The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back, finding generosity within yourself and inspiring others to participate around you.
It is a day described as "a movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world."
The occasion comes after the two biggest shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, the approximate amount of money collected for GivingTuesday in the United States was up from 2022, but participation was down.
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GivingTuesday Data Commons estimates $3.1 billion was collected for GivingTuesday this year, a 0.6% increase from 2022. The group added that 34 million Americans took part in GivingTuesday in some way, a 10% decrease from 2022.
"We are so inspired to see a show of generosity of this magnitude every year. Our goal with GivingTuesday, not just on the day itself but year-round, is to create an ecosystem of giving that helps communities, causes and organizations across the globe," said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday’s CEO, according to the organization's website.
"However, we are concerned to see a decline in participation in line with giving trends from the past year. GivingTuesday’s mission is to inspire generosity among as many people as possible, not just raise as many dollars as possible. Generosity has such important correlations with civic participation, community cohesion and well-being."
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Since the movement began in 2012, GivingTuesday has been about more than just a dollar amount. It's about getting as many people as possible committed to donating whatever they can.
"Every year, the creativity, commitment, time and spirit put towards GivingTuesday by our leaders, community members and many millions of generous people across every country is a reminder of what’s possible when we work together for the greater good," Curran added, per the website.
While making charitable donations is a large part of GivingTuesday, there are other ways to give back on the day, and throughout the entire year, that doesn't cost a dime.
Giving blood is a popular way to give back at any point throughout the year, as well as volunteering your time. There are plenty of opportunities for volunteering, especially around the holidays, like through food pantries and toy drives.
You can also spend just a couple dollars to "pay it forward" year round. You can do this by paying for the person's coffee behind you at the drive-through, or leaving a gift card at a gas pump.
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Don't overlook the power of donations, especially during Christmastime and colder months. If you have any spare jackets or other winter clothing lying around, donate what you can.
Allow GivingTuesday to spark a season of extra generosity going into the holidays and through the new year.
