Last year, a total of $177 million across the globe was raised on Giving Tuesday from individuals and businesses united for one purpose–to celebrate giving.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan urges those thankful to local nonprofits striving to meet the needs of communities in Northeast Michigan to show their appreciation in 2017 and support by giving back on Giving Tuesday.

“As we head into the holiday season, we hope those living in Northeast Michigan recognize that this is the time of year when the greatest demands are placed upon our local charitable organizations,” said Patrick Heraghty, executive director of CFNEM.

To help raise awareness and support of those organizations who work year round to improve the quality of life for local communities, CFNEM will help local nonprofits participate in Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28, 2017.

“The Giving Tuesday movement has really gained some steam over the last few years nationwide and locally,” said Heraghty. “For Northeast Michigan, the Community Foundation helped local nonprofits raise just over $30,000 in 2015, and that number shot up to over $41,000 in 2016. We know that our region is full of incredibly generous people, and we hope they’ll show up online on Nov. 28 to make this year even more successful for the nonprofits in our area.”

Although this will be CFNEM’s third year leading the event here in Northeast Michigan, Giving Tuesday as a global day of giving is now in its sixth year. Meant to harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide, the 24-hour giving event is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It follows the widely recognized shopping events, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, to kick-off the holiday giving season.

The hope is that people will set aside a few minutes from holiday shopping to give back to their community through the charities and causes they support.

To help local nonprofits participate in Giving Tuesday, CFNEM will provide the technical infrastructure through its website and social media to showcase and manage donations for over 50 nonprofits that meet IRS tax requirements to operate as a nonprofit. Donors will be able to visit www.cfnem.org on Giving Tuesday and make donations to any or all of these nonprofits.

“The Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network participated in the CFNEM Giving Tuesday program last year, and we were so grateful for the donors who visited the Foundation’s website to support our network that day” said Meaghan Gass. “The whole campaign brought awareness to what the NEMIGLSI partnership accomplishes in our region to engage about 3,000 students each school year. A contribution of $30 fully engages one student in a place-based stewardship project allowing them to become a leader in their community.”

In addition to the four-county area that CFNEM serves, it also is the administrative arm for three affiliate foundations covering a five-county area. Each affiliate foundation has nonprofits in their communities participating as well. Affiliate sites include: Iosco County Community Foundation (www.iccf-online.org); North Central Michigan Community Foundation (www.ncmcf.org); and Straits Area Community Foundation (www.sacf.net).

Beginning at 12 a.m. on Nov. 28 and continuing for the next 24 hours, individuals and businesses throughout Northeast Michigan will have a unique opportunity to support local nonprofits of their choice that are participating in the event, with prizes given throughout the day for such things as the 100th gift, the donation that helps exceed last year’s numbers, etc.

The public will be able to monitor online the total amount donated throughout the day. The total amount donated to each organization will be announced at an event shortly after Giving Tuesday with participating nonprofits at the CFNEM headquarters.

“This is a great opportunity for nonprofits to mobilize their supporters and rally them around their organization,” said Heraghty. “The more enthusiastically they promote their nonprofit for Giving Tuesday and utilize the tools we give them, particularly through social media, the more donations they are likely to receive.”

To learn more about Northeast Michigan’s participation in Giving Tuesday or to join in the celebration of giving, visit: www.cfnem.org.

Information also is available at www.facebook.com/Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan or twitter.com/CFNEM or follow #GivingTuesdayNEMI.