One hundred nonprofit organizations across southeastern Minnesota, including seven that affect Freeborn County, will have a chance to win a combined $1 million in matching funding through an online gift campaign during the month of March.

The campaign, through the Otto Bremer Foundation, will begin today and run until March 31 on GiveMN.org, the same organization behind the successful Give to the Max Day.

“We are pleased to have such a large number of nonprofits participating in the March Millions campaign,” said Otto Bremer Foundation co-CEO and trustee Daniel Reardon. “The response of interested participants illustrates that there is a vibrant nonprofit community in southeastern Minnesota.”

Local organizations participating are St. John’s Lutheran Community, Success Through Adults Reaching Students, Senior Resources of Freeborn County, United Way of Freeborn County, the Albert Lea Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity for Freeborn and Mower counties and Semcac.

Col. Robert Thomson, commander of the Minnesota and North Dakota Salvation Armies, thanked the foundation for its generosity. The Albert Lea Salvation Army is included under the Salvation Army Northern Division listed on the organization list. All of the donations to the Salvation Army will be routed by billing zip code to ensure the money given stays in each community.

“There are eight counties we serve in southeast Minnesota, and doubling donations in March would be a tremendous help in our effort to serve more families,” Thomson said.

He encouraged people to donate earlier rather than later.

The maximum amount any single nonprofit can have doubled is $100,000.

Ann Austin, executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County, said donations to the United Way can go to three locations: the organization’s campaign, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library or a potential resource center for people moving into the community.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Austin said of raising funds for the resource center. “If people believe in this, it’s really an opportunity for them to have a voice in the process.”

She said she hopes the resource center can be a model to help agencies across the county work more efficiently.

During every day of the challenge, there will be one donor who is selected for a boost, and the foundation will add a $1,000 prize to their gift.

On March 31, the foundation will give a $10,000 gift to a participating organization as a way to encourage donors and organizations to continue giving throughout the month.

The Otto Bremer Foundation, based in St. Paul, is a private charitable trust established in 1944 by founder Otto Bremer, a successful banker and community and business leader. The foundation is the 92 percent owner of Bremer Bank. The returns on its holdings provide the funding for the foundation’s grantmaking.

To view the full list of organizations participating visit GiveMN.org/MarchMillions.