20 nonprofits in Sumter, Clarendon, Lee participating in Midlands Gives TODAY (May 4)

An annual giving campaign next week offers the opportunity to support a record-breaking number of nonprofits, including 20 in the tri-county, in a year when the road to recovery from the pandemic is still long ahead and nearly two-thirds of the state's nonprofits have indicated they will only survive six months without additional funding.
There are 480 nonprofits participating in Midlands Gives on May 4 from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., an online giving campaign that asks for contributions of $10 or more at www.MidlandsGives.org to support the continuation of critical services in health, arts and culture, human services and more.
In 2020, the day of giving raised a record-breaking $3.3. million for 416 nonprofits, and the record-breaking number of participating nonprofits this year showcases the critical need for funding.
According to Central Carolina Community Foundation, the organization that organizes and runs the campaign, a March survey of the state's nonprofits by Together SC found that 59% believe they can only survive six months or less without additional funding.
"The pandemic has forced many local nonprofits to expand or redesign their services while dealing with reduced revenue," said JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. "They have displayed remarkable resilience, and the dollars they received from our community during Midlands Gives 2020 contributed to their resilience. Although we are at a turning point in the pandemic, the nonprofits that have served us well this year still need our ongoing support and partnership."
Since its inception in 2014, Midlands Gives has raised $12.6 million for hundreds of local nonprofits, helping them amplify their impact, administer vital public services and boost the quality of life in the Foundation's 11-county service area of the Midlands.
In 2020, more than $16,400 was raised for nonprofits in Sumter County, and Clarendon County nonprofits were gifted more than $5,500.

How to give
The Midlands Gives platform, www.MidlandsGives.org, is hosted through Neon One and can be accessed on a mobile device or desktop. It features a leader board, prize tracker and searchable profiles of all participating nonprofits.
Donors can search to find their favorite causes or discover new nonprofits by browsing categories such as Black-led and Black-benefiting, animals, youth development, veterans and more. Then, donors add multiple organizations to an online "shopping cart" with donation sizes of their choice.
One hundred percent of each contribution, less a 2.2% credit card fee and 2.8% Neon One technology fee, will go directly to the donor's selected nonprofit. Donors have the option to cover these fees at checkout. The Foundation does not profit from any donations made during Midlands Gives.
If you don't want to wait until May 4 to give, early giving is open, and all donations will count toward leader board totals.
Join the virtual fun at the Midlands Gives Online Headquarters
Midlands Gives Day will be livestreamed on the Foundation's Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/CentralCarolinaCommunityFoundation. Community members are invited to join the virtual celebration and cheer for local nonprofits by commenting and sharing.
Over $155,000 in prizes are available, and surprise challenges will be announced during the day, giving viewers the opportunity to help their favorite nonprofits win additional dollars.

Increase your impact: create a Champion Page
Individuals are sharing their philanthropic passions through Champion Pages, an online tool where users create a personal giving campaign to raise money for a local nonprofit, similar to Facebook Giving.
After selecting a nonprofit and a fundraising goal, individuals can customize their page with a personal story and banner image. On May 4, users are encouraged to share their Champion Page on their social networks and send the link directly to friends and family to fundraise on behalf of the nonprofit. View Champion Pages and find more information at www.MidlandsGives.org/Champion.

Your gift goes further with $155,000 in prize incentives
In Good Company Network Members — including Dominion Energy, Aflac, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Truist and more — are providing financial incentives, matching gifts and prizes for nonprofits on May 4.
In addition, many nonprofits have secured matching gifts from generous donors throughout the community. The impact of individuals' contributions of $10 or more will be amplified through these sponsored prize incentives and matching funds. The full list of prizes can be found at www.MidlandsGives.org/Prizes.