Today is Giving Tuesday – an international day dedicated to giving back. Started in 2012, Giving Tuesday is both a movement to support nonprofits and a nonprofit organization itself.
Why Does Giving Tuesday Come Last?
It’s hard not to feel like Giving Tuesday is an afterthought after four continuous days of sales and online shopping.
The fact that the day dedicated to giving comes after a blitz of spending is indicative of larger problems with philanthropy and charity in America. As Dan Pallotta describes in Uncharitable, nonprofits are at a distinct disadvantage to ‘regular’ businesses. The entities that do the most good are also the most constrained. Nonprofits are legally and culturally bound in how they compensate their employees, take risks, plan for the long term, advertise, and raise capital. Read more about restraints on nonprofits.
Practically speaking, many Americans simply don’t have the money to give this year. Many are struggling with unemployment or financial strain during the worst economic crisis in decades.
And those who aren’t struggling are spending. Consumer spending increased significantly in 2020, up by over 40 percent in the third quarter, as people spend more on physical goods while they can’t spend on things like experiences, such as vacations or concerts, and services, like hair salons. That shift is reflected in Black Friday spending, which increased by 22 percent this year to a total of $9 trillion. That doesn’t include money spent on Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
Simply put, Americans have already spent a lot of money over the past five days. Now, many woke up to an inbox of extended Cyber Monday sales– and pleas from nonprofits for financial support.
In a year when inequity and need are increasingly evident, nonprofits and those that they aim to help deserve better than an afterthought.
Giving Tuesday is more important than ever. But maybe next year it should be Giving Wednesday– the day before Thanksgiving (and Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday).
How to Participate in Giving Tuesday
You’ll find no shortage of ways to support nonprofits today. If you didn’t receive a flood of emails in your inbox before you woke up this morning, hop onto the website of your favorite nonprofit and you’ll be able to give. Just like your favorite clothing company offered “40% off EVERYTHING!!” since Thursday, many nonprofits are offering matching gifts, special funds to give to, or a holiday gift at specific giving amounts.
Here are a few nonprofits I’m giving to today:
International Justice Mission aims to end violence against the poor through justice system reform. Today they are offering special holiday gifts and are matching donations. Learn more about IJM’s work. If you know me, you know about my experience interning at IJM during the summer of 2019– read more about that in yesterday’s article.
Gideon’s Army is a community organization in North Nashville working to dismantle the school-to-prison-pipeline. Since the March tornadoes in Nashville, they have also been working to rebuild North Nashville. I volunteered with Gideon’s Army in March and I’m excited to continue supporting them. Learn more about their approach to ending violence.
Kiva is a microfinance nonprofit that allows anyone to make small loans (ie, “microloans”) to entrepreneurs throughout the world. When the loans are paid back, you can then loan the money to another entrepreneur. I’ve learned and written a lot about the power of microfinance this year, so I’m excited to put my money where my mouth is by financing loans through Kiva today. Today, Visa is matching donations to Kiva. While 100% of loans go directly to entrepreneurs, Kiva itself is a nonprofit supported by donations.
There are 1.5 million registered nonprofits in the US– and no shortage of giving opportunities.
How to Participate in Giving Tuesday Without Spending a Dime
For many, giving isn’t an option this year. As a recent college graduate, I know that money is tight. There are ways to support nonprofits without spending a dime.
Learn about effective giving. Effective Altruism is a movement to use reasoning and evidence to guide how we do good. Read about Erika’s experience with effective altruism, and consider how your giving, either now or in the future, can do the most good. Read more about personal effective giving here. As a bonus, check out 80,000 hours and consider how you might use your career for impact.
Learn about a new humanitarian issue. Not to brag here, but you’re in the right place to learn about humanitarian issues. We all know that mass incarceration, hunger, and poverty are humanitarian issues– but what are effective solutions to these problems? What humanitarian issues are you not aware of? Spend some extra time on the Novel Hand site today and learn about a new topic. Search our categories here.
Plan to give. Although you might not be able to give now, make a plan to give when you are financially capable of doing so. Do research on the most pressing humanitarian issues and the most effective solutions to those issues (see my previous point). Make a list of organizations that you plan to support in the future, and see how you can get involved right now. Effective Altruism has several giving pledges that you might consider. You might even just learn about what a nonprofit is– I recommend Emma’s article about nonprofits and social enterprise, and Yuna’s article about non-governmental organizations.
Get involved beyond giving. Every single one of us can make a difference beyond financial giving. Make a plan to volunteer or to be a more conscious consumer. Sign up for a social impact organization’s mailing list to stay in-the-know about humanitarian issues– I would recommend Ashoka or the Aspen Institute.
Novel Hand’s goal is to bridge the gap between the passion to do good and the means to effectively do so. This Giving Tuesday, join us in doing that by considering a financial gift or by using your time to learn with us.
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