BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
Hopefully, you survived Black Friday without incident. Saturday was an opportunity to support locally owned businesses on Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday was a day to find deals online. And today is GivingTuesday, the day to donate to your favorite nonprofit organization.
GivingTuesday, also known as the “Global Day of Giving”, is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has become one of the biggest fundraising days of the year for nonprofits. In the U.S. in 2022 and 2023, GivingTuesday raised $3.1 billion for charitable organizations.
GivingTuesday has been an initiative that encourages people to give back to their communities through acts of generosity, whether it’s donating money, time, or resources to charity. The idea behind GivingTuesday is to offset the personal spending of those retail shopping days with an emphasis on charitable giving.
By participating, you help make a significant impact on the causes that matter most to you locally or worldwide.
Locally, in Rush, Pawnee, Stafford, and Barton counties, GivingTuesday is managed by the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF). Its Vision is “Engaging doers and dreamers to build spectacular thriving communities,” and its Mission statement says, “We bring extraordinary people together to plan for a vibrant future with our family, friends, and neighbors creating remarkable legacies.”
“This is a great opportunity to partner with organizations and to help them throughout the year,” GBCF Executive Director Jason Murray said. “This is a great time to open your heart to help those thrive that need help.”
According to its website, Golden Belt Community Foundation and area nonprofit partners bring hundreds of donors from every community together for a single day of fundraising. Each year, this day raises more than $200,000 for local charitable organizations.
Here is how the giving process works:
• A proportional match will be utilized for those organizations who have an endowment here at Golden Belt Community Foundation.
• Additional incentives are available throughout the giving campaign.
• Funds can be used by participating nonprofits to meet immediate needs or invested in their endowed fund for long term sustainability.
“Last year we raised right at $300,000,” Murray said. “Of course, every year we hope to see an increase in giving but, everything that is given is a blessing.”
Murray said this is a tough year to gauge potential donations.
“It’s difficult to judge what the results of this year’s giving will be,” he said. “We have to take the economy into consideration. And being a presidential election year, there are circumstances to consider.”
Donating to GivingTuesday is easy and can be done in several ways. Here’s how you can participate:
Donate to a Charity or Cause
• Find a Cause - Visit the official Golden Belt Community Foundation website, which features a list of participating organizations and causes. You can search for specific causes or charities that resonate with you.
• Direct Donations - You can donate directly to a nonprofit or charity of your choice. Many organizations will have special campaigns or fundraising efforts on Giving Tuesday.
Volunteer Your Time
• Offer Your Skills or Time - Many organizations welcome volunteers, especially on Giving Tuesday. Reach out to local nonprofits, shelters, food banks, or community organizations to offer your time or services.
• Virtual Volunteering - If you cannot volunteer in person, many organizations also offer virtual volunteer opportunities, such as mentoring, tutoring, or helping with administrative tasks online.
Fundraise for a Cause
• Host a Fundraising Campaign - You can create a personal fundraising page through platforms like GoFundMe, Facebook, or JustGiving to raise money for a specific cause or charity.
• Encourage Friends and Family to Give - Use your social media to spread the word and inspire others to donate. Many people create matching challenges, where they pledge to match donations made by others.
Support with Goods or Services
• In-Kind Donations - Some charities accept donations of goods like clothes, food, or hygiene products. Check with your local shelters, food banks, or community organizations.
• Pro Bono Services - If you’re a professional (e.g., lawyer, designer, counselor), you can offer your expertise to organizations in need.
Spread Awareness
• Share on Social Media - Use your platforms to raise awareness about GivingTuesday, encourage others to give, and highlight the causes that are important to you. Use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to amplify your message.
• Talk to your friends and family about the importance of charitable giving and encourage them to get involved in GivingTuesday.
Corporate Matching Gifts
• Many companies match their employees’ donations or volunteer hours. Check if your employer participates in corporate giving programs and consider taking advantage of these opportunities to double your impact.
You can always reach out to community organizations directly to ask how you can get involved in the spirit of GivingTuesday.
If you are planning to donate but don’t get it done on Tuesday, Murray said they are taking donations through the end of the week to be included in the GivingTuesday program. For additional information, you may call the GBCF at 620-792-3000.
