Despite heightened stress and shorter days, every week this November, Minnesotans have had a reason to come together, lean on our communities, pay respects, and spread generosity. On the 5th, many of us exercised our right to vote; on the 11th, we celebrated veterans; on November 20th, we will mark the annual Trans Day of Remembrance. And, next week, on November 21st, our community will give for good, spread generosity, and celebrate nonprofits and schools across our state on the 16th annual Give to the Max Day.
As nonprofits continue to struggle with high rates of burnout and increased demand for services, it is more important than ever before to mark these occasions by more than just checking them off of your calendar. You can also use recognized days of celebration and remembrance to consider how you, as an individual donor, fundraiser, and human being, can connect with people and causes you care about.
Your support matters: one small-budgeted organization recently shared with us that, through increased individual donations over the past year, they were able to hire a full-time fundraising employee for the first time in the organization's history! So, if November's holidays are inspiring you to give, but you're having trouble choosing which of the 10,000 active nonprofits in Minnesota to give to, here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Check out our latest Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn posts to see the organizations we're highlighting throughout the Early Giving season, including nonprofits that work in the arts, health, education, and more.
- Explore GiveMN.org to find even more organizations that speak to a cause close to your heart or discover a new one. Interested in supporting organizations that are led by and/or serve communities of color and LGBTQ+ folks, knowing that BIPOC-led/serving and LGBTQ+ serving organizations often face funding disparities? GiveMN.org’s search function allows you to filter search results by BIPOC-led, BIPOC-serving, and/or LGBTQ+-serving organizations.
- Think about a nonprofit that has supported you or a loved one. Maybe an organization provided your child with afterschool tutoring, put on a play you loved, helped you land a job through a career readiness program, or cleaned up the natural environment around you. At a time when 80% of Minnesota nonprofits report having less than 12 months before they experience financial distress, why not give back to an organization you love so they can keep doing impactful work?
As with every Give to the Max Day, the amount of money raised by our community starts at $0. Through every community member who takes a second to support a cause they care about, Minnesota routinely raises millions of dollars for the nonprofits that make a difference in our everyday lives.
So, mark your calendars for #GTMD24! And, to learn more about how you can mark this moment by giving, visit the GTMD24 Donor Resource Guide: https://www.givemn.org/gtmd/donors-guide-gtmd24.