Record $364K donated to Washington County agencies in online fundraiser

People fired up their computers and opened their wallets Tuesday to provide a financial boost to 68 local nonprofit organizations participating in the Washington County Gives 24-hour online fundraiser.

The Community Foundation of Washington County — which supports organizations by awarding grants and community endowments — held its third social media-driven fundraiser, bringing in a record $364,000, including online donations, matching dollars and prizes.

That is $104,000 more than last year and $194,000 more than in 2013, the first year the fundraiser was held. During the 24-hour period this year, 1,886 people donated money.

"It just keeps increasing each year, and it all goes back to the community," said Ally Sirbaugh, communications director for the foundation. "We're thrilled."

For a third year, Heal of Washington County, a nonprofit group that offers free programs to reduce obesity with healthy eating and active lifestyles, raised the most money — $34,000 from 206 individual donors.

To attract more donors during the early morning hours, the foundation awarded prizes based on certain criteria.

"We received more donations from midnight to 7 a.m. than last year," Sirbaugh said.

There were no glitches during the 24-hour period.

"It was very smooth," she said. "Everything went smooth from our perspective."

With the fundraiser behind them, the foundation is tallying the prizes and preparing to distribute the matching donations to the nonprofit groups.

The amount of money raised varied considerably among the 68 agencies. Many organizations spent weeks publicizing the online event and offering their own rewards.

"Even with the organizations that didn't make a lot of money, there is awareness with just participating," said Kristy L. Smith, the foundation's manager of programs and donor relations. "But it's very clear that you get what you put in."

The Hagerstown YMCA stepped up their game, holding a Cinco de Mayo party on Tuesday. The atmosphere seemed to have paid off, with the organization bringing in $6,475 from 48 online donors, 10 more than last year.

"A number of donors also dropped off their donations, so the number of individuals is probably closer to 60," Chief Executive Officer Maria Rubeling said.

With three months on the job and her first year running the fundraiser, Rubeling said she was happy with the outcome.

"We're pleased that the number of donors was higher," she said. "The outreach in the community is important, and we're glad to see that the number of donors is higher. It means we're reaching out more and reaching more people."

Donors paid $10 to get into the Cinco de Mayo party. A handful of them paid another $25 for a one-month free membership.

"We had a lot of traffic all day," Rubeling said. "For us, any time people are coming in and seeing what it is we have to offer is good."

The money will go to the YMCA's programs for school-age youth, after-school programs and camps, including the new Camp Bear Claw for students enrolled at Bester Elementary School in Hagerstown, she said.

The camp is designed specifically for the school, which has a poverty rate of approximately 93 percent, Rubeling said.

'A huge bonus'

It was the first year for the Brave HEART Program, a therapeutic horse-riding program for veterans and military families based in Hagerstown.

The group's inaugural outing proved profitable, raising $1,297 from 28 contributors.

"Our goal was $1,000, so we're absolutely over the moon," said Laura Unsworth, who started the program with her husband, Jeff. "It was the number we were hoping for. It worked well, and we're looking forward to next year."

There's time to think about next year and what changes, if any, will be made, Sirbaugh said.

"We're eyeing a few things," she said. "But we won't start again until November, when we start by having the nonprofits sign up."

With this year's success, it's inevitable that the agencies will be clamoring to register.

"When you can hand an organization an amount of unrestricted (funds) that they can use for anything, it's a huge bonus for everybody," Smith said.