PHOENIX — Arizona Gives Day returns this week after a record-breaking event in 2021 when millions of dollars was raised for nonprofits across the state.

The annual 24-hour virtual fundraising event gets underway at noon on Tuesday and encourages people to donate to a nonprofit through the Arizona Gives’ website or by creating a fundraising page for an organization.

More than 1,000 nonprofits and 600 fundraisers have been set up for this year’s Arizona Gives Day.

The campaign got started earlier this month and over $500,000 has already been donated to hundreds of organizations, according to the website.

Last year, the event raised $7.1 million for nonprofits as the organizations tried to recover from challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Arizonans from every community in every corner of the state stepped up last year like never before,” Kristen Merrifield, Arizona Alliance of Nonprofits chief executive officer, said in a press release.

“That incredible generosity clearly showed that the people of Arizona can look beyond their own circumstances to ensure that those who may be in need have access to vital services and resources.”

Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and the Arizona Grantmakers Forum host the event that is presented by FirstBank.

Arizona Gives Day has raised more than $30 million since debuting in 2013, according to the website.

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