401Gives raises record-breaking $4.9M for nonprofits

There’s no better motivation than a crisis.

Just ask organizers of this year’s 401Gives online fundraising event, which raised nearly $4.9 million for 644 nonprofits,  surpassing its goal and shattering the previous fundraising record, United Way of Rhode Island announced Wednesday evening.

Now in its sixth year, the 36-hour event aims to leverage collective and coordinated fundraising to help Rhode Island’s nonprofits. The $4.88 million in donations raised by the event end Wednesday evening marks a more than 30% increase over the $3.7 million collected during the 2024 401Gives event. It’s also nearly $900,000 more than goal set by organizers, who hoped to raise at least $4.01 million. 

“Nonprofits are essential to our communities, and right now, programs our neighbors rely on are at risk because of funding changes and uncertainty at the federal level,” Cortney Nicolato, United Way’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “But one thing is crystal clear – Rhode Islanders have their nonprofits’ backs, just as our nonprofits are always there for us. To watch 401Gives unfold and see the bar pushed even higher when it is needed most has been incredible.”

The record-breaking fundraising was accompanied by high water marks in participation — from donors and nonprofit beneficiaries. More than 19,000 donors contributed a combined 31,486 donations (donors can contribute to more than one participating charity), according to United Way. By comparison, 16,546 people donated in 2024. 

Michael Cerio, a United Way spokesperson, attributed the record-level generosity of Rhode Islanders directly to the uncertainty that federal policies have created for nonprofits.

Nonprofits nationwide and in Rhode Island continue to scramble to keep services running and employees paid amid federal funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration. 

“The power and reach of 401Gives cannot be overstated, nor can the generosity of people all across the state who stepped up to support the causes they care about,” Nancy Wolanski, United Way’s director of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact, said in a statement. “Nonprofits and their mission-driven work touch
each of our lives and are vital to quality of life in the Ocean State. Every dollar donated during401Gives is an investment in strengthening our communities.”

Over 100 participating nonprofits raised at least $10,000 apiece. The 644 beneficiaries include 129 first-time participants, according to United Way. Rhode Island Current is among the returning nonprofits raising money through the 2025 event.

Foster Forward, which has led fundraising among nonprofit recipients for several years, continues to lead the charts in donations received, with over $338,500. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island rounded out the top three, with roughly $165,500 and $131,600 raised, respectively. The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education led in donations for the fourth consecutive year, with 579 donors.

This story has been updated to include final fundraising totals for 401Gives as of Wednesday evening.