After the most recent Give to the Max in November 2023, we asked donors who used GiveMN.org to share a little more insight about their giving preferences. After hearing back from thousands who graciously took time to complete the survey, we’re sharing three key takeaways with you today!
Takeaway #1: Donors like to give where they live
When we asked if the location of an organization makes a difference when you’re considering making a donation, a majority of you said that you prefer to give locally and within your immediate community. In the survey, the GiveMN team framed “local” as “within a neighborhood, city, or county."
Other than giving locally, you also said that you prefer to give to organizations that work statewide in Minnesota, but were not likely to have a preference for giving to organizations that work nationally or internationally. Although those organizations still receive support during Give to the Max, it has become a Minnesota “giving holiday” that focuses on organizations in our backyards. Your investment in your community and in our state is what makes Minnesota one of the most generous states in the country—thank you!
Takeaway #2: Donors like you give in many ways
Giving money isn’t the only way to support nonprofits and schools. In our survey, donors indicated that you’re supporting organizations in many ways besides financial support. When we asked if you also supported causes by serving on a board, spreading the word about an organization via word of mouth or social media, or volunteering, nearly half of all respondents said they do at least one of those activities, too!
Generosity takes many forms, and we’re grateful for all the ways you show care for our community.
Takeaway #3: You're motivated to pay-it-forward
When asked why you give, most of you cited one of three answers: you wanted to pay-it-forward for the services you had received from an organization in the past; you read an inspiring story about an organization’s work; or someone close to you asked you to make a donation.
Donating is a way to share gratitude for the ways nonprofits and schools make our communities healthier, stronger, and more just. Your pay-it-forward attitude helps unite our state to help create conditions where all of us can thrive.
There are so many ways to give and share, and we couldn’t be more grateful that one of the ways you choose to show up for our community is by helping make Give to the Max a special day for Minnesota each and every year. Together, we help make incredible things possible for our state and your spirit of generosity and abundance is what helps power good work year-round!