GIVEMN, St. Paul
GiveMN has employed two main strategies
to support their vision of hosting the most dynamic
giving marketplace
in the country. Their first strategy is to build
capacity of nonprofits by raising money more efficiently
and effectively. Second, they strive to facilitate
the growth of giving through donor education and
engaging nonprofits. As the first-ever U.S. giving
site focused specifically on nonprofits in a single
state, GiveMN’s launch through The Minnesota
Community Foundation in November of 2009 has connected
the philanthropic community and created new ways
for the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to work
together.
By creating a website that is both
engaging and easy to use, GiveMN has provided new
tools for nonprofits to fundraise effectively through
the web. As a result, it has become evident that
donors are now looking online as one of many ways
of donating to nonprofits. Searchable by not only
nonprofit names, but specific causes as well, donors
have the ability to demand more engagement and interaction
with receiving organizations.
GiveMN continues to create and strategize
new ways the nonprofit and for-profit sector can
work together. They have partnered with the Bremer
Foundation to do a matching promotion for youth
serving organizations, and have joined with the
Secretary of State’s office to recruit volunteers
to serve as election judges while encouraging these
volunteers to donate their stipend to the nonprofit
of their choice. One of GiveMN’s more recognizable
giving promotions was their annual Give to the Max
Day where they generated $14 million in donations
for nonprofits and engaged nearly 40,000 donors
in this one-day event.
Results
for this new e-philanthropy tool can also be seen
in the benefits GiveMN has in place for both nonprofits
and their donors. Nonprofits
of all sizes now have a place to get in front of
thousands of more supporters both already existing
and potentially new. They are also able to reduce
fundraising costs and increase giving by compelling
online campaigns that may engage new and inspire
current givers. On the other end, donors also hold
benefits through GiveMN’s online platform.
They can access information in an easy-to use way,
receiving information on nonprofit causes both locally
and nationally. Donors can also become more organized,
by recording their donations both online and offline.
In just six months, GiveMN as a fundraising tool
has resulted in $16 million in donations to 4000
nonprofits in Minnesota.
By harnessing the power of social
media, GiveMN has been able to support and encourage
person and peer-inspired giving while also providing
an infrastructure for innovative institutional giving
strategies and promotions. More importantly, GiveMN
has motivated organizations throughout Minnesota
to try new ways of fundraising and has expanded
the legacy of generosity and culture of giving that
has been so unique in the state. With over 45,000
donors engaged, GiveMN vision to host the most dynamic
giving marketplace continues.
