Guest Blog by Jamie McDonald, Chief Giving Officer, Network for Good, Founder, GiveCorps

We did it, Hon.

Last year I was privileged to join with my colleagues at GiveCorps, and a passionate team of generous, dedicated Baltimoreans, to lead the BMoreGivesMore campaign to be the #mostgenerouscity in America on #GivingTuesday 2013.

We imagined the impact that a collective, massive show of strength could have on Baltimore. We envisioned a giving day where small, lean organizations could amplify their giving under the halo of a city-wide campaign. And how #GivingTuesday provided a unique means to get local nonprofits, organizations, and businesses on the same team to rally citizens to donate what they can — be it time, money or talent.

And we made a big impact, raising more than $5.7 million in one day. More important, we learned the power of the inspiring mission of #GivingTuesday to rally people on behalf of communities and causes.

Since that time, GiveCorps has joined forces with Network for Good, the nation’s leader in online charitable giving. It’s a big platform – and a big opportunity to bring more nonprofits into the #GivingTuesday movement with the tools and expertise to help them launch the giving season with the inspiration of #GivingTuesday as a propellor.

While GiveCorps was growing, so was the vision for the #GivingTuesday movement in Maryland. Greg Cantori and Allison Albert of Maryland Nonprofits are leading an effort to take the momentum of #GivingTuesday statewide, with the launch of the #MarylandGivesMore Campaign.

Building a Culture of Contribution in Maryland

The #MarylandGivesMore Campaign is a statewide effort to bring together nonprofits, donors, foundations, volunteers, and companies, to celebrate generosity and our ability to improve the lives of our neighbors in need. The goal is to raise $12.2 million on 12/2.

While our big goal is monetary, we believe that a culture of contribution is about much more than dollars. The #MarylandGivesMore campaign is also an organized day of volunteering, creative community initiatives, and celebration.

Even though some of these efforts may not contribute to the $12.2 million goal, they are a huge part of building excitement for the day. Because, while the national #GivingTuesday campaign offers a powerful platform to raise awareness for the importance of giving back to our communities, it’s really a means to celebrate what happens every day in a big way, around our state.

I’m proud to join with Greg and Allison in this ambitious, important campaign, and I hope you will, too.

Let’s get started!

Want to become an #MarylandGivesMore partner?  Here are some next steps:

• Join our partner call on 10/14 at 1pm.
  Dial 866.740.1260 and enter Access Code: 4382348

• If you’re a nonprofit that is still thinking about participating in #GivingTuesday, we’re hosting a webinar on “The Top 10 Strategies for a Successful #GivingTuesday” on 10/23/14 at 1:00 pm.  To sign up, click here.

• If you need to get your online giving platform in shape ahead of #GivingTuesday, Network for Good is offering special incentives, including matching funds for nonprofits in the N4G Network.  Learn more here.

• If you’re looking to launch a project, crowdfunding, or peer fundraising campaign for the #MarylandGivesMore campaign, we’ve partnered with CrowdRise.  Click here to get started!
• Connect with #MDGivesMore on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr!

And – COMING SOON – the #MarylandGivesMore website, www.marylandgivesmore.org.

 

 

Join Maryland Nonprofits’ 2014 Annual Conference “Connecting for Impact!” November 5th at the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville, MD. 

 

 

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