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4 minute read
Giving Tuesday, the global day of generosity, is a chance for individuals around the world to come together and support the causes and communities they love. Whether through donations, volunteering, or raising awareness, Giving Tuesday offers everyone the opportunity to make an impact. If you’re looking to give back this year, here’s why Giving Tuesday matters and how your support—whether financial or through your time—can make a lasting difference.
What is GivingTuesday?
Giving Tuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday, is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States. It kicks off the charitable season, inspiring people worldwide to give back during the holiday season. Created in 2012, GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement, with millions participating annually by donating to nonprofits, volunteering, and sharing messages of generosity.
While the day is rooted in philanthropy, GivingTuesday is about more than just writing a check—it's a reminder of the power of community and collective action. From local grassroots organizations to large international nonprofits, GivingTuesday unites individuals around the world to strengthen their communities and build a better future.
Why GivingTuesday matters for nonprofits
Nonprofits are at the heart of addressing critical issues in our communities, from education and healthcare to social justice and environmental protection. However, many organizations face limited resources and operate with lean teams. Here’s why GivingTuesday is so impactful for nonprofits:
Charitable giving fuels their mission
Financial donations during GivingTuesday allow nonprofits to continue delivering essential services and expanding their programs. These funds often help bridge year-end budget gaps, ensuring organizations can meet community needs through the holiday season and into the new year.
Skills-based volunteering fills critical staffing gaps
GivingTuesday isn’t just about donations; it’s also about volunteering. Skills-based volunteering—where professionals offer expertise in areas like marketing, IT, accounting, or project management—provides nonprofits with vital operational support. These contributions allow nonprofits to focus on their mission while benefiting from specialized expertise they may not have the budget to hire.
Preparing for the year ahead
GivingTuesday contributions help nonprofits set the stage for success in 2025. From hiring additional staff and upgrading technology to expanding programs and serving more people, the funds raised and support provided on this day lay the groundwork for future impact. Nonprofits often rely on this momentum to plan for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Strengthening communities
Nonprofits play a vital role in creating resilient communities. When you support a nonprofit on GivingTuesday, you're contributing to solutions that address local needs and empower underserved populations. Every donation, big or small, helps build a brighter future.
5 nonprofits to support on GivingTuesday
Here are five nonprofits making a difference in their communities and around the world. Whether you’re interested in skills-based volunteering or making a donation, consider supporting them this GivingTuesday to help amplify their impact:
1. Trans Women of Color Healing Project
Mission: To speak knowledge to power, and to combat the erasure of trans women's lives, narratives, and contributions to society. Their goal is to raise awareness for the great work of trans women of color, their families, communities, relationships and movements.
2. Resilient Community Arts
Mission: To sustain efforts for social progress and equity through affordable arts programming. The organization aims to provide an accessible, community-driven arts space that fosters creativity and helps bring marginalized identities into the center of the arts— specifically those facing economic hardship.
3. Center for Protest Law & Litigation
Mission: Their core project, the Center for Protest Law & Litigation, works at the unique intersection of First and Fourth Amendment law. Litigating across the U.S., the organization works directly on the ground with oppressed communities and frontline activists, and have represented thousands of individuals falsely arrested and brutalized, as well as defended targeted social justice groups and organizations.
4. USA Parent to Parent
Mission: The organization supports a national network of Parent to Parent programs to ensure access to quality emotional support for families of individuals with disabilities and/or special health care needs.
5. AMA Animal Rescue
Mission: Angels for Mistreated Animals (AMA Animal Rescue) is a Brooklyn based, no-kill animal shelter whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and find loving homes for extreme cases of abused and neglected cats and dogs.
Other ways to participate on GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday isn’t just about financial contributions—your time and expertise can be just as valuable. Nonprofits often rely on volunteers to fill crucial gaps, allowing them to focus on delivering their mission. From short bursts of support to in-depth projects, here are three impactful ways you can contribute your skills and time this GivingTuesday:
Microvolunteering: small efforts, big impact
Microvolunteering offers an excellent option for individuals with busy schedules who still want to make a difference. These short, flexible tasks can often be completed online in as little as 15 minutes.
One of the great advantages of microvolunteering is its accessibility—whether you’re on your lunch break or waiting for an appointment, you can chip in from anywhere. It’s a quick and impactful way to contribute to a nonprofit’s mission without committing to long hours.
Consultation calls: sharing your expertise
If you’re a professional in fields like marketing, finance, IT, or HR, offering your expertise through consultation calls can make a tremendous difference. These one-hour calls allow nonprofits to tap into specialized knowledge they may not have access to otherwise. For example, a marketing expert might help an organization brainstorm ways to attract more donors, or an IT specialist might guide a nonprofit in choosing the right technology for managing their volunteer database.
These calls are an incredible way to use your professional skills to solve real challenges for nonprofits, saving them time and resources while enabling them to operate more efficiently. Just one call can leave a long-lasting impact, helping organizations streamline their operations or improve their outreach efforts.
Full-length projects: creating sustained impact
For those with more time to dedicate, full-length volunteer projects provide an opportunity to create sustained impact. These projects typically last several weeks or months and involve working closely with a nonprofit to tackle a significant challenge. For example, you could assist a nonprofit by developing an onboarding process for their volunteers or help design a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
These projects allow you to see your contributions unfold over time and provide nonprofits with the in-depth support they need to build capacity and achieve long-term goals. They’re also an excellent way to develop your own skills, gain experience in a new field, or even network with like-minded individuals passionate about giving back.
How you can make a difference
This GivingTuesday, consider how you can contribute to causes that matter most to you. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or share the mission of your favorite nonprofit, every action counts.
Want to explore more ways to give back? Visit catchafire.org/volunteer for volunteer opportunities or discover other nonprofits to support on GivingTuesday, throughout the holiday season, and into the new year. Together, we can make generosity go even further.
