New York, NY October 3, 2014 -- The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries announced that on Dec. 2, 2014, it will match up to $1 million in gifts made online to any project through The Advance as part of UMC #GivingTuesday.

Marie Kuch-Stanovsky, who chairs the communication and development committee of Global Ministries’ board of directors, expressed enthusiasm about last year’s record $6.5 million raised online through The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday. “It was a wonderful sign of commitment and extravagant generosity, maximizing the impact of thousands of United Methodists coming together on one day to transform the world.”

Directors approved allocating matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $1 million in gifts to Advance projects received online on Dec. 2, 2014, between 12 a.m. EST and 11:59 p.m. Kuch-Stanovsky explained that to stretch the matching funds, a maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds and a project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.

The board president, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (North Carolina), also announced that in the spirit of “healthy competition,” Global Ministries is “preparing a special Advance award to be given to the annual conference that raises the most funds online through The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday 2014.

When Methodists are United

Ellen Knudsen, director of Advance projects for Global Ministries, said that while people give through The Advance throughout the year, “having one day when Methodists are united in supporting The Advance reinforces the spirit of cheerful Christian giving.”

UMC #GivingTuesday is part of an international movement that builds on the recent U.S. shopping traditions of Black Friday, Local Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. It offers an opportunity to start off the holiday season by giving instead of getting through supporting organizations that have been researched and approved by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. And 100 percent of all gifts made through The Advance are given directly to the designated project.

The Dakotas Conference has several mission project efforts that are part of The Advance including: Teri and Evelyn Erbele, Haiti Solar Oven Partners, Ardell and Gordon Graner and Tree of Life Ministry. 

Through The Advance, United Methodists can give to more than 850 United Methodist-related projects worldwide. Donors can also provide support for any of more than 300 missionaries. Together, the projects meet a range of needs, from helping survivors cope with natural or civil disasters to helping communities build churches, feed and educate children, and equip hospitals and clinics.

Since its founding in 1948, The Advance has helped channel more than 3 million gifts totaling more than $1 billion to thousands of projects and ministries.

Global Ministries offers resources to promote and share the UMC #GivingTuesday campaign at www.umcmission.org/givingtuesday.

To make a contribution, donors will go to www.umcmission.org/give on UMC #GivingTuesday and donate online to any of the hundreds of projects and missionaries listed there.