Georgia Gives Day sets new records in midstate, statewide

More than 1,400 individual donations ranging from $1 to $3,000 added up to $169,100 for nonprofits in Bibb and Houston counties Thursday in the fourth annual Georgia Gives Day.

"It's this one day to really focus on the role that nonprofits play in our communities and in our own lives," said Betsy Reid, vice president of marketing and communications for Georgia Center for Nonprofits, which organizes the event.

The statewide donations set a new record with more than $3.6 million -- that is $1.3 million more than last year -- from 17,318 individual donors giving to more than 2,400 nonprofits.

"The hurrahs that went up around the office at 2:14 p.m. (Thursday) when we passed last year's numbers was just amazing," Reid said. "We knew we were heading somewhere exciting."

The Methodist Home of the South Georgia Conference based in Macon saw an 80 percent increase in donations, from $37,920 last year to $68,541 this year.

"We came in number seven in the state of Georgia," said Methodist Home CEO Alison Evans. "That just blows my mind."

Alesha Mathis, the coordinator of marketing and public relations at the home said The Methodist Home began planning for Georgia Gives Day in May. She said the money will be used for clothing, food, therapy and even some "fun things" for the 134 children living on the center's campuses.

"We are a residential facility, so the kids come here and they stay," Mathis said. "We have to be like Mom and Dad and take care of their needs. I think our donors understand that, and they are willing to help the kids."

Mathis said a big difference this year was how The Methodist Home used social media to connect with donors. Students from Mercer University's Wesleyan Foundation and Middle Georgia State University's Alpha Omega chapter volunteered with their laptops and phones to get the word out.

"I think that made a lot of difference that we were able to reach out to people all throughout the day," Mathis said.

Statewide, social media initiatives included an "un-selfie" contest to Twitter hashtags.

"In social media, (nonprofits) are really telling their stories in very personal ways," Reid said. "That's what makes this grow. It becomes a truly grassroots movement."

The effects of the social media campaigns also may result in future donations or volunteers.

"They might not give this year, but they are following along and they are excited about it," Reid said. "This is a fundraising event, obviously. But it's also a friend-raising event. It's about people and nonprofits coming together."

The Methodist Home's staff raised $10,000 as a challenge to the public to match. They also participated in the SunTrust Financial Wellness Giving Challenge, which gives an additional $500 to $5,000 in matching funds.

"These sponsors and their matching challenges motivate more people to give," Reid said.

Most of the participating 95 nonprofit organizations in Bibb County garnered much smaller donations.

Middle Georgia Community Food Bank had just three donors who gave a total of $600, but associate director Doug Rohme said he is grateful for every penny.

"Every little bit helps because it puts food on someone's plate," Rohme said.

The money likely will go into the Backpack Program for children who have been identified as most at risk of going hungry over the weekend, Rohme said. Those children get some food in their backpacks each Friday to eat during the weekend.

"That can give them energy in their morning to be able to work on a science project or math homework," Rohme said.

Houston County Volunteer Medical Clinic was one of 25 organizations in Houston County to participate in the fundraising day Thursday.

"We raised $550," said Beth Jones, chairwoman of the clinic's board of trustees. "This was our first year, and we were tickled with that. It's $550 more than we had before."

Georgia Gives Day is building an ethos of giving across the state.

Reid said a survey of last year's donors found that 10 percent gave to a nonprofit for the first time, 16 percent gave to a nonprofit they have never given to before, and 20 percent gave more than they intended to give.

GAgivesday.org is open for donations all year. Organizations who want to participate in next year's Georgia Gives Day on Nov. 17, 2016, can enroll online.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 10:18 PM with the headline "Georgia Gives Day sets new records in midstate, statewide ."