What is Giving Hearts Day?
Camp Joy and Giving Hearts Day History
Camp Joy and Giving Hearts Day 2026
Founded in 2008, Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour event for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Each year, Giving Hearts Day provides a platform for charities to fund their missions through an ever-increasing community of donors, many of whom get to experience the joy of giving for the first time. The longest-running giving day in the country, Giving Hearts Day has helped participating charities raise $195 million since its founding.
Camp Joy has raised over $105,000 since our first Giving Hearts campaign in 2019. Giving Hearts Day has been Camp Joy’s most successful fundraising campaign due to our amazing community. We are thankful for Giving Hearts Day and feel blessed to have this method to raise funds for camp. Over the previous years, we look to dedicate an essential project to Giving Hearts Day. Previous projects include a waterfront remodel, a girls' bathroom, a kitchen remodel, and a swim raft.
Our focus projects for 2026 are to replace the cabin windows/doors.
Maintaining and updating the cabins, chapel, staff housing, and dining hall is one of our highest priorities, not just for functionality, but to ensure campers have a safe, welcoming environment where they can learn, play, and grow in their faith.
Camp Joy has been a place of blessing for generations. Countless memories have been made here, stories of friendship, faith, and transformation. Now, we're committed to restoring and strengthening these spaces so they can continue serving future generations.
One of our most urgent needs is replacing the aging windows and doors across multiple cabins and buildings. Many are worn, damaged, and no longer provide the safety, efficiency, or comfort our campers and staff deserve.
We are thankful to announce a $5,000 grant was provided by Lake Region Electric Cooperative to support this project. We are thankful and grateful for God's blessing.