According to a press release issued earlier this week, “On Feb. 2, from midnight to 11:59 p.m., Alabamians will be driven to a dedicated online giving portal powered by Razoo at www.alabamagivesday.org, where they will choose to make a gift to one or more of the hundreds of participating nonprofits. Donors will choose the nonprofit(s) they want to support from a list of 12 areas of interest, including children and youth, animals, health, environment, etc.,” said Russell Jackson, Gives Day manager for Alabama.
“It’s all about connecting them to the missions they are most passionate about, and hopefully to a nonprofit they’ve never supported.”
The release goes on to quote John Stone, president and CEO of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits as saying, “Connecting individual donors to nonprofits, while also promoting the safety and ease of online giving, is critical to helping our nonprofits be sustainable. Never before has an event of this magnitude taken place in our state. This will be a defining moment for Alabama nonprofits participating in the event and the impact will be felt far and wide. We’ve seen what Minnesota, Colorado and other Give Days (have) done, and with Alabama’s strong tradition of giving, we believe that history can be made Feb. 2.”
In addition to the Razoo Foundation, Alabama Gives Day is also being supported by the Alabama Press Association, Alabama Giving, Intermark Group and the hundreds of participating nonprofits. The primary sponsors are the Alabama Association of Nonprofits and the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
Sharon Tinsley, president of the latter organization, said, “What could be an historic event is with one primary goal in mind: to help charitable organizations continue to provide a broad spectrum of aid across the state. The Alabama Broadcasters Association is excited to participate in what will be an historic event for philanthropy in our state and possibly across the nation. Alabama radio and TV stations will join together in an effort to raise record amounts in gifts for charities across the state in a 24-hour period.”
Alabama is the third state in the nation to attempt something along these lines. In 2011, Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day raised $13.4 million from 47,538 donors. Colorado Gives earned $12 million from 52,000 donors, according to the release.
Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com
