January 29, 2012; Source: The Montgomery Advertiser | In Alabama, Thursday is to be designated as Alabama Gives Day, a 24-hour period when Alabama residents will be encouraged to give to one of 800 nonprofits in 12 different categories. The event, sponsored by the Alabama Association of Nonprofits and the Alabama Broadcaster’s Association, is supported by the Razoo Foundation, the Alabama Press Association, Alabama Giving, Intermark Group, and hundreds of nonprofits. The intention is to connect new and existing donors with the state’s nonprofits in just 24 hours. NPQ notes the absence of United Ways and community foundations on this list.

Minnesota was the first state to sponsor a “Gives Day,” and in 2011, Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day saw 47,538 donations totaling $13.4 million. A similar event in Colorado drew 52,000 donations totaling $12 million. In other locations community foundations and United Ways have used this Day of Giving design themselves but NPQ is interested in our readers’ thinking on such events. While perhaps not meaning to encroach on giving intermediaries, might such vehicles along with donor advised funds like Fidelity and Schwab eventually completely change the intermediary giving landscape? –Ruth McCambridge