Good Cause of the Month: NH Gives Day
Get involved with the new statewide day of giving
If you're looking for a way to flex your civic engagement muscles this summer, then tomorrow is your lucky day. Tuesday, June 6, into Wednesday, June 7, marks the second NH Gives Day, put on by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. Based on similar models around the country, the initiative is described as a "statewide day of giving" and aims to raise money and awareness for Granite State nonprofits in a “flash mob of giving.” Anyone can make a donation — all you need is an Internet connection and a credit or debit card — and who you support and how much you donate is entirely up to you. The catch? NH Gives Day only lasts 24 hours. It launches at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and goes until 6 p.m. on Wednesday — so, if you want to participate, you'll have to act fast.
In addition to the money raised by individual donors, participating nonprofits also have the chance to win larger prizes of up to $1000 for achieving milestones such as having the most individual donors in a certain period of time. A few lucky organizations will even be "golden ticket" prize winners, selected at random from the pool of groups who've had one or more donations. So if you only have $10 to donate, don't worry — that can add up to a whole lot more for your charity of choice. As always, these charitable donations are tax-deductible, and the easy-to-use NH Gives website provides the simplest way to donate (and the biggest wealth of worthy causes) you're likely to find all year. If your charity of choice is not currently listed, you may contact NH Gives and request they reach out to your preferred cause. Whether you're looking to give your first charitable gift or you're a seasoned philanthropist looking for a fun new way to donate, NH Gives is worth checking out.
The question for would-be donors, though, is, with around 350 nonprofits participating, how can you decide who gets your donation? Here are a few of our personal favorites:
David’s House: A welcoming home for families with children being treated at CHaD in Lebanon, David’s House provides lodging and amenities for families at walking distance from the medical center. The house is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for those who do not have the option of staying in hotels for the duration of their child’s treatment.
Fellowship Housing Opportunities: Celebrating 50 years of providing affordable housing, Fellowship Housing Opportunities’ mission is to supply safe and affordable housing for people living with mental illness. Their outreach program helps clients gain confidence throughout their recovery in their own surroundings.
The Frost Place: Tucked away from the publicity some Granite State museums receive, The Frost Place honors the legacy of Robert Frost in the very house where he and his family lived full-time from 1915 to 1920. Along with housing signed first editions of Robert Frost’s work, The Frost Place is an educational center awarding an annual fellowship to an emerging American poet each summer.
Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust: This preservation trust serves as a safeguard to preserve land in the Mount Kearsarge, Ragged Mountain and Lake Sunapee region while increasing public involvement and sharing the benefits of conserved land. The organization started in the late ‘80s in New London and now serves 12 towns within the region they help to protect.
New Horizons for New Hampshire: With a women’s shelter, a soup kitchen, a food pantry and an adult homeless shelter all under its umbrella, this organization has one of the highest profiles in New Hampshire charity. New Horizons strives to better the negative impact homelessness has on individuals’ emotional and physical health, and with a reach of 900 households per month through their food pantry alone, they’re a great way to be sure you get the most bang for your philanthropic buck.
Now that you have some ideas, get out there and give!
