Give to the Max Day blasts off Thursday across Minnesota. It's an annual 24-hour giving blitz for charities, churches, nonprofits and schools. Thousands of nonprofits across the state are holding fundraising events designed to attract new and old donors, from dog training classes and "Yappy Hours" at Helping Paws in Hopkins to round-the-clock comedy at HUGE Improv Theater in Minneapolis.
The luckiest groups are offering matching donations, such as Advocates for Human Rights and Campfire Minnesota, which received matching funds from the Otto Bremer Foundation of St. Paul.
Before you log into the computer and make online pledges, here are some things you might like to know:
Q. Where do I check out charities and make a donation?
A. Go to www.givemn.org.
Q. How many charities are listed?
A. More than 20,000 Minnesota nonprofits.
Q. How much money did Give to the Max Day bring in last year?