FAQs

What is Give to the Max Day?

Give to the Max Day is a day for Minnesotans to come together to raise millions of dollars for thousands of nonprofits and schools in 24 hours – starting at midnight on November 15 through midnight on November 16.

By engaging as many donors as possible to give to their favorite Minnesota charities and schools in one day – Give to the Max Day — GiveMN is showcasing Minnesota’s unparalleled generosity to the world!

What is GiveMN?

GiveMN is a collaborative venture to transform philanthropy in Minnesota by growing overall giving and moving more of it online. GiveMN is an independent 501(c)(3) support organization of the Minnesota Community Foundation.

Through its engaging web platform launched in November 2009, GiveMN helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes reach new donors, increases giving through fun and engaging campaigns and significantly reduces overall fundraising costs.

GiveMN helps individuals find, learn about and contribute to thousands of Minnesota nonprofit organizations and over 1 million national nonprofit organizations. It facilitates quick and easy online donations by credit card and organizes online charitable contributions in one location.

And, new in 2012, GiveMN now helps K-12 public schools fundraise online!

What are the incentives offered on Give to the Max Day?

GiveMN will be offering several incentives to inspire nonprofit, school and donor participation in the fourth annual Give to the Max Day:

• A new leaderboard structure with ten tiers of prize grants:
• A $12,500, $5,000 and $2,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three nonprofit organizations (colleges, universities and K-12 public schools excluded) which receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day. A prize grant of $1,000 will be awarded to each nonprofit in 4th through 10th place.
• A $12,500, $5,000 and $2,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three medium-sized nonprofit organizations (budgets over $100,000, but under $1 million based on your 2011 IRS Form 990 revenue; K-12 public schools excluded) which receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day. A prize grant of $1,000 will be awarded to each nonprofit in 4th through 10th place. Nonprofits must register online to compete in this category.
• A $12,500, $5,000 and $2,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three small nonprofit organizations (budgets of $100,000 or less based on your 2011 IRS Form 990 revenue; K-12 public schools excluded) which receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day. A prize grant of $1,000 will be awarded to each nonprofit in 4th through 10th place. Nonprofits must register online to compete in this category.
• A $12,500, $5,000 and $2,500 prize grant will be awarded to the top three colleges and universities which receive the most dollars during Give to the Max Day. A prize grant of $1,000 will be awarded to each nonprofit college or university in 4th through 10th place.
• Golden Tickets are back—hourly drawings that add $1,000 to a person’s donation, randomly selected from donors who gave during each hour of the event. And, at the end of the event, GiveMN will draw a “Super-sized Golden Ticket,” a $10,000 prize grant added to a person’s donation, randomly selected from donations made throughout the 24-hour event. PLUS we’ve added Golden Tickets for K-12 public schools! That means a donor to a nonprofit AND a donor to a public K-12 school will be randomly selected to have $1,000 added to their donations each hour, as well as two $10,000 Super-sized Golden Tickets at the end of the event – one for a nonprofit donor and one for a public K-12 schools donor!

Which schools are eligible for the Public K-12 Schools Golden Ticket?

Because this is the first year that K-12 public schools have access to GiveMN, we have created a special prize category for them. Only K-12 public schools, including their associated PTAs, booster clubs, school foundations, and K-12 charter schools who are 501(c) (3)s are eligible for the K-12 public schools Golden Tickets and the Super-sized Golden Ticket. K-12 private schools, colleges and universities are eligible for the nonprofit Golden Tickets and Super-sized Golden Ticket.

Are there any other promotions associated with Give to the Max Day 2012?

Yes. GiveMN is partnering with Youthprise to sponsor the “Mobilize The Power of Youth Video Contest.” Individuals or organizations are encouraged to create a video detailing how their nonprofit organization enlivens, empowers and engages young people throughout Minnesota. The contest entry period is from September 15, 2012 through November 1, 2012. A panel of youth and the Youthprise staff will judge the contest. The winner will be announced on November 15, 2012 on the Give to the Max video feed live from Mall of America. Top prizes include two grand prizes of $5,000 for the 501(c)(3) organization featured in the video. For complete contest details, visit www.givemn.org.

In partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), GiveMN will also present the Most Creative Give to the Max Fundraising Campaign Award to a nonprofit whose fundraising strategy for Give to the Max Day exemplifies creative and innovative approaches. The winning entry’s strategy for Give to the Max Day will differentiate their campaign from others and will be an integral part of the organization’s overall annual fundraising plan. All strategies should adhere to ethical standards of fundraising. Submissions are due by Friday, October 26. For more information, visit www.givemn.org.

The winning entry will be announced on Give to the Max Day, receive one of GiveMN’s livestream interview slots and will be recognized in all Give to the Max Day post-outreach efforts. In addition, the Most Creative Give to the Max Fundraising Campaign Award, along with a $500 check, will be presented to the winning organization at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Minnesota Chapter National Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 16 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. The winner will be offered two complimentary tickets to the luncheon and must have a representative present to receive the award.

Who can participate in Give to the Max Day?

Any individual may donate. Donations through the GiveMN.org site to nonprofit organizations and registered public schools are tax deductible and irrevocable (donations will not be refunded). Contributions may be made via credit and debit card only.

What organizations are eligible to receive donations and Give to the Max Day prizes?

Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations listed on GiveMN.org and its partner website, Razoo.com, are eligible to receive donations and prize grants. K-12 public schools, PTAs, booster clubs, K-12 charter schools and school foundations who are 501(c) (3)s are eligible for K-12 public schools Golden Tickets and the Super-sized Golden Ticket, but not for the leaderboard categories. K-12 private schools, colleges and universities are eligible for the nonprofit Golden Tickets, Super-sized Golden Ticket and appropriate leaderboard categories.

Please note that private non-operating foundations cannot receive donations on GiveMN.org or Razoo.com and are not eligible for Give to the Max Day prizes. In addition, organizations that provide services in Minnesota – but have an EIN based in another state – can receive donations on GiveMN.org but are not eligible for Give to the Max Day prize grants.

How much of the donation will go to the nonprofit or school?

GiveMN passes on the cost of processing fees to the nonprofit organizations and schools. This low, flat rate of 2.9% is subtracted from the nonprofit or school’s monthly check. We are thrilled to be able to offer this great value rate through our technology partners, Razoo.com, and their partnership with U.S. Bank, which waives select fees associated with processing credit and debit cards.

Is there a fee to participate?

There is no fee for an organization or school to participate in Give to the Max Day.

Is there a minimum donation?

The minimum donation on GiveMN.org is $10.

Is there a maximum donation?

There is no maximum donation limit on GiveMN.org.

Is there a limit to the amount an organization can receive on Give the Max Day?

There is no maximum amount an organization may receive.

How can an organization receive donations?

If you are already listed on GiveMN.org or Razoo.com, you don’t need to do anything except make sure your nonprofit or school profile and page is updated and in great shape (see our top 5 hints to create a great page). To update yournonprofit profile, make sure you first claim administrative access on GiveMN.org. To request administrative access to your nonprofit, go to http://givemn.razoo.com/p/Claim and register with your nonprofit’s email address. If your nonprofit is not listed on GiveMN or Razoo when you do a search, please email our partner, Razoo, at np@razoo.com for more information on how you can get listed.

How can a school receive donations?

If your school is not listed on GiveMN or Razoo when you do a search, you can register by visiting http://www.givemn.org/schools. (You may also use this link to find an email template to send a request to your school administrator to register your school.) If your school has an active PTA or school foundation, you can make a donation on that page.

Do you have video tutorials that explain the site and how it works?

Yes. You can view all our videos on the Video Walkthrough page.

How will an organization or school know who has donated to them?

Organizations or schools which have registered with GiveMN or Razoo can track donations in real-time online. Nonprofits and schools can download a detailed, constantly-updated donation report at any time through their account to thank and follow up with individual donors and tabulate donation value and number of donors. This .csv file can be used in Excel and is widely compatible with other spreadsheet applications.

How did GiveMN.org decide which institutions to include in the Higher Education Leaderboard?

We created the list of schools for the Higher Education Leaderboard by first pulling a report of institutions in Minnesota that are “public” and “private, not-for-profit” from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. We reviewed the list, identified and added some independent foundations associated with colleges and universities, and consulted with the Minnesota Private Colleges Council, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU), and the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Please note that we did not include: not-for-profit online colleges and universities that are not based in Minnesota (whose EIN is not in Minnesota), organizations that provide free vocational training amongst other services, for-profit schools and college alumni associations.

How can I find out more information about Give to the Max Day?

Sign up for the GiveMN e-newsletter to receive updates about GiveMN and Give to the Max Day. You can also follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook to stay updated. GiveMN will be hosting webinars for nonprofits and schools to share tools, highlight matching grants and strategize together to make this day another one for the history books! To sign up for the webinars, visit www.givemn.org.

Can I make a donation on Give to the Max Day to an organization or school from my mobile device?

Yes. GiveMN Mobile allows donors with an Internet-enabled device to make donations easily and securely. Simply visit www.givemn.org on any mobile device and search for your favorite nonprofit or school. In addition to donations, GiveMN Mobile also allows mobile users to make a pledge. Users are asked to select the nonprofit or school to which they wish to make a financial pledge, enter their email and the amount of the pledge. They will then receive an email reminder to complete the donation at a later time.

Can I use a GiveMN Giving Card on Give to the Max Day? Will this donation be eligible for prizes and Golden Tickets?

Yes. All donations, including those made using a GiveMN Giving Card, will be eligible for Give to the Max Day prizes as long as the donation is made to a Minnesota-based nonprofit or school.

Special thanks to our Give to the Max Day sponsors: The Minnesota Community Foundation, The Mosaic Company, Youthprise and The Knight Foundation.

Special thanks to our Give to the Max Day sponsors!

Video contest winners

How it Worked

On Nov. 15th our communities came together for 24 hours of online giving. Every donation you made during Give to the Max Day 2012 helped qualify your nonprofit or school for prize money and awards, furthering the impact of your donation.

There are several ways your donation went further on Give to the Max Day.

Leaderboard prize grants – nonprofits which raised the most dollars earned a spot on one of the four leaderboards. There are prize grants for each of the top 10 spots on all leaderboards. Prizes are as follows: 1^st place - $12,500; 2^nd place - $5,000; 3^rd place - $2,500; 4^th-10 ^th place - $1,000.

Golden Tickets – One nonprofit donor and one K-12 public schools donor was randomly chosen every hour to have $1,000 added to their donation. One nonprofit donor and one K-12 public schools donor was also be selected randomly from throughout the 24 hours of giving to have $10,000 added to their donation!

Matching grants – hundreds of nonprofits offered a dollar-for-dollar match so you can double your donation.

Continue to learn about the nonprofits and schools serving our area, make a donation, and watch your generosity change lives. For complete rules and prizes, click the link below.

Join the Conversation

Follow us on Twitter:

See More on Twitter

Like us on Facebook:

Legal Disclaimer

All donations made on givemn.razoo.com are made to the Razoo Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which permits donors to advise a regranting of their donations to other IRS recognized qualifying 501(c)(3). It’s Razoo Foundation’s normal practice to regrant 97.1% of its contribution to the qualifying organization as advised by the donor, retaining 2.9% for Razoo Foundation’s expenses (including credit card transaction costs).