Local organizations look to receive on May 2 GiveNOLA Day

Jewish community agencies are looking to build on last year’s success in GiveNOLA Day, which will be on May 2.

GiveNOLA Day is a 24-hour online fundraiser coordinated by the Greater New Orleans Foundation for non-profits in the greater New Orleans area.

The 17 participating organizations in the Jewish community last year raised around $361,000, up from $336,000 the previous year, though the overall fundraiser was down slightly, raising $7.906 million through 57,700 donations to 947 organizations. The previous year came in at $8.15 million.

While the main campaign is from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on May 2, gifts can also be pre-scheduled from April 17 to May 1.

Sponsors and donors contribute to the GiveNOLA Lagniappe Fund, which is divided proportionately among the participating non-profits based on how much they raise.

There are also hourly Rock Around the Clock bonuses of $500 all day, and any organization with a donation during that hour is eligible for the random drawing. Pre-scheduled gifts are not counted toward Rock Around the Clock.

The organizations with the most money raised gets a $7,500 bonus in the large, medium and small organization categories. Similar awards go to groups with the most individual donors. Bonuses are given through fifth place.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans has consistently been one of the top fundraisers, coming in first among small organizations for five years in a row, until the categories were restructured three years ago, moving the Federation to the large organization category. Last year, the Federation repeated as third among the 947 organizations, raising almost $258,000 from 239 donors.

Each year, the Federation holds special programs in connection with GiveNOLA Day, including Power Hours where gifts are matched. This year’s events will be announced as the date approaches.

The Louise McGehee School again placed first overall, with $316,192 from 838 donors.

In addition to the Federation, this year’s participating organizations are Jewish Children’s Regional Service, the Jewish Community Day School, Jewish Family Service, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, National Council of Jewish Women, the Anti-Defamation League, Avodah, Gates of Prayer, the New Orleans Jewish Community Center, Shir Chadash, Slater Torah Academy, Tulane Hillel, Hadassah New Orleans and Temple Sinai. Touro Infirmary Foundation and Isidore Newman School are also participating.

As of press time, Beth Israel and Northshore Jewish Congregation are not listed among the 958 participating organizations. Last year, Northshore raised $1,040 and Beth Israel raised $172.