Everyday Donors are Redefining Minnesota’s Generosity

Women have always been at the heart of generosity, giving time, talents and resources to strengthen families and communities. Yet these contributions have often gone unrecognized in traditional narratives about philanthropy — narratives that have historically centered wealth and large-dollar donations.

Recent research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute affirms what we have always known to be true: women are consistent and committed givers. Women continue to give more often, across a wider range of causes, and with a strong focus on connection and community well-being.

Women’s leadership in collaborative giving circles, community-based giving, and collective funds reflects an enduring truth that generosity is most powerful when shared.

That spirit of collective generosity is alive and well in Minnesota. Each fall, as the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, Minnesotans rally around Give to the Max Day, a tradition that reflects the best of who we are. Since 2009, thousands of Minnesotans have raised more than $330 million for more than 10,000 nonprofits and schools across the state. And women have been at the forefront of it all.

Akin to national trends, GiveMN’s annual donor survey reveals that women are the secret powerhouse of Give to the Max Day. Women are most likely to give and are often motivated by stories that inspire empathy and a desire to strengthen our communities.

Our gifts, often under $100, represent a powerful truth about generosity in Minnesota: meaningful giving is measured by participation, the neighbors behind the numbers.

What makes giving days like Give to the Max Day truly special is how they help bring the idea of collective generosity to life and democratize philanthropy. For generations, charitable giving was often associated with wealth or influence. But events like Give to the Max Day shift that definition, showing that generosity is about collective participation, not individual power.

Give to the Max Day makes it easy for each of us to make a difference. There’s deep satisfaction in knowing a $5 donation is valued and can make a real impact — and generosity extends beyond money, too.

Volunteer fundraisers, advocates, organizers, and social media champions are all part of this movement. We’re all philanthropists on Give to the Max Day. And through the giving day platform, you can search by your values, discover new organizations, and sometimes even have your donation matched or help your chosen nonprofit win a prize. Minnesota’s giving day opens the door wide to grassroots action, where everyone can contribute to solutions we care about.

For instance, in 2024, tens of thousands of Minnesotans gave more than $37 million to over 6,000 organizations on Give to the Max Day — and most of those gifts were under $100.

Gifts of all sizes to all different causes worked together to build a stronger impact and remind us that everyday generosity can outpace even the largest checks.

The beauty of collective giving is that it is community building at its core. Giving days use digital tools to bring people together, making it simple to find causes, see the impact of every donation and join in from wherever you are. It’s one more version of planting a seed in a community garden, adding a square to the community quilt, or passing the collection plate — where technology connects communities across the state in one big, joyful act of belonging.

When Minnesotans come together, we raise more than funds. We strengthen the invisible threads that tie neighbors to neighbors and generation to generation. Each of us who donates helps create a tradition where giving is normal, celebrated and, most importantly, accessible for everyone.

This is how Minnesota’s everyday donors, especially women, are shaping a future where generosity is not just about the size of the gift but more so the shared belief that everyone can help build the world we want to see.

As we prepare for this year’s Give to the Max Day, with early giving already started, remember that the act of giving — and inspiring others to give — is more important than the size of donation.

Find a cause, share it with a friend and help us continue to build Minnesota’s momentum of collective generosity.

One of the causes Minnesota Women’s Press hopes you will support is to sustain stories like this for statewide readership:

Can you help us do that?