Inaugural "Georgia Gives Day" Sets Precedent for Nonprofit Support in Georgia

Georgians rallied together for a flash mob of giving on Dec. 6

ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last Thursday, thousands of Georgians came together for the inaugural Georgia Gives Day, hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), for a day of giving. Within a 24-hour period, Georgia Gives Day and the more than 1,300 participating nonprofits across the state raised nearly $800,000. One hundred percent of proceeds raised from this initiative were directed to the respective participating nonprofits.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120511/DC05768LOGO)

The goal of the Dec. 6 Georgia Gives Day was to bring the state together as one community in order to raise as much money and awareness as possible for Georgia nonprofits. This initiative was supported and officially declared "Georgia Gives Day" by Gov. Nathan Deal. Inspired by similar successful programs across the country, GCN developed its own effort to promote community awareness and the missions of nonprofits.

"We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support," said Karen Beavor, president and CEO of GCN. "The success of this year's day of giving and the diversity of participants clearly showed the impact nonprofits have in our communities. This year's event established a strong foundation for next year's Gives Day."

Georgia Gives Day was supported by a generous group of partners and corporate sponsors, including

Cox Enterprises, Ames Scullin O'Haire Advertising, Encyclomedia, Edelman, Georgia Association of Broadcasters, Cox Media Group, Comcast, WXIA-TV, 11Alive, AutoTrader.com, Peachtree TV, Georgia Cable Association, Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia, The Coca-Cola Company, Mohawk, Wells Fargo, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, SunTrust Foundation, Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Clear Answer, Southwest Airlines, the Icebox, Georgia Power and Gas South.

Although Georgia Gives Day has passed, people can continue to donate through the Georgia Gives website, www.GAgives.org, which will continue to serve as a live, year-round and state-wide resource where the public can search for and support the local charities that touch our lives every day. This will also serve as a free tool that nonprofits can use for fundraising campaigns.

"The most important thing for participants to know is that their gift made a difference. The nonprofit participants were thrilled and grateful for the outpouring.  We also want people to know that we will repeat the campaign in 2013. Based on the support we received this year, and the additional 400 nonprofits already asking to participate, I know we can have an even bigger result," said Beavor.  

About Georgia Gives Day

The mission of Georgia Gives Day is to inspire individuals to donate to participating nonprofits with the goal of raising as much money as possible within a 24-hour period. GAgivesday.org makes donating easy by organizing hundreds of nonprofits across the state onto one website, providing  the information people need to select a cause or charity of their choice, and enabling online donations by credit card or e-check.

Georgia Gives Day collectively raised $782,225 in a single day of giving. Participants visited www.GAgivesday.org and gave to a nonprofit of their choosing.

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. www.gcn.org

Media Contacts:
Lynne Norton
Georgia Center for Nonprofits
[email protected]
678-916-3066

SOURCE Georgia Center for Nonprofits