FAIRMONT - Non-profits across Martin County and the state are competing today in a race to raise funds through www.givemn.org

The Web site, launched Nov. 2, has organized "Give to the Max Day." Donations to Minnesota non-profits listed in their database between 8 a.m. today and 8 a.m. Wednesday are eligible for up to $2,500 in matching funds.

The St. Paul Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation and Bush Foundation have committed $500,000 to the event. The benefactors are matching the funds plus transaction fees, so 100 percent of donations will go to the organization chosen.

The top three groups to receive the most individual donations online will receive an additional bonus - $5,000 to the first, $2,500 to the second and $1,000 to the third.

Many local groups, including the Salvation Army, Martin County Youth Foundation and Martin County Humane Society, are included on the Web site.

Tom Dodge, vice chairman of the Youth Foundation, said the group is taking advantage of the Web site's matching challenge by offering a grant of its own. The foundation has its own dollar-for-dollar grant, he said, to raise funds for its early childhood initiatives in the county. It is only $9,000 from its $100,000 goal.

"What that means is that on Nov. 17, any donation to the Martin County Youth Foundation will be matched $1.50 to every dollar donated that day," Dodge said.

Captain Jeff Carter of the Salvation Army said the Web site will keep donations local.

"Donations made to the Fairmont Salvation Army on Give to the Max Day will stay in this community and fund vital Salvation Army programs that feed our neighbors, house the homeless and help people break free from addiction," he said.

GiveMN says it is the first online donation site specifically for a single state, although users can access all registered non-profits through the site.

It is run through Razoo, a company dedicated to bringing donors and non-profits together.

"Minnesotans have long led the nation in charitable giving and civic innovation, but we aren't fulfilling the great potential of online philanthropy," said Dana Nelson, executive director of GiveMN.

Less than 1 percent of fund-raising for non-profit organizations is conducted online. GiveMN seeks to change that and help people find organizations to support in an easy-to-use format.