Bank of America, OrthoCarolina and Charlotte Center City Partners are coming together on #GivingTuesdayCLT to raise $2 million for charities in Charlotte, with $50,000 in matching funds committed for participating nonprofits. The campaign will officially kick off on November 10. (http://sharecharlotte.com/)
- Chester County, PA: #GivingTuesdayChesco of Chester County, PA, is welcoming back many of the 75 nonprofits that participated in last year's initiative along with many first time participants. Westtown School, Greener Partners, Chester County Historical Society and the Kolbe Fund are just a few of #GivingTuesdayChesco’s many supporters. (http://www.givingtuesdaychesco.org/)
- Illinois:#ILGive is Illinois’ statewide initiative to increase individual giving in Illinois over the next three years. Since the campaign launched, nearly 100 charitable organizations have registered to join. This year’s goal is bold: $6 million raised by Illinois charitable social impact organizations on Dec. 1, 2015. (http://www.ilgive.com/)
- Lansing, MI.: For the second year, nonprofits and businesses in the mid-Michigan area (the goal this year is more than 100) will join together to make Lansing one of the most generous and involved cities for #GivingTuesday in 2015 #LansingLovesGivingTuesday's goal is to raise money and awareness for local nonprofits and to showcase the businesses involved. The campaign aims to let the community to know that #LansingLoves is the top city in Michigan that gives back and pays it forward by celebrating #GivingTuesday on December 1, 2015. (http://lansinglovesgivingtuesday.com/)
- Maryland: Maryland Nonprofits, which last year raised $9 million for its #MDGivesMore campaign in 2015 and dubbed Maryland “The Most Generous State in America on #GivingTuesday,” has partnered with statewide umbrella organizations, foundations, corporations, smalls businesses, development professionals and over 425 nonprofits to date for #MDGivesMore 2016, with a goal of raising over $10 million to support communities across the state. (http://www.marylandnonprofits.org/Home.aspx)
- Northern California: The Shasta Regional Community Foundation, with support from Bank of Commerce – Redding and incentive funds provided by the Knodel Family Endowment Fund of Shasta Regional Community Foundation, is leading North State Giving Tuesday. This regional, collective effort by over 60 nonprofits is working to raise $150,000 in unrestricted funds for local nonprofits in rural Shasta and Siskiyou County in Northern California. (https://northstategives.org/)
- North Jersey: In its second year, North Jersey #GivingTuesday is a region-wide coalition that has doubled from 11 members to 24. Two members,Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and CUMAC, a regional food bank, will run a coat drive; the Federation will collect, and CUMAC will distribute, with the goal of warming as many hearts and bodies as it can collect coats for. (http://www.jfnnj.org/givingtuesday)
- Oregon: Over 400 nonprofits throughout Oregon have joined the state-wide campaign, #OregoniansGive, which is being supported by a growing group of funders who call Oregon home: Albina Community Bank, Bank of America, Impact Flow, Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, Pacific Continental Bank, The Ford Family Foundation and The Standard. Their hope is simple: Raise $3.9 million on #GivingTuesday—just $1 from every Oregonian. (http://oregoniansgive.org/)
- Rock Hill, SC: Rock Hill has formed a coalition of 12 nonprofits, businesses, local school districts and the local government to develop integrated marketing plans with strong reach in the local media and to promote #GivingTuesday through #RockHillGives. It is posting at least one #UNselfie a day leading up to #GivingTuesday on December 1, and http://www.rockhillgives.org will launch on October 19. (https://twitter.com/rockhillgives)
- Somerville, MA: Fourteen nonprofits have joined the second #GivingTuesdaySomerville campaign. The Boston Foundation is hosting the movement’s online giving platform, and local businesses around Somerville are sponsoring the effort. The effort will take place over eight weeks between now and December 1, ending with a celebration for donors. (http://www.givingtuesday.org/giving-tuesday-somerville-give-local/)
More information, including background, partner information and tools, can be found at http://www.givingtuesday.org.
Laura Salerno, +1 (516) 375-9832, [email protected]
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