GAgives News


Georgians Unite to Show Record-Breaking Support for Nonprofits on GAgives on Giving Tuesday 2024 

Record numbers of givers showcase how nonprofits unify communities, contributing over $36.3 million for causes of all kinds

ATLANTA – It’s the season of giving, thankfulness and hope, all of which was on full display during this year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday, hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) on Dec. 3. Georgians united in showing their appreciation for the vast amount of work that our state’s nonprofits do for the benefit of all residents. After a year marked by natural disasters and a tense political contest, this was a day to acknowledge the impact of nonprofit services, their integral role in communities, and how important it is to ensure they can continue to assist families, individuals, animals, and the environment.

In all, this year's GAgives on GivingTuesday saw more than $36.3 million donated – another record-breaking total – in support of causes of all kinds, from animal welfare to healthcare, youth sports, parks and greenspaces, environmental stewardship, and so much more.

Many nonprofits used GAgives on GivingTuesday to engage donors, showing that gifts of any size can make an impact when combined with online outreach – and with official GAgives prizes, awarding funds based on the number of donations (rather than dollars raised) across a dozen different “power hours,” golden ticket contests, and leaderboard competitions. These special funding opportunities were made possible by the generous sponsorships of Aprio; Arby’s Foundation; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Mauldin & Jenkins; and Smurfit Westrock.

“Smurfit Westrock is excited to continue our partnership with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to recognize and reward the important role Georgia’s nonprofit organizations have in making our communities great places to live, work, and play,” said Smurfit Westrock Director of Corporate Giving Mandy Burnette. “While we encourage our colleagues to engage in their communities year-round and recognize their commitments through our Matching Gifts and Grants for Volunteers programs, GAgives on GivingTuesday provides an opportunity for us to take a moment and reflect on the role we all play in ensuring our nonprofit partners have the resources they need to fulfil their missions."

Nonprofits participate in GAgives on GivingTuesday through a variety of fundraising platforms, including GAgives.org. Accounting for every participating platform, this year's event raised over $36.3 million for Georgia's nonprofits, the result of more than 180,000 separate donations – a 10 percent increase in dollars donated and a 20 percent increase in the number of donations. (Over $3.45 million of that was raised on the GAgives.org platform, provided by the GAgives team to give nonprofits a simple but powerful way to raise funds – topping last year's GAgives.org total by 13 percent.)

This year, many organizations used GivingTuesday to showcase their work with special activities, including:

  • FurKids, hosting puppy playdates at Perimeter Mall, where donors got a chance to win a mall gift card, as well as a Drink for a Cause event at Cherry Street Brewing
  • Adopt a Golden Atlanta, hosting pictures with Santa
  • 3D Girls Inc., holding a grant opening of their new center
  • Food Well Alliance, which offered tours, cooking demos, and volunteering at the Atlanta Harvest Farm and Farm Stand in Ellenwood
  • Tommy Nobis Center, putting on a pep rally
  • The Good Mews Foundation, mounting a live feed of their kitten room and giving randomly selected donors the opportunity to name a kitten of their choice
  • Blankies 4 My Buddies, hosting a blanket-making event at Morehouse College in memory of a student

Since its launch in 2012, GAgives on GivingTuesday has rallied Georgians to demonstrate their generosity in overwhelming numbers. Given the chance to showcase the true measure of their Southern hospitality, Georgians have responded by breaking records year after year, both in the number of individual gifts made and in total dollars donated.  

“Georgians have faced a lot this year: continued inflation, political turmoil, and the housing crisis, to name a few, as well as a number of community-shaking disasters,” said GCN President & CEO Karen Beavor. “But regardless of the crisis, nonprofits are always ready to help their communities. While division has been a major focus of our media and our politics over this past year, nonprofits have never stopped working to unite our communities. Through GAgives, Georgians showcased once again how much they value that work and the impact it makes on all of us. And the chance to give back isn't over: These nonprofits still need your support, and you can help make a difference for them before the end of the year”

"We are thrilled with the incredible response we received from donors for GAgives on GivingTuesday!" said Kate Conner, Executive Director of Food Well Alliance. "We were able to meet our $25,000 match from our board and Tito's Handmade Vodka and raised over $50,000. These funds will go directly to provide resources and services to local growers at hundreds of urban farms, orchards, and community gardens in metro Atlanta: labor support, volunteers, plants, trees, compost, grants, and more. Thank you!" 

"The Georgia Tree Council looks forward each year to GAgives on GivingTuesday because it not only gives us a chance to raise funds but also to share information about our programs and services to Georgia’s communities," said Georgia Tree Council Executive Director Mary Lynne Beckley. "We are so excited to be a Golden Ticket winner. All of the deeply appreciated funds raised on GAgives help support our ongoing mission of sustaining Georgia’s green legacy by partnering with individuals, organizations, and communities in raising awareness toward improving and maintaining Georgia’s community forests."

Created, executed, and overseen by GCN for the direct benefit of Georgia nonprofits, the GAgives on GivingTuesday campaign is enhanced by generous sponsors, media partners, and participating organizations. Together, their contributions and creativity amplify the impact for nonprofits, allowing nonprofits in turn to continue operations for, and enhance their offerings to, the communities of Georgia.  

GCN considers it an honor to champion Georgia’s largest giving movement and serve as the official state lead for GivingTuesday, a generosity campaign covering all 50 states and more than 150 countries.

About GAgives

Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, GAgives on GivingTuesday aims to bring attention to the work and worth of the nonprofit sector. Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has raised nearly $200 million from more than 740,000 individual donors for the nonprofits across Georgia working tirelessly for positive and lasting change.

About GivingTuesday

Launched by the 92nd Street Y in 2012 and housed in its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact, GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring people to take collaborative action for their local communities and contribute to the causes they believe in. Throughout the year, the movement reaches millions of people, with campaigns and activities in all 50 states and 150 countries, culminating on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. See the latest updates on Instagram.

About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight-building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members, and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. Learn more at gcn.org.


2024 GAgives on GivingTuesday Showcases Nonprofits as the Unifiers of Communities

Global Giving Movement Spotlights How Nonprofits Are First Responders in Times of Crisis and Common Ground for Many in Communities

ATLANTA, October 29, 2024 – With the season of giving upon us, it’s time to show our appreciation for those who have supported our communities throughout the year with unwavering commitment and a staggering level of accomplishment. All Georgians benefit, in multiple ways, from the outstanding work of our nonprofits. In this year especially, they’ve truly shown up for us all. GAgives on GivingTuesday, hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), is once again shining a spotlight on the impact of nonprofits across the state, showcasing the ways they serve as the great unifiers of our communities in times of conflict and crisis. Since its launch in 2012, GAgives on GivingTuesday has given Georgians the chance to demonstrate their generosity. Naturally, they have risen to the occasion with record-breaking giving year after year, both in the number of individual gifts and in total dollars raised. Coinciding with the international day of giving celebrated the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, this year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday will be held Dec. 3, 2024, when Georgians are asked to get into the true spirit of the giving season following the annual shopping-centered tradition of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“This year has been especially trying for Georgia nonprofits as they’ve been called upon for extra resources and manpower, whether that’s a result of the devastation of this year’s storms, the national housing crisis, community support for those directly impacted by the Apalachee High School attack, inflation, or a host of other situations,” said GCN President & CEO Karen Beavor. “No matter the crisis, nonprofits have rallied to support their communities, and GAgives on GivingTuesday is our time to support them in return.” Last year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday set another new record, with more than 13,800 donors contributing to more than 1,050 organizations through the official GAgives.org platform alone.

On that single platform, one of many activated for the event, $3.06 million was donated, exceeding the total amount donated through GAgives.org in 2022 by nine percent. In total, $33.17 million was raised, a 13 percent increase from 2022.

All registered 501(c)3 nonprofits in Georgia can participate in this special day of giving. Nonprofits are invited to raise funds through GAgives.org, a powerful but easy-to-use online fundraising platform featuring complementary resources to assist in maximizing donations – from donation-motivating prizes sponsored by official GAgives partners to toolkits, marketing materials, complimentary online trainings, GAgives success stories, and more, all designed to help nonprofits engage their volunteers, staff, board members, and supporters.

“Nonprofits impact the lives of every one of us throughout the year, whether they’re housing the animal that becomes a beloved family pet, protecting the stunning views along a park trail, staging the latest community theater performance, or doing the research to combat a disease experienced by ourselves or a loved one,” said GCN’s Karen Beavor. “Nonprofits are the thread stitching together the fabric of our community, representing the common causes that we all believe in – care for our neighbors, quality of life, and shared culture – despite how our other beliefs may differ. Let’s come together once again to show our nonprofits how much we appreciate them and break yet another record this GAgives on Giving Tuesday.”

This year, sponsors are encouraging Georgians to showcase their support for their favorite organizations by giving nonprofits that registered for prizes the chance to win additional funds – through “Power Hours,” “Golden Tickets,” and leaderboard contests. Those generous sponsors include Smurfit Westrock, Arby’s Foundation, and Aprio. Additional GAgives support comes from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cox Enterprises, Georgia News Network, Outfront Media, WSB-TV Family 2 Family, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and others.

Since 2012, GAgives has galvanized Georgians to be a part of the state’s largest giving movement, totaling $155.97 million in donations to date from over 560,000 individual gifts. Created, executed, and overseen by GCN for the direct benefit of Georgia nonprofits, the GAgives on GivingTuesday campaign is enhanced by generous sponsors, media partners, and participating organizations. Together, their contributions and creativity amplify the impact for nonprofits, allowing nonprofits in turn to continue operations for, and enhance their offerings to, the communities of Georgia. GCN considers it an honor to champion Georgia’s largest giving movement and serve as the official state lead for GivingTuesday, a generosity campaign covering all 50 states and more than 150 countries.

About GAgives

Led by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, GAgives on GivingTuesday aims to bring attention to the work and worth of the nonprofit sector. Since its founding in 2012, the GAgives movement has raised more than $155.97 million from more than 560,000 individual gifts for the nonprofits across Georgia working tirelessly for positive and lasting change.

About GivingTuesday

Launched by the 92nd Street Y in 2012 and housed in its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact, GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring people to take collaborative action for their local communities and contribute to the causes they believe in. Throughout the year, the movement reaches millions of people, with campaigns and activities in all 50 states and 150 countries, culminating on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. See the latest updates on Instagram.

About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight-building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members, and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. 

Georgians Rally to Empower Nonprofits, Supporting Every Corner of Our Community for GAgives on GivingTuesday

ATLANTA, November 29th, 2023 – The spirit of Georgia’s giving shone brightly for this year’s GAgives on GivingTuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. The Georgia community came together to highlight the significance of nonprofits and honor the profound impact they make on our lives, showcasing the public’s deep appreciation for the positive differences these organizations make in our communities.

With the invaluable support of sponsors like Arby's Foundation and Smurfit Westrock, this year's campaign engaged tens of thousands people, including more than 13,800 donors contributing through the GAgives.org platform alone, a testament to the generosity and commitment of Georgians. On that single platform, one of many activated for the event, $3.06 million was donated, exceeding the total amount donated through GAgives.org in 2022 by 9 percent. In total, GAgives on GivingTuesday 2023 raised $33.17 million, a 13 percent increase from 2022!

The impact is substantial, benefiting over 1,050 organizations, each dedicated to making a positive and lasting change in our communities. This year's success reinforces the annual giving movement that has been a cornerstone for Georgia's nonprofits since the inception of GAgives in 2012. 

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), the proud host of GAgives on GivingTuesday each year, invited Georgians to reflect on their gratitude throughout the month of November with the #GAgivesThanks initiative. This campaign highlighted 30 distinctive ways to express appreciation and included a message from Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp, as well as official proclamations from the Cities of Atlanta, Augusta, Newnan, and Savannah, as well as the State of Georgia.

"Georgia nonprofits serve as vital connective threads in the fabric of their communities. Right now, nonprofits are doing great work across Georgia – expanding parks and public gardens, providing food and healthcare, mounting theater productions, educating children, caring for animals – in service to us all,” shared Karen Beavor, CEO and President of GCN. “All month long with #GAgivesThanks, our community has come together in support of them. Year after year, Georgians step up to showcase their true generosity with record-breaking levels of giving, both in numbers of individual donors and total amounts raised. We’re honored to champion the importance of our nonprofits and to help steer another record-breaking groundswell of support in 2023."

The generous support of sponsors like Smurfit Westrock, Arby’s Foundation, Carr Riggs & Ingram, Aprio, Mauldin & Jenkins, and Gas South, as well as media partners like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cox Enterprises, Georgia News Network, Outfront Media, and WSB-TV Family 2 Family, among others, played a pivotal role in the campaign's success.

However, the season of giving is still in full swing. Those who didn’t take part on Nov. 28 can still give to the nonprofit(s) of your choice, and help them end the year strong, at www.GAgives.org.

Since its inception in 2012, GAgives has galvanized over $155.97 million in donations, thanks to the support of more than 560,000 individual gifts. GCN, as the official state lead for GivingTuesday, considers it a privilege to champion Georgia's largest giving movement.

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