Giving Tuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday as a way to start the holiday giving season. It is a “global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.”
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 by the team at the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y (New York City) along with the United Nations Foundation. Last year, over 45,000 partners in 71 countries participated in Giving Tuesday and nearly $117 million was raised online for nonprofits in the United States alone. It is a day for people and organizations to give and for nonprofits to reach out for your support and giving.
MORE ABOUT GIVING TUESDAY
As stated on GivingTuesday.org:
#GivingTuesday connects diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving … #GivingTuesday harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities; it provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents to address local challenges. It also brings together the collective power of a unique blend of partners- nonprofits, civic organizations, businesses and corporations, as well as families and individuals – to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness.
Learn more about Giving Tuesday on GivingTuesday.org.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
What can you do to participate in Giving Tuesday? There are a number of ways to participate in Giving Tuesday and help nonprofits and charity organizations. Some examples provided by GivingTuesday.org are:
- Raise Funds;
- Volunteer;
- Collaborate;
- Get Social; and
- Give More.
While every charity and organization can use more money, there are other ways to give. “Giving” is not just about money; it is giving of your money, time, skills or resources.
There are many local, state and federal organizations and nonprofits that need your giving. Giving to your favorite cause, charity or organization is always a good place to start. When giving, especially of your money, make sure the charity is legitimate and that your giving will have an impact. Here are some guidelines to help make sure you are giving to a worthy charity or nonprofit:
- Do you believe in its mission?
- Is it legitimate?
- How will your donation be used?
- Is it registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization?
A couple of sites you can use to research organizations include: GuideStar; CharityNavigator; CharityWatch; and GiveWell.
CONCLUSION
People and charities need your support year-round — not just on Giving Tuesday. Giving should be a yearlong activity for individuals, families, businesses and organizations. However, today would be a great day to give, whether it is money, time, your skills or resources.
Please join Lapin Law Offices in celebrating and promoting giving on this Giving Tuesday 2016.
