More than 3,300 nonprofits across the Dallas-Fort Worth area have signed up for Thursday’s North Texas Giving Day in hopes of raising crucial money to keep operations running during the coronavirus pandemic.
The online philanthropy drive, powered by the Communities Foundation of Texas, launched early giving on Sept. 1 and had raised over $8 million by Tuesday morning. The event will end at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Giving Day organizers said this year’s event has 21% more first-time nonprofit participants than the campaign of a year ago. Money raised is used to meet community needs and to help replenish resources. Donations also help offset fundraising events that were canceled due to the pandemic, organizers say.
In May a new giving event called North Texas Giving Tuesday Now was created to help nonprofits facing financial distress brought on by the pandemic. The 18-hour campaign raised about $20.7 million to be split among more than 2,500 local nonprofits.
A new option in the online giving process this time around is the ability to search for nonprofits with Black, indigenous and people of color leadership. Donors can also filter to find nonprofits focused on employment and the workforce, human trafficking, immigration and refugees, and social justice causes.
“North Texas Giving Day started as an online-only event, which is so helpful in these times of stay-at-home orders and social distancing,” said Susan Swan Smith, chief Giving Day officer at the Communities Foundation of Texas. “Everything — from donating, to volunteering, to just simply celebrating nonprofits who support our community every day, but especially now — can be done safely, online on North Texas Giving Day.”
This year’s honorary North Texas Giving Day co-chairs are Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall and Corey Anthony, who is senior vice president and human resources and chief diversity officer at AT&T and is chair of the Dallas CASA board.
“Compassion and community are two of my favorite words right now,” Marshall said. “However, action speaks louder than words. North Texas Giving Day will give many of us an opportunity to show compassion and take our service to the community to new levels.”
Last year’s North Texas Giving Day event pulled in a record 169,380 gifts that provided over $50 million for nearly 3,000 nonprofits.
How to give
Donate at northtexasgivingday.org through 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Personal “FUNdraiser” pages can also be made for specific nonprofits. Learn more at northtexasgivingday.org/FUNdraise.
In conjunction with North Texas Giving Day, a free concert will be livestreamed on Levitt Pavilion Arlington’s Facebook page from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Nataly Keomoungkhoun, Engagement Editor Dallas Morning News
NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY NEWS
ERIC MEDDERS REALTY GROUP @ WWW.TXHOMESANDLAND.COM