The Best Places to Donate Your Time and Money on Giving Tuesday
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In the midst of all the holiday chaos, Giving Tuesday is a day centered around philanthropy. Last year alone, people in the United States donated a whopping $3.1 billion to charity on Giving Tuesday (a 15 percent increase from 2021), with over 35 million participants. But while the generous ethos of Giving Tuesday is clearly understood, it can still feel overwhelming to pick the right place to donate your time and money, especially when there are so many great nonprofits to choose from. To make the decision easier, we rounded up some of the best organizations to give to on Giving Tuesday 2023 and beyond.
When picking a place to donate to, look for organizations that align with your personal values. This could mean funding resources for LGBTQ+ youth via an organization like The Trevor Project, or maybe supporting therapy for Black women and girls through The Loveland Foundation. Don't forget to check out local charities that understand the specific needs of your community and are invested in creating long-term solutions.
If you're trying to find the right charity on Giving Tuesday, GiveWell — a nonprofit that helps people decide where to donate — has some important recommendations. For starters, always do your research and seek out charities with evidence proving that they actually help those in need (feel free to use Givewell's thorough reviews as a resource). Givewell also recommends looking into the charity's cost effectiveness and level of transparency, which includes public discussion of past work.
Monetary donations are the most common, as reported by Vox, but there are plenty of ways to participate in Giving Tuesday for free (and many people do both). Find volunteer work that can be done entirely remotely based on your passions with VolunteerMatch. Otherwise, you might consider donating blood through the Red Cross, helping animals at a shelter, or signing up for an environmental cleanup. Sites like Feeding America can also find local food banks where you can donate items or volunteer your time. Giving back can even be as simple as supporting small businesses or shopping from brands like Hanes, which is donating socks to homeless shelters with every purchase made from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.
The numbers indicate that most nonprofit organizations rely on consistent monthly donations to stay afloat, which means Giving Tuesday shouldn't be the only day of the year we dedicate to giving back. It is, however, a welcome reminder that altruism matters, and community support — big or small — can make a real difference. Read on to find some of the best places to donate to on Giving Tuesday, and keep the generosity going all the way into the new year.
Give as We Grow
Created by Giving Tuesday, Give as We Grow is a platform dedicated to educating kids about philanthropy. Families can teach their children about generosity through book lists, podcasts, and an app with mini games, not to mention an extensive resource library and tools for finding volunteer work.
The Loveland Foundation
Born out of Rachel Cargle's birthday fundraiser, The Loveland Foundation raises therapy resources for Black women and girls. The organization seeks to provide national therapy support, empowerment, and healing for communities of color via fellowships, residency programs, and more.
Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons targets clothing insecurity in children. The organization collects new or nearly new children's items for kids living in homeless or low-income environments.
CAMFED
Support girls' right to education through CAMFED. This organization provides girls with the material and financial support they need in order to attend school (think school supplies, menstrual products, clothing, etc.). Young women also receive support after they graduate and are encouraged to pursue work and leadership positions.
The Brigid Alliance
The Brigid Alliance is working to make abortion more accessible. The service books, coordinates, and pays for travel and childcare so that more people can get the reproductive care they need. They also provide a stipend for meals and trauma-informed support.
True Colors United
Cofounded by Cyndi Lauper, True Colors is raising money to combat youth homelessness in the LGBTQ+ community. According to the True Colors site, LGBTQ+ youth are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness than their peers, making this support crucial.
ACLU
The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is a nonporfit legal organization that works in the courts to advocate for things like abortion, trans justice, voting rights, and free speech. It is dedicated to defending constitutional rights via lobbying and litigation.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is a legal nonprofit focused on racial justice. This includes defending voting rights, fighting against discrimination and police brutality, and advocating for better access to education.
World Central Kitchen
In addition to providing fresh meals in the midst of humanitarian crises, World Central Kitchen also installs water purification systems in places like Ukraine to make well water safe for drinking and cooking.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is a nonprofit suicide prevention and crisis intervention resource for LGBTQ+ youth. Here, young people can find resources and support 24/7 by calling or texting a trained counselor.
Easterseals
Easterseals provides essential services like transportation, employment and job training, and therapy (among many others) for people with disabilities. It works to improve quality of life and expand access for anyone living with a disability.
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks funds autism research and advocates for people with autism via rights-based legislative support. The organization is also passionate about adult quality of life needs, including employment and housing.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization working to support mental health. It fights stigma, provides resources, hosts support groups, and pushes for public policy that prioritizes mental health.