Freeborn County nonprofits raised more than $40,000 in a 24-hour span this week as part of the online giving program called GiveMN.

During what was called “Give to the Max Day,” people could go online to www.GiveMN.org from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday, look up their nonprofit agency of choice and then donate online. Every donation made received a portion of a $500,000 match.

Throughout the state, the Web site raised more than $14 million to go toward 3,434 nonprofit organizations. Almost 40,000 people donated, according to the results.

Many local organizations saw positive results.

The United Way of Freeborn County, for example, raised just over $10,000, plus a $405 match. The amount raised was higher than any other United Way that participated.

“How generous our community is!” said United Way Director Ann Austin. “We did a lot of publicizing of the Give to the Max Day, but it was people’s choice to go online and give during that 24-hour period. They stepped up to the plate.”

She said she had no idea her organization would be able to raise $10,000 in that short amount of time. She thought maybe it would raise $5,000, but then more and more donations — $25 here, $100 donation there — would come in.

Austin said most of the people who contributed usually contribute to the United Way, but by giving on that day, they were able to increase their donation a little bit more.

The South Central Minnesota Youth for Christ’s The Rock raised more than $19,000 for the Albert Lea area, plus a more than $700 match.

“It was amazing,” said Robin Gudal, with the organization. “I personally was gone that day, but our staff kept reporting it to me. It was fun to see the numbers jump.”

Donations will go toward operational funding, including paying the electrical bill and paying staff, to name a few.

She said a lot of people like to see their money be stretched.

“That part of it says a lot about the community and people in Minnesota that they just really want to make sure that their donations or the money that they’re spending will go as far as it possibly can.”

The Freeborn County Historical Society also had a successful 24 hours, raising $5,350, plus a $216 match.

“We’re very pleased with the number who participated for the first time,” said Freeborn County Historical Society Executive Director Pat Mulso. “We were excited to get the match of $216.”

Mulso said she was also excited because there were some new donors who contributed on Give to the Max Day.

“That’s really exciting because that’s what they’re hoping to achieve is reach new people,” she said. “That’s opening up a door to all nonprofits across the state. We all need to reinforce our budgets, so to reach those extra people is really helpful.”

She said she hopes the GiveMN Web site will continue to be advertised so that new people can donate through this source. She noted she thinks it will also help make donations easier for people from out of town.

“For us, that’s a key thing that now we can offer, so that when we do get those calls, we don’t lose that donation,” Mulso said.

The Web site will be ongoing.

Karen Callahan, director of the Albert Lea Story Lady & Doll Museum, said she was happy to hear of all that was donated to her organization.

The museum raised just over $3,000, plus an $122 match. The money will go toward supporting the museum, including paying rent and paying utilities.

Other Freeborn County nonprofits to raise money on Give to the Max Day include the following:

Albert Lea Art Center, $250 given, $10 matched

Albert Lea Audubon Society, $20 given, 81 cents matched

Albert Lea Story Lady Doll & Toy Museum, $3,022 given, $122 matched

Arc of Freeborn County, $105 given, $4 matched

Big Island Rendezvous and Festival Inc., $305 given, $12 matched

Children’s House Montessori Preschool, $170 given, $7 matched

Destination Albert Lea Inc., $20 given, 81 cents matched

Family Y of Albert Lea, $1,130 given, $46 matched

Freeborn County Humane Society, $620 given, $25 matched

Freeborn/Mower Habitat for Humanity, $300 given, $12 matched

Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library, $20 given, 81 cents matched

Pelican Breeze Foundation, $20 given, 81 cents matched

Senior Resources of Freeborn County, $550 given, $22 matched

Other nonprofit organizations that benefit Freeborn County residents that received donations include:

Catholic Charities Diocese Winona, $930 given, $38 matched

Domestic Abuse Project Inc., $5,045 given, $204 matched

Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, $22,926 given, $826 matched

Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, $57,184 given, $1664 matched

Semcac Inc., $360 given, $14 matched