Fairfield County’s Giving Day, the region’s largest annual philanthropic event, will return for its ninth run on Thursday, February 24.

Powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF), Giving Day is made possible by thousands of generous people who join together to support Fairfield County nonprofits and show the power of giving.

The mission of the event is to raise as much money as possible for nonprofit organizations in 24 hours, all done through online donations. All are invited to support a favorite program, cause, or nonprofit through online donations of at least $10. There is no maximum donation.

The donations portal is at fcgives.org. It will open at midnight February 25 and remain open until 11:59 pm that day.

Donations are tax-deductible. They cannot be refunded.

Donors should note that each donation incurs a 6.5% fee that is comprised of a 2% GiveGab platform management fee, 2.5% credit card processing fee, $0.30 for all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), and 2% administrative fee to help Fairfield County’s Community Foundation defray costs of organizing this monumental day.

Donors are given the option to cover the fees, however. If that option is selected, 100% of their online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization.

Bank of America has returned as this year’s Champion Sponsor.

Fourteen Newtown-based organizations had registered as of February 16 for this year’s fundraiser: Ben’s Lighthouse, C.H. Booth Library, The Children’s Adventure Center, EverWonder Children’s Museum, Friends of the Newtown Community Center, Kitten Associates, The Mary Hawley Society, Merryhill Child Care Center, Newtown Action Alliance Foundation, Newtown Parent Connection, Newtown Youth & Family Services, Real Food Share, Sandy Hook Promise, and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue.

These organizations will be competing with others across Fairfield County next week to not only pick up donations from their supporters but also prize funds from FCCF. Grand prizes this year include first and second place (prizes of $10,000 and $6,000, respectively) for Most Unique Donors, and first and second ($8,000 and $4,000) for Most Dollars Raised.

Additional prizes include a $500 Ready To Go offering to one nonprofit that secured Giving Day matching or challenge funds by February 17; a $500 Black History Month prize for up to six organizations who highlight Black leaders within their organizations; $1,000 Midnight Madness prizes to the first 10 nonprofits to receive 25 unique donations of $25 or more upon the opening of Fairfield County Giving Day; $1,000 Rookie of the Year to the first-time participant that picks up the most unique donors by the end of the fundraiser; Power Hour awards, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, for specified challenges during specific time frames.

With the event being fully online, social media posts have begun filling many feeds for participating organizations. The posts will appear more frequently during the upcoming week, culminating in many offering day-of pitches for donations and then follow-up Thank You notes in the hours and days following February 24.

Last year, through the efforts of more than 14,000 donations, more than $2.25 million was raised for Fairfield County-based nonprofit organizations during the 24-hour Giving Day period.

For the seventh consecutive year, Stamford-based Curtain Call, Inc, was once again the lead fundraiser, finishing the effort with donation and prize funds totaling $121,648.

Sixteen Newtown nonprofits participated, raising a collective total of $31,123.