By Greg Ellison, Staff Writer

(Nov. 23, 2017) The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is sponsoring the third annual Shore Gives More, a 24-hour online donation event held on Nov. 28, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.

Victoria Kent, Community Foundation marketing director, said 80 nonprofits from Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties are participating this year. In 2016, more than $88,000 was donated to nearly 60 area charitable organizations, which Kent said represented a substantial increase over the inaugural event in 2015.

“We saw a 505 percent increase in donations from 2015 to 2016,” she said. “The vast majority that did it last year are back this year.”

Donations can be made online at Shoregivesmore.org. The local campaign was inspired by “Giving Tuesday,” a movement which began in 2012 as an international day of giving to kick off the holiday season.

Following the surge in donations last year, Kent said the Community Foundation purchased updated computer software, which permits donors to pre-schedule generosity.

“Even though it’s a 24-hour campaign starting today you can go on the website and schedule it out for Tuesday,” she said.

The online donation portal includes a profile for each nonprofit and allows donors to contribute to multiple organizations in one checkout process.

“We offer free trainings and seminars to the nonprofits that are signed up,” she said. “We help them build their profile and understand the software.”

Kent also noted the Community Foundation picks up the tab for several thousand dollars in advertising to promote the undertaking.

“The nice thing is people can get on the website and do online donation shopping depending on your own interests and passions,” she said.

While many groups are well known locally, Kent said the Community Foundation carefully vets all participating organizations to ensure tax-exempt status and service to the Lower Shore.

“There are newer and younger nonprofits working with us,” she said.

Although the campaign does garner a percentage of sizeable donations, Kent said the impact is largely made possible by collective philanthropy.

“Anybody can be a philanthropist and it doesn’t have to be big money,” she said. “To be able to do it on a local level is even more rewarding.”

The Shore Gives More also provides an opportunity for parents to instill an appreciation for charitable activities in children.

“I think it’s a great way to teach kids about the holiday,” she said. “Let the kids help pick what nonprofits they want to give to.”

To learn more or participate in the Shore Gives More online Giving Tuesday campaign visit shoregivesmore.org.