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At the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes another capital-letters holiday signpost on Tuesday a but one devoted to giving, not buying.
A variety of nonprofit and service groups in Napa County are taking part in Giving Tuesday, an online and social media drive to boost fundraising and publicize the work of some 40,000 community groups worldwide.
By teaming up Tuesday to seek contributions a of volunteering time as well as cash a in a full-court press on Facebook, Twitter and other sites, nonprofits can make their voices heard to an audience that increasingly is moving its charity to the Internet, according to Terence Mulligan, president of the Napa Valley Community Foundation, one of Napa Countyas Giving Tuesday partners.
aEverybody is trying to take advantage of this giant cultural force that is social media, and figure out what it means in getting people to contribute to their good works,a said Mulligan, whose foundation issues grants to various area charities.
Last yearas 24-hour campaign raised $116.7 million in contributions, according to AndrA Ory, spokesman for the 92nd Street Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association. Participating charities, which do not pay a fee to the 92nd Street Y, will seek support for causes ranging from organ donation to expanded education access and alleviating poverty and child hunger.
The agency partners with other nonprofits to provide advice, support and toolkits for Giving Tuesday participants, and tracks the amount of donations, Ory wrote in an email.
Some local nonprofits hope to use Giving Tuesday not only to raise funds directly but to steer would-be donors to long-established charitable efforts.
For example, those visiting the Napa Valley Education Foundation on Facebook a or receiving the groupas special email Tuesday a will see encouragements to view the Give!Guide and support one of the charities listed in the annual Christmas-time handbook, said Jennifer Stewart, the foundationas executive director.
aThe last quarter of the year is when we are focused on first-time donors, and any amount makes a difference,a she said Monday.
Local nonprofit groups taking part in Giving Tuesday include (but are not limited to):
– Napa Valley Community Foundation
– Napa Valley Youth Symphony
– Connolly Ranch Education Center
– Mentis
– Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
– OLE Health
– Girls on the Run Napa & Solano
– UpValley Family Centers
– American Canyon Family Resource Center
– Napa Wildlife Rescue
– Community Resources for Children, Napa
– Community Health Initiative Napa County
– Napa Valley Education Foundation
– Boys & Girls Club of St.
