EarRelevant Staff | 28 NOV 2023
Today is GivingTuesday. By now, you have been approached by your favorite music non-profits and other charitable organizations to generously donate on this special day of giving, so here is our little collaborative essay about it just in case you are wondering where GivingTuesday came from and what it is.
In a world often driven by consumerism, GivingTuesday is a global initiative fostering generosity and community impact. Originating in 2012, this movement, often identified online by the hashtag #GivingTuesday, takes place annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States. Contrary to the hustle and bustle of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday encourages people to shift their focus towards acts of kindness and charitable contributions.
The brainchild of Henry Timms, initiated at the 92nd Street Y in New York, GivingTuesday quickly gained momentum with the backing of co-founding organizations, including the United Nations Foundation, and support from BLK SHP (Black Sheep). The initiative aimed to counterbalance the consumer-centric holiday shopping season by promoting a day dedicated to philanthropy.
Initially, the idea of a giving-focused day was suggested in 2011 by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia at the non-profit Mary-Arrchie Theater Company in Chicago, who proposed the term “Cyber Giving Monday” in a piece for The Huffington Post. However, it was Timms’ vision that eventually materialized into the global movement known today as GivingTuesday.
GivingTuesday found its home at the 92nd Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact for the first eight years. In June 2019, the initiative evolved into an independent organization led by CEO Asha Curran, reflecting its global impact and growing significance.
Major philanthropic organizations, including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Emerson Collective, Fidelity Charitable, the Ford Foundation, the Ford Motor Company, PayPal, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, have thrown their weight behind GivingTuesday, recognizing its potential to drive positive change.
A Global Network for Generosity
GivingTuesday extends its influence across borders through 75 country movements, each tailoring its approach to suit local cultures and needs while maintaining a joint commitment to promoting generosity and shared humanity. In each country, entrepreneurial leaders collaborate with communities, non-profits, religious institutions, schools, and private sector partners to foster increased giving, connection, and innovation.
On a local and cause-specific level, GivingTuesday operates through a network of leaders, including community foundations, non-profits, giving groups, circles, and social activists. In the U.S. alone, over 240 GivingTuesday communities and coalitions strive to drive generosity among people connected by geography, cause, culture, or identity.
The GivingTuesday Data Commons, a groundbreaking initiative, collaborates with partners worldwide to understand the drivers and impacts of generosity. With over 100 contributing partners and 50 global data labs, it is the most extensive philanthropic data collaboration ever established, aiming to inspire more giving worldwide.
Empowering the Next Generation
GivingTuesday’s initiatives extend beyond traditional charitable giving. The #GivingTuesdaySpark program, originally called GivingTuesdayKids, focuses on amplifying the voices of young people aged 8 to 22. This program connects young leaders, recognizing their power to make a positive impact and fostering a culture of generosity on a global scale.
The Starling Collective, a learning lab and innovative fellowship, supports grassroots organizers who often go unrecognized and under-supported in the philanthropic landscape.
Evolution and Impact Over the Years
Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has evolved significantly. In 2019, the initiative officially spun off as a separate non-profit from its initial parent, the 92nd Street Y. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, an additional GivingTuesday was organized on May 5, 2020, under the name GivingTuesday Now. This special day saw participation from 145 countries, resulting in a remarkable $503 million in online donations in the U.S. alone.
According to the GivingTuesday Data Commons, an estimated 35 million adults engaged in various activities on GivingTuesday 2021 in the United States, reflecting a 6% rise from the previous year. The total amount of giving in the United States for the day reached $2.7 billion, marking a 9% increase compared to GivingTuesday 2020 and a substantial 37% surge since 2019. These figures indicate a continued trend of heightened generosity, building upon the unprecedented levels of giving observed in 2020.
The reception of GivingTuesday has generally been positive, with organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Skype, Cisco, UNICEF, the Case Foundation, Save the Children, and others joining as partners. Praised as an antithesis to consumer culture, GivingTuesday allows people to give back to their communities and beyond.
However, not all voices have been unequivocally supportive. Timothy Ogden, managing director of the Financial Access Initiative at New York University, expressed skepticism in articles for the Stanford Social Innovation Review in 2012 and 2013. Despite this, GivingTuesday’s global success and reach have been attributed, in part, to the active involvement of technology companies and founders.
Over the past decade, GivingTuesday has become a beacon of generosity, transcending borders and cultures and providing a platform for positive change on a global scale. As it continues to evolve, it remains a testament to the power of collective action in making a meaningful impact on communities worldwide. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- GivingTuesday: givingtuesday.org/
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
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