Over 19,000 generous contributions in just 24 hours to 309 nonprofit organizations!
(May 7, 2014 | New Orleans, LA) A local philanthropic movement was ignited with the launch of GiveNOLA Day on May 6 culminating in 19,623 gifts and $2,264,436 million raised for regional nonprofit organizations. GiveNOLA Day totals and other data are preliminary and the Greater New Orleans Foundation will continue to release more detailed results online.
“This is an incredible testament to our community’s generosity,” said Albert Ruesga, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “We came together as one to support our nonprofit organizations that do so much to help build a healthy community for all.”
During this first-ever 24-hour online event, powered by social media, people made donations to one or more of the 309 nonprofit organizations profiled on www.GiveNOLA.org. Every dollar donated on GiveNOLA Day was stretched with additional “lagniappe” dollars provided by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and its generous GiveNOLA Day sponsors. The total amount in the Lagniappe Fund was $226,000.
Additionally, thanks to Boh Brothers, GiveNOLA Day’s lead sponsor, and other generous sponsors, awards and prizes totaling $96,000 were awarded throughout the 24-hour period.
Cash awards were given to both large and small organizations that raised the most money and got the largest number of unique donors.
The three large nonprofits raising the most money were Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Louise S. McGehee School.
The top three small nonprofits receiving the most amount raised were Spaymart, Start the Adventure in Reading, and Orleans Public Education Network.
(Large nonprofits have operating budgets of a $1 million or more, while smaller nonprofits are those operating on less than $1 million.)
Additionally, 24 nonprofits won Rock-Around-the-Clock prizes when their organizations were randomly selected for $1,000 hourly prizes.
Participating nonprofits mobilized their supporters, primarily through social media and online communications, to give on GiveNOLA Day. The one-day of giving was supported by a publicity campaign that included ads in print and online, and a broadcast commercial with a song written by local musician Allen Toussaint.
Presenting sponsors were Boh Brothers; Gillis, Ellis & Baker; Merrill Lynch; the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and the Shell Beach Fund.
Supporting sponsors were All American Grease Services Corporation, Baldwin & Haspel, Bellwether Technology, the Boettcher Fund, the Lemle Fund, and the Zemurray Foundation.
Local nonprofits that wish to participate in GiveNOLA Day next year are encouraged to sign up for the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s e-newsletter to receive 2015 information.
About the Greater New Orleans Foundation:
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is one of the oldest and largest philanthropic organizations in the region. Its mission is to create a thriving community for all. Every day, GNOF joins other foundations, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and government officials to address the needs of the community and build consensus for solutions. Together with a family of donors, the Foundation has invested over $100 million in the region since it opened its doors over 30 years ago to respond to community needs.