“On #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving, millions of people in 98 countries came together to give back, from opening their wallets to volunteering their time to helping those in need to raising their voices in support of causes they believe in”, according to press release by 92nd Street Y, the founder of #GivingTuesday.
In the United States, 1.6 million donations raised $168 million dollars in 24 hours.
Here are some of the fundraising efforts:
Giving Time:
- Thousands of volunteer hours were pledged through organizations like VolunteerMatch and Plus Social Good.
- In Baltimore, Maryland, Thread brought 1,000 people together for acts of kindness around the city, including a “Love Notes to Baltimore” campaign where community residents wrote inspiring notes in chalk on city streets.
- In Bethel, Alaska, volunteers stood at the one three-way stop despite wind chills of -30 degrees to accept donations for local nonprofits.
Giving Money:
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was so inspired by the incredible generosity of the Facebook community on #GivingTuesday that they contributed an additional $400,000 in matching funds mid-way through the day (on top of an existing $500,000 match) in order to match even more donations.
- Blackbaud processed 47.7 million in donations, a 20% increase over 2015, and 22% of their donors gave online with a mobile device.
- DonorsChoose, which connects donors directly with classrooms and teachers, had its biggest giving day ever, raised $1.8 million, funding 3,210 classroom projects.
- The Trevor Project raised over $85,000 to support to LGBTQ youth in distress, surpassing their $50,000 goal.
- The Humane Society of the US exceeded its target of $200,000, with a total of $350,000 raised.
- The University of Michigan’s #GivingBlueDay campaign raised a record $5.5 million in 24 hours, compared to $4.3 million last year.
- The City University of New York received over half a million dollars as part of its first-ever university-wide giving campaign. Funds will help students stay in school and earn a degree.
- #CHAGives, in Chattanooga, had already surpassed last year’s total at 5pm yesterday. Among the day’s highlights was Chattanooga Zoo’s pop-up petting zoo.
- Brooklyn Gives, an initiative of the Brooklyn Community Foundation, raised $257,449 for twenty local nonprofit organizations, ranging from the Arab American Family Support Center to Red Hook Community Justice Center.
- The United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien raised over $32,000 in a #GivingTuesday sweepstakes offering a pair of Hamilton Tickets.
- Beyond Boundaries, which provides equine therapy for children with disabilities, funded a barn raising to house thirteen horses.
- Smile Train has raised enough to create 186 new smiles through training local doctors to perform free cleft repair surgeries in developing countries.
Giving Resources:
- Lenovo and US Veterans Corps broke the Guinness World Record for toy donations in 24 hours with over 45,000 lbs of toys collected and donated.
- Donations to Feeding America on #GivingTuesday will help secure over 3.3 million meals to people in need.
- Music for Life Foundation received a donation of 40 ukuleles for a high school in Kaneohe, Hawaii.
- Irwin Natuals, a vitamin company, donated 723 pairs of socks to the Los Angeles Mission.
- Casper donated more than 25 mattresses and 50 pillows to five firehouses in New York City—one in every borough.
“On #GivingTuesday we saw people, communities and organizations unite in a true demonstration of generosity and community spirit,” said Henry Timms, Executive Director of 92Y and Co-Founder of #GivingTuesday, in a press release. “For all those things that may divide us, we all share a proud tradition of giving. The funds raised and the acts of kindness that took place will improve lives in countless ways. Through the work of ordinary people all over the country, on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we are adding a new ritual to our holiday season.”
For the story behind #GivingTuesday, go to http://divergenow.com/the-work/2016/11/story-behind-givingtuesday-success/
