GivingTuesday returns this year as a nationwide day of charitable giving, encouraging donations and volunteer work after a long weekend of holiday shopping.
WASHINGTON — After Black Friday sales, Small Business Saturday deals and Cyber Monday online shopping, GivingTuesday has arrived as a reminder to shift from buying to giving.
GivingTuesday is a national day focused on charity and community giving. It takes place every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and has become one of the biggest fundraising days for nonprofits in the United States.
The idea started in 2012 as a hashtag, #GivingTuesday, created by the 92nd Street Y in New York as a reminder to give back after a long weekend of shopping. It grew quickly, and in 2020 became its own nonprofit. Today, groups across the country use the day to raise money, recruit volunteers, and encourage acts of kindness.
Anyone can participate in GivingTuesday. People can donate money, volunteer, support a local organization, or even give directly to neighbors through community groups.
For charities, GivingTuesday often kicks off the end-of-year fundraising season. Last year, people donated an estimated $3.6 billion, according to GivingTuesday Data Commons.
Nonprofits don’t have to be affiliated in any way with GivingTuesday, the organization, to run a fundraising campaign. They can just do it, though GivingTuesday does provide graphics and advice. In that way, it remains a grassroots effort with groups and donors participating however they like.
This year, nonprofits are watching several trends that could affect donations. High prices may limit how much people can give, or how many causes they support. Plus, a new tax law passed in July and backed by President Donald Trump, will add a charitable tax deduction starting in 2026 for most Americans who don’t itemize. That change could encourage more households to donate over the next two years. For larger donors, a strong stock market usually indicates they will give generously.
Groups are also highlighting growing needs. Some human service nonprofits say they are seeing higher demand while dealing with reduced government funding, including last month’s freeze of SNAP food benefits. To stretch donations further, many organizations are offering matching gifts, sometimes multiplying contributions up to five times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
