Central Texas charities raised an average of nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars per hour during Amplify Austin, surpassing both last year’s totals and this year’s fundraising goal.
The second annual online giving day – which opened at 6 p.m. on March 20 and ended at 6 p.m. on March 21 – reached its $4 million goal and then some, raising $5,705,808 for some 500 nonprofits. The total makes for an average raised per hour of $237,742 and more than 1,425 gifts per hour.
The 34,266 donations made for an average gift of more than $166.50, up 22 percent from last year’s $136.30 average gift. The total raised was more than double the $2,789,382 generated during the inaugural event in 2013 and the number of gifts grew by 67 percent over last year’s 20,467 gifts to 320 organizations.
Austin Pets Alive! received the most donations this year with 1,280 while Hospice Austin raised the most money – $242,032 – one of six organizations to crack six figures in revenue. Hospice Austin raised the most money last year too with $113,018.
Grand prizes of $5,000 were awarded for the most dollars raised, most donations from unique donors, most total dollars raised, and most individual fundraisers. Bonus prizes of $5,000 were awarded for the nonprofit dedicated to senior services that raised the most dollars and for a nonprofit dedicated to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) that raised the most money.
Amplify Austin grew out of the “I Live Here, I Give Here campaign,” which seeks to make the Texas capital city a national leader in philanthropy to match its growing reputation as one of the most popular and fastest-growing cities in the nation.
Last year’s goal of $1 million was reached, with $2,789,283 raised among 320 participating nonprofits, with 20,467 gifts made. This year, almost 400 nonprofits participated.
