Powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF), Fairfield County’s Giving Day is the region’s biggest philanthropic event. The eighth annual event is scheduled for Thursday, February 25.

The mission of the event is to raise as much money as possible for nonprofit organizations in 24 hours, all done through online donations. All are invited to support a favorite program, cause, or nonprofit through online donations of at least $10. There is no maximum donation.

The donations portal is at fcgives.org. It will open at midnight February 25 and remain open until 11:59 pm that day.

Donations are tax-deductible. They cannot be refunded.

The one-day, regional effort harnesses the collective power of individuals, friends, families, businesses, employee groups, school groups, and others to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in giving.

In a time of uncertainty, Fairfield County’s Giving Day continues to provide a safe, comfortable, and familiar virtual fundraising experience.

Sponsors provide a bonus pool of more than $100,000 in prize money for participating nonprofits. Participants not only collect donations from supporters, but are eligible for prizes based on Most Unique Donors, Most Dollars Raised, Employee Engagement, Rookie of The Year, and other financial bonuses. FCCF this year has added a Super Secret Prize of $1,000, a new category to be announced during FCCF’s Giving Day virtual celebration that morning.

Fifteen Newtown nonprofit organizations raised nearly $22,000 combined during last year’s event. The 2020 event grand total was $1,652,287. Newtown groups accounted for $21,895 of that figure.

Newtown Parent Connection picked up $4,890 through 57 donations last year, making it the most successful Newtown-based organization for 2020.

Kitten Associates raised $3,535 through 73 donations, which put it in second place among Newtown nonprofits in 2020.

Also participating during the seventh annual Giving Day were Newtown Scholarship Association ($3,115 raised), Merryhill Child Care Center ($1,955), Newtown Youth & Family Services ($1,605), Ben’s Lighthouse ($1,535), Cyrenius H. Booth Library ($1,210), The Newtown Foundation ($1,040), Sandy Hook Promise ($895), Town Players of Newtown ($665), EverWonder Children’s Museum ($500), Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company ($490), Friends of Newtown Community Center ($255), The Children’s Adventure Center ($225), Reach Newtown ($225), and NYA Sports & Fitness Center ($10).

According to FCCF, the $1.6 million raised during Giving Day 2020 came from 12,666 donors giving a total of 17,230 gifts. Donations came from 48 states and 11 different countries, according to the final Giving Day Community Report.

Two Newtown groups — Families United in Newtown and Friends of Newtown Seniors — did not receive any donations.

Ready For 2021

Nonprofit organizations register through FCCF, which organizes the event with major support from Bank of America. All participants are 501(c)(3) charitable groups that serve residents of Fairfield County. The vast majority are based within the county.

As of Wednesday, February 17, the following local organizations had registered for this year’s event:

Ben’s Lighthouse, The Children’s Adventure Center, Cyrenius H. Booth Library, EverWonder Children’s Museum, Friends of Newtown Community Center, Kitten Associates, The Mary Hawley Foundation, Merryhill Child Care Center, Newtown Action Alliance Foundation, Newtown Parent Connection, Newtown Youth & Family Services, Sandy Hook Promise, and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company.

Registration closed February 15, however additional groups may still go through late registration. As of February 17, more than 350 organizations were registered.

Since Giving Day’s inception in 2014, a total of $9,307,389 has been raised from 97,065 total gifts to more than 1,500 nonprofits.

FCCF originally initiated Giving Day to empower the community at large and encourage local philanthropy across the many avenues of need in the region.

Visit fcgives.org/info/faq for details on tax receipts, credit card processing feeds, how donations are disbursed following Giving Day, and more.