Understanding the #GivingTuesday Movement
As the leaves change colour and the days grow shorter, the air grows cooler and crisper. It's a time of year when the leaves crinkle under your feet, the smell of pumpkin spice wafts from storefronts, and the giving spirit is in the air. For many, the month of November is a time for reflection and giving back.
So this Giving Tuesday, take the time to reflect on what you're grateful for and then find a way to give back. But what is Giving Tuesday? How can you make the most of this charitable day? In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at Giving Tuesday, its origins, and how you can make the most of it. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Giving Tuesday.
What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday, sometimes referred to as Charity Tuesday, is a global day of giving that falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. The day is dedicated to giving back to the world and celebrating generosity. People use Giving Tuesday to support causes by making donations, volunteering their time, or spreading the word about good work being done across the globe. Charitable organizations, non-profits, and individuals use social media to share information about how people can get involved using awareness campaigns like the hashtag #GivingTuesday. In fact, this charitable day is often stylized outside of social media as #GivingTuesday or GivingTuesday for the purposes of hashtag activism.
The idea behind this day of charity is to kick off the holiday giving season and show support for the organizations that make the world better. It's a day to come together and give back. Since its inception, #GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement. In 2017, more than $300 million was raised online for charitable causes on GivingTuesday. Especially if you give to effective charities, it’s an excellent way to give back and make a difference.
What is the history of Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday has been celebrated annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving since 2012. The movement was founded by 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community centre in New York City, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. GivingTuesday was inspired by the popular shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the busiest shopping days of the year, which take place in the United States the day after Thanksgiving. In the years since its launch, #GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement with millions of people participating in more than 150 countries.
Why donate on Giving Tuesday?
There are many reasons why you should donate on #GivingTuesday. First and foremost, donations made on GivingTuesday go a long way in helping charities and causes reach their fundraising goals. In fact, in 2020, Americans gave more than $471 billion to charitable organizations.
Donating on GivingTuesday is also a great way to support the most effective charities and causes and help them continue their important work. By donating on GivingTuesday, you're helping to ensure that these organizations have the resources they need to make a positive impact in the world.
Finally, donating on GivingTuesday is a way to show your support for the global giving movement. By making a donation on GivingTuesday, you're helping promote philanthropy and encouraging others to give back as well.
How can you make the most of Giving Tuesday?
GivingTuesday is a popular day for giving, so it's essential to plan ahead if you want to make sure your donation goes to a charity of your choice. Many charities have donation pages set up online, so be sure to check their websites before making a donation. You can also use our resources at Giving What We Can. Giving What We Can is a community of effective givers who want to help you maximize your charitable impact. We provide guidance on how to give effectively, how to donate to the world's most effective charities, and how to pledge a portion of your income to highly effective charitable organizations.
Spreading the word is another effective way to make the most of this big day. Tell your friends and family about GivingTuesday and encourage them to donate to their favourite charities. As we've mentioned, you can also use social media to spread the word. Hashtags like #GivingTuesday and #givingseason can help get the word out.
Even if you don't have much money to spare, giving your time can help you make the most of GivingTuesday. There are many ways to give back, and you can find a charitable institution that suits your interests and skills.
No matter how much or how little you give, every donation counts, and your donation can go much further when given to highly effective charities. So be generous and give what you can to make a difference if you want to make the most of this charitable holiday.
How do you choose a charity?
When looking for a charity to donate to, there are a few things you should consider. First, think about what you care about most. Do you want to donate to a charitable institution that helps nonhuman animals, one that helps kids, or one that helps the environment?
Once you know what type of charity you’d like to donate to, you can start researching specific charities. You can find information on a charity’s website, or you can use our list of recommended charities. These organizations work on a range of causes, with some using established, evidence-based strategies and others using more innovative or speculative approaches with the potential for greater impact.
You should also make sure that the charity is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Checking this information is easy to do. You can simply type the charity’s name into the IRS’s charity database. That said, we suggest not stressing too much about tax-deductibility — it’s usually more important you choose the most cost-effective charity whether it’s tax-deductible or not. Finally, keep in mind that people can generally do a lot more good with monetary donations than donating food, supplies, or time. Every donation you make maximises the amount of good you're doing for the world.
Consider donating on Giving Tuesday 2022
As you can see, GivingTuesday has helped establish an entire season of giving, whether that's donating money, goods, or even your time. The campaign has become a global movement that's helped change the way people think about charitable giving. No matter what you do, just be sure to try to do something. GivingTuesday is a great opportunity to make a difference in the world, and it's a chance to support the charitable institutions and organizations that are important to you. So, what are you waiting for? Get involved in GivingTuesday today!