MANSFIELD — Maura Teynor of the Richland County Foundation knew early that Tuesday’s Richland Gives Event was becoming a record-breaking venture.
“We’re ecstatic,” she said around 5 p.m. Tuesday, two hours before the 12-hour campaign’s finish. “We exceeded our expectations for sure. We’re just over the moon with how much people are giving.”
At that time, the Richland Foundation had raised a total of $133,756 for 64 area nonprofits. That number had topped to $163,046 by 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. But the giving continued through Wednesday morning as more nonprofits and individuals donated to the various participating organizations.
“People are still donating, they can give all year,” Teynor said, adding the website used as a donation platform exists throughout the year. Providing an online donation platform is one way the foundation has committed to supporting local nonprofits.
This year, the foundation’s second year in participating in the national Giving Tuesday event, the foundation’s board of trustees committed $50,000 in matching grants to its participating nonprofits as an incentive to raise funds.
Essentially, the more funds a nonprofit raised itself through constituents and donors, the greater the chance for that nonprofit to receive matching grants through Richland County Foundation.
“The first 40 nonprofits to raise $1,000 online via Richland Gives, we will match that,” she said, adding that the three leaders of each category, small and large nonprofits based on the size of their budgets, received $1,500, $500, and $250 prizes.
According to the website, Friendly House Association of Mansfield raised the most funds for the large nonprofit category, checking in at $7,810. North Central State College and Downtown Mansfield Incorporated followed close behind with $6,475 and $4,480 respectively.
The leader for the small nonprofit category was Little Buckeye Children’s Museum with $10,139. Taking Root Farms and North Central Ohio Land Conservancy raised $5,215 and $4,745 respectively.
Giving Tuesday, according to its website, is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. The national online giving platform raised around $116,000,000 last year through 700,000 participants in over 70 countries.
Teynor said the Tuesday event will continue to grow and improve year to year. But for its second year, she is impressed with the amount given.
“We’re very pleased with the results,” she said, adding the final tally is a reflection of the community’s graciousness and generosity.
Richland County Foundation’s last annual report granted $4.2 million back to the community, according to Teynor. With last year’s numbers included, about $70 million has been granted since the foundation’s founding in 1945.
To give to a local nonprofit through Richland County Foundation’s online giving platform, visit the website.
