Give to the Max Day gets a mega-boost from Mall of America
The third annual "Give to the Max Day" supporting Minnesota non-profits is a week away, and there are a few changes to the 24-hour give-a-thon worth noting.
The event, which has quickly become Minnesota's biggest fundraiser of the year, starts at midnight on November 16, runs all day Wednesday, and ends at midnight on November 17.
From 10am-9pm the online event will base its operations out of the Mall of America's rotunda, with live performances and giving stations. People who participate at the MOA will receive discounts from participating mall retailers that day.
In other words, the Mall is encouraging you to give, and then encouraging you to spend.
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In addition, it's now possible to give online on your smart phone or tablet.
The minimum donation is $10.
The fee assessed on all donations is 2.9%.
And, as in past years, GiveMN will offer several incentives to encourage participation.
Here's how this year's prizes break down:
A $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three nonprofit organizations (colleges and universities excluded) which receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day.
$5,000 prize grants will be awarded to nonprofits in 4th through 10th place.
A $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three small nonprofit organizations - with budgets under $750,000 - which receive the most dollars on Give to the Max Day (Nonprofits must register online to compete in this category).
$5,000 prize grants will be awarded to nonprofits in 4th through 10th place in the small nonprofit category.
A $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 prize grant will be awarded to the top three Minnesota colleges or universities which receive the most dollars on Give to the Max Day.
In addition to the 24 "Golden Tickets"--$1,000 prize grants given randomly every hour--one $10,000 "Grand Golden Ticket" will be randomly given at 11:59 p.m. on November 16, 2011.
In its first Give to the Max Day in 2009, GiveMN raised more than $14 million from 38,000 people. In its second year it raised around $10 million, but increased its donor pool to 42,000. It will be interesting to see how the economy effects this year's numbers... which I'll be tracking closely next week.