One Day. One massive opportunity to support local nonprofits.

On February 2, 2012 the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, in partnership with the Alabama Broadcasters Association and the Razoo Foundation, is doing something in Alabama that’s never been done. We’re taking one day to harness the power of individual contributions statewide, connecting new and existing donors with thousands of Alabama nonprofits.

“The Alabama Broadcasters Association is excited to participate in what will be a historic event for philanthropy in our state and possibly across the nation. The concept of Alabama Gives Day is heartwarming for all who will be part of the event. Alabama radio and TV stations will endeavor to raise record amounts in gifts for charities across the state in a 24 hour period,” said Sharon Tinsley, President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association.

When presented with a new way to give online, community members have overwhelmingly shown their support through donations. In 2011, Colorado Gives Day raised $12 million for participating nonprofits, far surpassing the $8.4 million raised in 2010. In 2011, Minnesota’s Give to the Max raised a whopping $13.4 million for Minnesota nonprofits from over 47,000 donors in just 24 hours. While the immediate benefit is huge, the ripple effects of giving spurred other philanthropic endeavors in Minnesota and Colorado generating even more donations months later.

The excitement and anticipation leading up to this one-day event energizes a new donor base of individual donors. During Colorado’s Give Day, 98% of nonprofits featured on GivingFirst.org received a donation, and 83% of those participating nonprofits acquired new donors. A positive lesson that charities have learned from their participation in giving days, say organizers, is that the events have strong appeal to young donors. Norman Rice, president and CEO of the Seattle Foundation, host of Give Big Seattle, describes their event as, “the democratization of philanthropy, in which everyone can make a difference in the world around them.”

This historic event in Alabama, backed by the marketing power of Alabama radio and television stations, will further help charitable organizations continue to provide a broad spectrum of aid across the state of Alabama.

“We’re proud to launch Alabama Gives Day in support of an incredible sector that makes our state a better place to live. This event has the potential to dramatically increase the number of individual donors contributing to charities in our state as we’ve seen similar campaigns in Colorado and Minnesota successfully do,” said Russell A. Jackson, Alabama Gives Day Manager for the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. “Connecting individual donors to nonprofits, while also promoting the safety and ease of online giving, is critical to helping our nonprofits be even more sustainable without being so dependent on foundation and corporate grants to keep their lights on.”

Eligibility requirements for nonprofits to participate in the event are below.

Alabama Gives Day Facts

Why Alabama Gives Day?

The time has come to increase the awareness of a sector that helps make our state such a desirable place to live while connecting new donors to nonprofits throughout Alabama. Results from other Gives Days held in the U.S. have proven successful in connecting new individual donors to nonprofits with a large percentage of the contributions made during the event being from first time donors to the nonprofits they designated.

·         Increase public awareness of Alabama’s amazing nonprofit sector.

·         Promote the ease and safety of online giving.

·         Connect new individual donors to participating nonprofits while giving current donors an opportunity to give again.

·         Provide nonprofits with a complimentary online giving platform they can use year-round outside of Gives Day.

·         Raise as much money as possible in 24 hours from individuals.

·         Fulfills the mission of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits to support and strengthen Alabama’s nonprofit sector.

When is Alabama Gives Day?

Alabama Gives Day will take place during a 24-hour period starting at 12 a.m. on February 2nd, 2012. Donations will be accepted online via a centralized and secure site at  http://algives.razoo.com. ALL gifts made during the event are donor determined, meaning the donor selects who they are giving to from the list of participating organizations. At the conclusion of the event the ALgives.org website will launch as a new tool provided by the Alabama Association of Nonprofits for nonprofits to use as their online giving portal allowing them to save hundreds of dollars each year in monthly hosting fees ordinarily charged by PayPal, Authorize.net and other merchant credit card processing vendors.

What nonprofits are eligible to participate?

Based on data provided by the IRS, there are more than 3,950 nonprofits in Alabama that meet the eligibility requirements for participating in this event. Requirements include:

1.       Possess 501(c)(3) status in Alabama

2.       Serve or have headquarters in Alabama 

Nonprofits are not required to be a member of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.

How do nonprofits register?

Nonprofits must first register online at  http://algives.razoo.com . Then the nonprofit will submit all applicable documentation to the Alabama Association of Nonprofits prior to being published live on the ALgives.org website.

1.       Signed Memorandum of Understanding that highlights roles and responsibilities of nonprofit during event

Documentation should be mailed to:

      Alabama Gives Day c/o
Alabama Association of Nonprofits
P.O. Box 292305
Birmingham, AL 35229

or by Fax to 205-879-4724
 

What have the results been in other communities that have conducted a Gives Day?

-Colorado Gives Day: $12 million in 2012

-Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day:  $13.4 million in 2012

-North Texas Gives Day: $5 million

-Pittsburgh Day of Giving:  $2.8 million

-Seattle’s GiveBig:  $3.5 million

What is the Incentive Match Fund?

Historically nothing inspires philanthropy more like offering matching dollars seems to! Here’s how it works:

·         Nonprofits are encouraged and allowed to secure their own matching gift partners for the event to help incentivize contributions to their nonprofit.

What happens to the donor’s information?

• Nonprofits are required to login at the conclusion of the event to produce their own internal reports. Our backend technology allows them to obtain all donor data tied to their nonprofit so they can further cultivate and communicate with the donor(s) after the event.  
• The Alabama Association of Nonprofits will not share or sell donor information to any other organization, but does reserve the right to communicate with donors for the purpose of user surveys and other general education about philanthropy.

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