This month, every single resident in Arizona (ahem – this means you!) is being asked to do one simple thing – give.

Why?

“On March 20, all Arizonans will be asked to participate in the first-ever Arizona Gives Day,” said Patrick McWhortor, president and CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, who helped to develop the initiative in partnership with the Arizona Grantmakers Forum and a team of statewide leaders.

Beginning at midnight on March 20 and continuing until 11:59 p.m., Arizonans can go online at www.AZGives.org to support a local nonprofit in their community, or pledge their financial support to one of the hundreds of participating nonprofits across the state. A day dedicated to communities that care, Arizona Gives Day, presented by First Bank, will focus on giving back to the organizations whose invaluable efforts have helped empower communities and provide services, products and more to those in need.

The Gives Day movement began in Minnesota four years ago as a way to increase individual giving and help nonprofits raise awareness about their cause. Each year since, these initiatives have seen increased success and have helped countless organizations continue to provide the services and programs their communities need. Today, Gives Days are becoming increasingly more popular, leading many other states like Colorado, Georgia, Alabama and now Arizona to expand the “flash-mob type” movement into their own states. Organizers of the Arizona Gives Day hope to see the same successful response during the 24-hour statewide online giving initiative on March 20.

“For as little as $10, nonprofits in Arizona can and do make a difference,” said McWhortor. “Together, we hope to raise more than $2 million on this single day.

According to Marissa Theisen, president and CEO of Arizona Grantmakers Forum, donations made on Arizona Gives Day will help the state’s nonprofits:

·         Rally volunteers

·         Change lives

·         Build leaders

·         Develop networks

·         Fight for rights

·         Create scholarships

·         Champion critical community causes

“During the recent economic downtimes in Arizona and beyond, individual giving has declined. This is our chance to bring it back in a big way,” said Theisen.

Nonprofit Participation

Nearly 850 nonprofits from every inch of this state are taking part in this effort. To see if your favorite local cause is taking part, simply click here.

How to Participate

Giving is as easy is 1-2-3!

1.      Right now, drop everything you are doing and click here.

2.      Click on “Donate”

3.      Choose your nonprofit of choice and give away

Whether you give a little or give a lot, every donation will help the more than 20,000 deserving organizations statewide.

For more information, please visit www.AZGives.org.