Organizers of the annual NH Gives fundraiser for the state’s nonprofits accomplished what they set out to do: set another record this year, raising over $3.7 million in 24 hours, nearly $500,000 more than last year’s total.
Over 13,000 Granite Staters contributed during the online giving event, which took place June 8-9.
Kathleen Reardon, CEO of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, said the participation was “an amazing demonstration” of support for New Hampshire nonprofits, 584 of whom took part this year — also a record.
“People gave from every
part of the state, in amounts that started at just five dollars. When we
all come together like that, we can truly make a difference. A huge
‘thank you’ to every single person who gave,” said Reardon.
Matching
funds helped to spur donations: The New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation, lead sponsor of the event, and its donors contributed
$460,000 in matching funds and other individuals from around the state
contributed more than $1 million in additional matching funds for
individual organizations and issue areas.
“This
event has become a really special moment for New Hampshire to come
together to support the organizations that do so much for our
communities in challenging times — and that improve our quality of life
all the time,” said Kristen Oliveri, vice president for marketing and
communications at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and volunteer
co-chair of the NH Gives organizing committee.
Kathleen
Reardon, CEO of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits: This year’s NH
Gives was ‘an amazing demonstration’ of support for nonprofits. (NH Charitable Foundation photo)
Manchester
Moves, a volunteer organization working to connect the city of
Manchester to the rest of the state via rail trails and greenways, was
the top online fundraiser during NH Gives, raising just over $57,000 in
24 hours and winning an additional $1,000 “Power of Many” prize in
recognition. The organization was established in 2008, but rekindled
recently as more people took to local trails and outdoor spaces during
the pandemic.
And more
people gave to The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire than to any
other organization participating in NH Gives. The Black Heritage Trail
exceeded its $45,000 fundraising goal and was awarded a $1,000 “Power of
Many” prize for garnering the most unique donors.
“This is an affirmation
that people are paying attention and that they are interested and they
believe in a more inclusive story about our collective identity, about
our community coming together, and that this inclusive telling of our
Black history is important,” said JerriAnne Boggis, executive director
of the Black Heritage Trail. “We are thrilled about the individual
unique donor prize, because that makes a statement.”
Other
key supporters of NH Gives were communications partner Brown &
Company Design, with additional sponsors Comcast NBC Universal, C&S
Wholesale Grocers, Chase for Business, Consolidated Communications,
People’s United Bank, Eversource Merrimack County Savings Bank, Century
21 Circa 72 & Thompson Real Estate, First Seacoast Bank, Leader One,
Franklin Pierce University, Switcher Studio, Montagne Powers, the New
Hampshire Women’s Foundation as well as media sponsors the Granite State
News Collaborative, WMUR, the Union Leader, NH Business Review,
Montagne Powers, Grappone Automotive and InDepthNH.
— JEFF FEINGOLD