GiveMN’s annual 24-hour fundraiser, “Give to the Max Day,” will be held in Minnesota on Thursday.
 
GiveMN.org, which was launched in 2009, is a charitable giving website that connects Minnesotans with organizations in need and is led by Executive Director Dana Nelson. “Give to the Max Day” aims to raise as much money as possible in a 24-hour period with a variety of public events; last year, it raised more than $13 million for area nonprofits and set a new record for the number of participating donors and benefiting organizations. Since its inception, GiveMN has raised more than $50 million for more than 6,700 Minnesota nonprofits.
 
New to the signature Give to the Max Day event this year: K-12 public schools are now eligible to participate in the fundraising, and Minnesotans can now use mobile devices access GiveMN.org and donate.
 
In addition, one nonprofit and one school donor will be selected at random each hour to receive a “golden ticket”; $1,000 grants will be awarded to the nonprofit or school to which the ticket winner donated. Two “supersized” golden tickets—with $10,000 grants—will also be awarded.
 
Furthermore, the “most creative Give to the Max Day fundraising campaign” will receive a $500 grant at an Association of Fundraising Professionals Minnesota Chapter luncheon on Friday.
 
The Mall of America will serve as the home base of the fundraiser, and it will feature a live streaming of a “give-a-thon,” a social hour at Stir Crazy, local artwork, and musical performances, among other attractions.
 
Other events to be held throughout Give to the Max Day include:
 
Huge Improv Theater will feature 24 hours of live comedic improv.
 
Children’s Theater Company will run productions of “The Cat in the Hat” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and hold hourly prize drawings to encourage giving.
 
Circus Juventas will host “Cirque-a-thon 2012,” with performances, trapeze demonstrations, and classes.
 
Helping Paws, an organization that trains service dogs, will host a breakfast, luncheon, training classes, and happy hour.
 
Results from this year’s event will be posted on the GiveMN.org website on November 19.