USA Today: What Is Giving Tuesday and Why Is It Important? Here’s What To Know

Published in USA TODAY

With Thanksgiving 2024 behind us, many of us are pivoting to giving to others as part of Giving Tuesday.

The global event takes place each year on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and it is made up of initiatives to help communities and the families that embody them. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on Dec. 3.

Based in New York, Giving Tuesday originated in 2012 in an attempt to encourage people to do good things, a spokesperson for the organization told USA TODAY in late November.

Since then, the global program says it has tracked initiatives in every country and territory worldwide, with more than 100 countries hosting official Giving Tuesday events, according to a Giving Tuesday spokesperson. Since its creation, Giving Tuesday has morphed into a global program that encourages people to donate, volunteer and spread awareness year-round, the spokesperson said.

Last year alone, 34 million people in the U.S. took part in Giving Tuesday and helped raise $3.1 billion, the organization says.

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Why is Giving Tuesday important?

In encouraging people to get active and involved, Giving Tuesday has led to a surge in support for nonprofits, leaders say.

Last year, St. John’s Bread & Life in Brooklyn exceeded its $5,000 fundraising goal on Giving Tuesday, bringing in $8,200. Numbers could reach even higher this year since the pantry hopes to work with a donor who will match the first $4,000 the organization raises, its director of development James Poisal said.

Nonprofit leaders said Giving Tuesday is part of the reason they get so many new donors each year, and oftentimes these new donors continue to donate.

What’s Giving Tuesday going to look like this year?

This Giving Tuesday, many events across the U.S. will take place – all with a goal of fostering stewardship of others and worthwhile charities. Some offer prizes, donation matches and other incentives. Here’s a few:

• AllOne Charities is hosting a virtual fundraiser for about 60 nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania that focus on improving the wellbeing of people in the area. AllOne Charities has promised to match the first $1,000 raised by each participating organization. There will also be a $1,000 prize for the organization that raises the most, a $1,000 prize for the organization that has the most donors, a $1,000 prize for the organization that has the most donors during Power Hour (1:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.) and multiple $1,000 prizes from the organization’s Give Day partners through a “Random Boost of Kindness” raffle.
• The Amarillo Area Foundation (AFF) in Texas allows organizations to create Amplification Funds, made up of money given from foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors. This year, the AAF will host the Panhandle Gives, a nine-day event that supports 216 nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle. Each organization that raises at least $250 during the Panhandle Gives will get a percentage match based on the total amount of their Amplification Fund.
• Brooklyn Org will host its annual Brooklyn Gives event, a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising over $1 million for local nonprofits.
• Hispanics in Philanthropy has organized Giving Tuesday: Un Paso Más, a crowdfunding campaign to support those “seeking change, pursuing dreams, and overcoming challenges,” Giving Tuesday said.
• This year, environmentalist and drag queen Pattie Gonia is hosting another fundraiser to collect $500,000 for six initiatives making the outdoors a more equitable place.
• Share Charlotte, organizers of Giving Tuesday CLT, will host an event where an expected 350 or more people will gather. Lowe’s will match the first 300 donors of $50 or more with a $50 gift card.
• Spur Local has organized Give Local Together, a group of 200+ local nonprofits in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area that will participate in a DC-based pop-up giving circle experience.