Northfield Gives to the Max—And Then Some

Northfield has done it again.

The tiny river town has proven its philanthropic muscle is as strong as the best of them by supporting its many nonprofits and their projects during Give to the Max Day on Wednesday, a 24-hour period of online giving through giveMN.org.

With nearly 3,100 donors, raised $230,713. The total was best among higher education institutions and fourth overall. The first place for higher ed garnered the college an additional $15,000 bonus.

"Give to the Max Day has very quickly become a tradition at St. Olaf College.  Alumni, parents, students, and friends of the college came together for this one day of extraordinary philanthropy," said Tracy Fossum, director of annual giving for the college. "The money raised will have a profound effect on the college's ability to provide the unparalleled St. Olaf experience for today's students. ... It feels good to be a part of a community, such as Northfield, that understands how important it is to be engaged not only locally but beyond the borders of their day-to-day lives."

This year, giveMN.org handed out $4,161,929 in incentives for groups that met benchmarks for individual donations and dollars raised.

Statewide, 47,539 people donated nearly $13.6 million on Wednesday to nearly 4,000 nonprofits.

Here's how some other Northfield area nonprofits did*:

• The raised $2,425 and received another $1,000 in matching funds.
• The Cannon River Watershed Partnership raised $3,215.
• The Northfield Healthy Community Initiative raised $2,045 from 25 donors.
• raised $5,905.
• The Rice County Habitat for Humanity raised $13,165 from 88 donors.
• raised $4,000.
• Northfield Youth Choirs raised $1,875.
• The raised $1,265.
• raised $4,020 from 144 donors.

*Unofficial results from giveMN.org