Do More 24 raises over $2.5M for nonprofits, breaks record

Do More 24 Delaware, the state’s largest day of giving, has set a new record with the most successful fundraising day ever.

The 24-hours of donations, from 6 p.m. this past Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday, raised $2,542,719 for the First State’s nonprofit community, more than last year’s sum of $2,320,770

More than 22,000 donors participated, also the highest number in the event’s history.

Organized by United Way of Delaware (UWDE) and Spur Impact, the annual event encouraged Delawareans to donate to their favorite local nonprofits through the event website, DoMore24Delaware.org.

Impact of Do More 24’s record year

Jim Martin, director of Georgetown’s Shepherd’s Office, Inc., which helps with the homeless, hungry, and lonely, said he’s thrilled with what efforts culminated to.

His organization raised nearly $75,000 from 586 donors, and some of the money will be used to help improve and renovate a new location.

“Back in 2018 when I first started, I would tell my wife when I would wake up in the morning, the first thing I would think about is where I am going to get $100 to run the program, because that’s what it would cost each day to keep everything going,” he said. “Now it has grown to $500 a day to run the program, so the Do More 24 event, and the results of that event, are just thrilling for us as a program, as a small program.”

He noted the office is all volunteers, and every dollar is used to serve the homeless, hungry, and lonely.

“We’re paying basic bills, like trash removal, we have a couple dumpsters outside, and those are those fill up pretty quickly, and we have to pay those bills that are coming in weekly, monthly,” he said. “We’re giving out 200-300 meals every day, and the infrastructure around those meals have to be paid for by us.”

He said the food and the cooks and every neighbor that helps with the cause are awesome, but Shepherd’s Office still has to  pay for the infrastructure around the meals, which are the containers and other serving materials.

“It really feels like I’m on a hamster wheel every morning, and I’m the hamster and I just jump on that wheel, and I just have to keep it spinning,” he said. “We’re open every day. We start at 8:30 in the morning, we go until 7 at night, and we’re out her every single day.”

The Do More 24 campaign helps keep that wheel turning so that Shepherd’s Office can keep serving the community.

More than 600 nonprofits participated, each setting up individual fundraising pages to accept contributions.

The event also featured over $350,000 in matching gifts, cash prizes, and incentives, donated by nearly three dozen local sponsors.

It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together with purpose, said Julia Keleher, executive director of First State Educate.

“This was our first year participating, and the response was incredible,” she said. “The generosity and enthusiasm we saw reaffirm just how much Delawareans care about strengthening education and leadership in our state. We’re especially grateful to Charlie Vincent and Spur Impact for creating this platform—it’s not just about fundraising, but about building a culture of collective action that drives real change. Thank you to everyone who donated to FSE and to all who participated in advancing the work of the amazing nonprofits across Delaware.”

First State Educate had eight donors totaling up to nearly $500.

The 2025 edition of Do More 24 Delaware saw participation from every zip code in the state, reflecting the widespread generosity of Delawareans.

“We were amazed by the outpouring of support from our community this year,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “We exceeded our goal of raising $40,000 to support our weekend meal program for kids, the Backpack Program.”

The Food Bank of Delaware had nearly 400 donors surpassing $43,000.

“With 1 in 5 Delaware kids living with food insecurity, the support of our community is so critical,” Kanefsky said.

She said the event shows the best of Delaware.

Sarah Driscoll, vice president of resource development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, said Do More 24 provides an easy and fun way for everyone at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware to be a fundraiser.

“The fact that so many other nonprofits also participate adds a fun competitive element,” she said. “I find it uplifting to witness the incredible generosity in our state through DoMore 24, especially because I know how this support underwrites essential programs like the childcare, literacy and workforce development programs we provide to young Delawareans.”

Her organization had almost 500 donors raise more than $61,000.

UWDE Vice President of Engagement and Partnerships Tierra Fair noted that thousands of donors stepped up to support the organizations that make a real difference, whether it’s after-school programs, food assistance, or environmental support, showing how generous and connected the state is.

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Since its inception in 2016, the event has raised over $12 million for Delaware’s nonprofits, providing critical funding to help them meet growing community needs.

“With rising costs and increasing demands on community services, individual giving has never been more critical for the survival of many Delaware nonprofits,” said Charlie Vincent, executive director of Spur Impact.

In addition to the contributions from local donors, the event was supported by a wide range of sponsors, including Barclays, Discover Bank, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, among others.

The event’s success highlighted the power of collective action, with Fair adding, “When we invest in our nonprofits, we’re investing in a stronger, more vibrant Delaware for all of us.”

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation raised the most out of any large nonprofits with $78,958, and Shepherd’s Office, Inc. raised the most in the small nonprofit category with $74,386.

The Howard J Weston Community & Senior Center took the crown of the most donations from a large nonprofit with 539, while the most donations from a small nonprofit was Barbara K Brooks Transition House, Inc. with 598.