Nonprofit organizations across the state — including more than a dozen in Freeborn County — will come together Thursday for one of Minnesota’s largest online giving programs.

As part of what has been called Give to the Max Day, the organizations are asking people to consider donating to their cause.

People can go online to www.GiveMN.org to look up their nonprofit agency of choice and donate online. People can also search by zip code or by typing in a city or county. Donations through GiveMN are tax deductible.

When people go to the website, they can read about the different organizations and find out more about where their money will be going. After the donations are made, people can go back in on the site and track their contributions as well. Donations are accepted throughout the year though the extra push is made on Give to the Max Day.

Amanda Weiss, office administrator with the Freeborn County United Way, said the United Way is taking advantage of Give to the Max by coordinating it with their Keep the Fires Burning fundraiser on the same day.

For Keep the Fires Burning, United Way volunteers will stand at the corner of Broadway and Main Street in downtown Albert Lea from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and ask for donations.

Weiss said by having Keep the Fires Burning on the same day as Give to the Max Day, people can donate whether they are able to come down in person or online.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity if people are busy during the day that they can go online and donate to Give to the Max,” Weiss said.

GiveMN began in 2009 by the Minnesota Community Foundation and 14 other funders. Since its launch, it has facilitated more than $48 million in donations to 6,100 Minnesota nonprofits, according to the organization’s website.

Another local organization taking advantage of the day is the Freeborn County Humane Society.

In a news release, the organization asks area residents to consider donating to the Humane Society’s general operating fund or to the unsocialized stray cat initiative, which offers low cost spaying and neutering services to people with stray, barn or feral cats. The cats are also vaccinated and ear tipped for easy identification as an altered cat.

A quick search of “Freeborn County” on the website revealed several other Freeborn County organizations participating such as Senior Resources of Freeborn County, the Freeborn County Historical Society, the Freeborn County Snowmobile Trail Association, the Freeborn County Pheasant & Habitat Inc., among others.

A search for “Albert Lea” brings a series of organizations as well, including the Albert Lea Community Theater, the Albert Lea Family Y, the Albert Lea Art Center and the Albert Lea Public Education Foundation, among others.

Prize grants of $12,500, $5,000 and $2,500 will go to the three nonprofits receiving the most in donations on Give to the Max Day. New this year, K-12 public schools will also have the opportunity to participate.