GivingTuesday, a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration is holding its 5th #GivingTuesday on November 29th this year.
#GivingTuesday is about all kinds of giving, and every act of giving – especially when we do it together – matters,” explained Asha Curran, 92Y’s Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. “Everyone has something to give – whether it’s time, or money, or goods or expertise or kindness. That’s what #GivingTuesday is about.”
What started as a grassroots movement by 92nd Street Y, a center for the arts and innovation, a convener of ideas, and an incubator for creativity has turned in to a national movement. In 2015, #GivingTuesday recorded that 700,000 donors gave about $116.7 million online in 71 countries. Those numbers are expected to increase in 2016.
“It was born at 92nd Street Y, and inspired by our most fundamental values – strengthening community and repairing the world,” Curran stated. “Millions of people are coming together on #GivingTuesday to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.”
The day aims to shift the focus from shopping to giving, and is usually right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday every year.
“This year more than ever, we have a chance to rally behind true American values that have often been lost in the vitriol of a divisive election season – generosity, love of home and family, and sense of community,” Curran added.
DIVERGE talked to Curran about the significance of #GivingTuesday.
What are some of the campaigns you are most excited about this year?
There are thousands of organizations launching campaigns for #GivingTuesday, and we encourage you to check out participating organizations around you on our website here.
For example, you can support ORGANIZE, the online organ donor platform, by registering to “Give with your Heart” as an organ donor online on #GivingTuesday. You can also help church-based humanitarian relief organization World Relief by building “Welcome Kits” for refugee families. Refugees often flee their homes at a moment’s notice and arrive at a U.S. airport with few belongings; each family’s Welcome Kit includes kitchen supplies, bedding, and other household items.
For this piece, we also encourage you to check out this list of selected partner campaigns for inspiration on organizations to support.
What is your favorite part of #GivingTuesday?
The breadth of campaigns taking place on #GivingTuesday is quite extraordinary. People are embracing this day on the calendar as an opportunity to raise money for local nonprofits, schools and arts organizations; run food and clothing drives; teach children about philanthropy; encourage acts of kindness; collaborate with their neighbors and celebrate generosity.
It’s also been incredible to see the movement go global. While it was born in the U.S., #GivingTuesday has inspired campaigns around the world. In 2015, people in 71 countries around the globe participated in #GivingTuesday activities. This year, the countries hosting campaigns include Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Slovenia, Tanzania and the UK.
Why should companies participate?
#GivingTuesday is a great way for employees to get together with their colleagues and support a cause that matters to them. We’ve also seen lots of collaboration between business and corporations who support nonprofits, often right in their own communities.
Why should people be excited to give?
Whatever cause you support, the organizations benefits from your involvement. They need funds, but they also need champions who are telling their stories and volunteers to help get things done. And giving to others is a great way to get back in touch with all of the things we have in common. There is also brain research that shows the warm glow we get from giving is the same feeling we get from eating chocolate. Certainly we could all use more of that feeling!
How does #GivingTuesday make a difference?
Our experience, since #GivingTuesday began in 2012, is that people have embraced this holiday — in fact, it is the enthusiastic response from millions that have brought #GivingTuesday to this point. #GivingTuesday is now becoming a ritual in our annual calendar, a day on which millions of individuals work to make a difference in the lives of their loved ones, neighbors, communities and those in need.
Additional thoughts?
It’s important to remember that #GivingTuesday is truly a grassroots movement. We always intended this to be a decentralized initiative that allows organizations and individuals around the world to make it their own, use their creativity and support their communities in ways that are most important to them.
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- CUNY, The City University of New York, is launching #CUNYTUESDAY, its first-ever University-wide giving day, which aims to raise $1 million in 24 hours to support students at their 24 colleges.
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- The #BigBendGivesBack campaign will raise awareness of local non-profits and encourage families, communities, and companies to find a way to give back and share their acts of generosity.
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- Big D Gives Dallas is the first citywide campaign in Dallas, which aims to collect 10 million dollars donated, volunteer hours given or pledged, or individual acts of kindness documented via social media.
