Sep 9, 2013 3 min read

For the first time in Washington County, a foundation is mounting a daylong, Internet-centered campaign to raise money for local charities.

Washington County Community Foundation’s 12-hour “Day of Giving,” which runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, allows donors to give to a wide variety of charities through www.wccfgives.org, and gifts to those organizations will be enhanced, on a pro-rated basis, through a $100,000 match pool. Donations can be made with MasterCard or Visa, with a minimum gift of $25. Of course, donors are encouraged to give as much as they want, to as many different charities as they wish, throughout the event.

Betsie Trew, WCCF president and CEO, and Aliesha Walz, marketing associate, have set a goal of raising $500,000 through the first “Day of Giving.” Donors will have a choice of 117 registered charities as they make their decisions.

Throughout the day today, WCCF will post progress reports on its website, and on Facebook and Twitter. Real-time information will be available at www.wccfgives.org so community members and charities will be able to track donations.

“We are playing in the big leagues now,” said Trew.

WCCF is an office of four staff members. Most foundations that tackle a project of this kind have larger staffs.

“One of our inspirations is the Erie Community Foundation,” said Trew.

According to eriegives.org, Erie Community Foundation conducted a project similar to the “Day of Giving” called “Erie Gives” in 2011. It offered a $150,000 match pool and in 12 hours received $1,720,842 for local charities.

WCCF created a one-on-one training program to train local charities about using social media to attract donations. Walz conducted four one-hour sessions with the charities, educating them about Facebook, Twitter and the use of online newsletters.

“Based on the survey, 99.9 percent said it was extremely beneficial,” said Trew.

Jackie Wright of Citizens Library was a participant in the WCCF training sessions.

“We are super excited. We will have a computer available for (“Day of Giving”) donors who do not have a computer or Internet access to make a donation,” said Wright.

Said Donna Bussey of Washington City Mission, “We could see all the people we could reach through social media.”

The “Day of Giving” does not require a venue or an auction, and there are no time-consuming preparations or expenses that typically come with organizing charity events.

Trew and Walz noted that the online fundraising approach holds appeal for young donors.

That was echoed by Bussey, who said, “We want people who are younger, who rely on social media, to know who we are.”

But Trew said many from older generations appreciate the convenience of donating by computer, and of the “Day of Giving.”

Trew said one elderly donor remarked, “You mean I can do all my giving in one day?”

You can now.

For more information, visit www.wccfgives.org.