Arizona Gives Day raises more than $5.3 million for nonprofits

Arizona Gives Day 2023 raised more than $5.3 million for nearly 850 nonprofits — down from last year and keeping with modest charitable giving trends reported across the country.

"Because we've had inflation we felt the numbers would likely be lower," said Jennifer Purcell of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits + Arizona Grantmakers Forum, which organizes Gives Day. In 2022, Gives Day raised more than $6 million.

More conservative giving to nonprofits nationwide has been attributed to inflation and tepid stock market returns in 2022. The Arizona Republic's holiday-timed 2022-23 Season for Sharing had similar challenges.

Besides cash donations, Gives Day also allows donors to give their time. And this year, those pledges spiked to 59,000 hours compared with 36,000 hours in 2022.

Such significant gifts of time and money illustrate the community's support of the nonprofit community, Purcell said.

Gives Day has raised more than $42 million for Arizona nonprofits since 2013. This year, early giving began on March 15. Gifts go directly to the charities registered at azgives.org and are tallied for a grand total.

"Some donors went to the nonprofit and gave them a check to put into their hands," Purcell said.

Organizations that help foster kids; aid older adults; operate food banks; promote literacy and arts; provide shelter for domestic violence survivors; rescue animals; and support at-risk youth are among those that registered at the site.

Read Better Be Better has participated in Gives Day for four years. The group connects young readers and leaders to boost literacy and learning.

Last year, Read Better Be Better raised $10,000. This year's total? $47,000 — lower than a $60,000 goal, but not insignificant.

Read Better Be Better's Desiree Garcia said the group appreciates the opportunity to fundraise through a larger platform with other participating groups.

"We're also encouraging our supporters and using our platform to encourage folks to give to organizations we directly partner with" including the Phoenix Public Library, she said.

Arizona Gives Day has ended, but donations are accepted at azgives.org all year.

Reach nonprofits reporter Jodicee Harris at Jodicee.harris@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Gives Day raises more than $5.3M for nonprofits