#SupportSupporters through virtual Midlands Gives Day Tuesday, May 5, hosted by Central Carolina Community Foundation

Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ center for philanthropy, is connecting the community virtually to raise critically needed funds for local nonprofits through Midlands Gives, the 18-hour, online giving challenge on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, from 6 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. The virtual event will feature live streaming video, over $150,000 in prize incentives, and more. Gifts made during Midlands Gives will help nonprofits continue to provide critical services during and after the pandemic. Community members can support nonprofits through contributions of $10 or more at www.midlandsgives.org/.

COVID-19 has financially impacted the nonprofits that serve the local community. Midlands Gives provides an opportunity for these organizations to raise funds that will allow them to continue to perform their vital work. In its seventh year, Midlands Gives is supporting over 400 local nonprofits that provide fundamental resources and services throughout the community, including health, human services, education, and more. To view the full list of participating nonprofits and their missions, visit www.midlandsgives.org/nonprofits.

“Midlands Gives 2020 will provide a day of hope, optimism, and community pride,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “On May 5, we will come together, even though we are physically apart, to provide much needed support for our local nonprofits and demonstrate the resiliency and generosity of our residents.”

Launched in 2014, Midlands Gives is an annual 18-hour, online-only giving challenge that provides a direct link to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, the event has raised $9.3 million for local nonprofits.

How to Donate on Midlands Gives Day
The Midlands Gives platform is designed to make giving to local nonprofits simple and easy. The platform will again be hosted through CiviCore and can be accessed on a mobile device or desktop.

The online giving platform, www.midlandsgives.org, features a leaderboard, prize tracker, and searchable profiles of more than 400 participating nonprofits. Donors can add multiple organizations to a “shopping cart” with donation sizes of their choice.

This year, the minimum gift has been reduced to $10 (from $20 in prior years) in an effort to reduce the barriers to giving during the COVID-19 crisis. One hundred percent of each contribution, less a 2.1% credit card fee and 2.8% CiviCore technology fee, will go directly to the donor’s selected nonprofit. Donors have the option to cover these fees when they checkout. The Community Foundation does not receive any fees from Midlands Gives.

Donors can also set up recurring gifts during Midlands Gives. These gifts are automated, online donations to the nonprofit(s) of choice and donors can select to give monthly or quarterly. Donations are automatically processed on the date designated, allowing donors to easily support their favorite nonprofits throughout the year.

Increase Your Impact: Share Your Champion Page
Individuals are sharing their philanthropic passions through Champion Pages, an online tool where users create personal campaigns to raise money for local nonprofits. After selecting a nonprofit and a fundraising goal, individuals customize their pages with images or personal stories. On May 5, Midlands Gives Day, users are encouraged to share their Champion Page on their social networks and send the link directly to friends and family. View Champion Pages and find more information at www.midlandsgives.org/champion.

With Nearly $160,000 in Prize Incentives, Your Gift Goes Further
Corporate Philanthropy Champions — including Dominion Energy, Aflac, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, BB&T now Truist, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and more — are providing financial incentives, matching gifts and prizes for nonprofits on May 5. This year, the prizes are structured so there is at least one prize awarded each hour of the day. The impact of individuals’ contributions of $10 or more will be amplified through these sponsored prize incentives. The full list of prizes can be found at www.midlandsgives.org/prizes.

A special “Support Supporters” prize has been introduced to encourage bighearted and creative individuals and families to promote philanthropy and show support for the community’s supporters. Participation is easy — simply decorate a front window, porch or sidewalk with illustrations, pictures, and words that illustrate why you give. Then, share the colorful creations as a public post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter by using the hashtags #MidlandsGives and #SupportSupporters before or on May 5. The Midlands Gives team will randomly select four winners from the posts. Each winner will select a Midlands Gives nonprofit to receive a $250 prize.

New Virtual Headquarters Keep Donors Informed Throughout May 5
Central Carolina Community Foundation’s staff will be broadcasting live from the Foundation’s Facebook page throughout May 5, sharing nonprofit stories, prize announcements, interviews with sponsors, and more. Community members are invited to join the virtual celebration and cheer for local nonprofits by commenting and sharing. Surprise prizes will also be announced on the broadcasts, giving viewers the opportunity to help their favorite nonprofits win additional prizes. A schedule of broadcasts can be found at www.midlandsgives.org/headquarters.

About Midlands Gives
Midlands Gives is an annual 18-hour online giving challenge and year-round giving platform for local nonprofits, powered by Central Carolina Community Foundation. This year’s event will take place virtually on May 5, 2020. For more information about Midlands Gives, visit www.midlandsgives.org or call 803-254-5601.

About Central Carolina Community Foundation
Central Carolina Community Foundation — the Midlands’ center on philanthropy — is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits, and area leaders to communities in need. Major initiatives include the Midlands Gives online giving challenge and year-round giving platform, On the Table, Connected Communities grants, the One SC Fund, the Best of Philanthropy Awards, annual scholarships and more. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org or call 803-254-5601.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralCarolinaCommunityFoundation
Twitter: @CCCFtweets
Instagram: @CCCFpics
Hashtag: #MidlandsGives #SupportSupporters