With the holiday season in full swing, we are reminded not only of gift-giving to friends and loved ones, but giving back to communities and individuals in need. One of the best ways to show your support is through contributions to non-profit organizations. Taking the time to reflect and donate to a cause close to you this season can create a lasting impact and reinforce the positivity of human connection in helping others.
What is GivingTuesday?
The first Tuesday following Thanksgiving each year is known as GivingTuesday — a global day dedicated to giving back to causes, nonprofits, charities, and organizations that matter to us. The movement began in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y in NYC, where the hashtag #GivingTuesday quickly gained momentum across social media as a counterbalance to holiday consumerism. Its impact grew so rapidly that by 2019, the official GivingTuesday organization was established to further champion and expand this culture of generosity worldwide.
How Can You Participate?
Check out the steps below to help you prepare for #GivingTuesday!
- Research which non-profits and organizations support missions that align with your ideals
- Determine one or more causes you would like to support
- Decide what you would like to contribute: time, money, or stock transfer
- Think about how much and how often you would like to contribute
- Choose a platform to make your donation, whether it be digital, mail, phone, or even in person
- Contribute to #GivingTuesday!
Utilizing Donor Advised Funds or “DAF”s
You might be wondering, what are donor-advised funds? How can they help support a non-profit? Donor-advised funds, or DAF’s can be described as a type of charitable savings account. Any contributions made to this fund are tax-deductible. As the amount in the account grows over time, funds can be invested and grow tax-free. Once you decide where you would like all, or a portion of the funds to go, you can “advise” your sponsoring organization to send a donation directly from your DAF account. Funds can be sent all at once, or over a period of time to allow for maximum growth. Donations from this fund can be especially important to continue supporting causes for years to come.
Every Donation Counts
No matter what you may be able to contribute this #GivingTuesday, every single donation makes a difference. You can donate your time by volunteering at a local community shelter, helping a non-profit run their giving campaigns on social media, assisting an organization’s fundraising efforts through community events, advising DAF funds to be utilized from your account, or even just donating a few dollars online towards a cause you care about. No contribution is too small and no act of kindness goes unnoticed.
Make a difference this #GivingTuesday!