MANSFIELD, Ohio — Giving Tuesday received a resounding local response.
Maura Teynor, Director of Donor Services and Communications at Richland County Foundation, said she was ecstatic with the results from the Foundation’s giving campaign during Tuesday’s national #GivingTuesday event. The foundation raised a total of $68,471 for local nonprofits.
#GivingTuesday, according to co-founding partner CECP out of New York, has become a global movement to celebrate and encourage investment in the community. The web-based giving campaign coincided with the International Day of Giving. As a response, Richland County Foundation launched its first Richland Gives 2015 campaign — it lasted 12 hours on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Teynor said 65 local nonprofits gleaned financial donations during the campaign. She said 513 donations were made through their website.
Each nonprofit was categorized based on operating budgets — $250,000 or more for large groups and $249,000 or less for small groups. Each nonprofit competed for the most donations.
The top three fundraisers of each category also won a cash prize from the Richland Foundation. First place won $1,500; second place won $500; third place won $250.
“We had a little party to watch the leaderboards,” Teynor said. “It was fun because Little Buckeye Museum, they were in third when they showed up and they kicked in gear to try to raise more (money). It was a little fun competition.”
During the 12-hour giving campaign, nonprofits had the chance to win $500. Each group competed, for one hour straight, for the most funds raised during that hour. There were three separate “golden ticket hours,” Teynor said.
The winners were Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Downtown Mansfield Inc and Parent Aide.
“I think it went fantastic,” she said. “It was all symbolized by whether you’re an individual or organization. It’s about giving back to the community and making the community stronger.
“I think our community did that on Giving Tuesday.”
The Richland County Foundation was founded in Mansfield in 1945 as a nonprofit organization backed by endowment funds which, in turn, are disseminated back into the community through grants and scholarships. Since its founding, Teynor said the Foundation has granted $69 million to Richland County through various types of funds.
For more information on how to donate visit the website or call 419-525-3020.
