Giving Tuesday and Community Impact

As we approach the end of the year, everyone should think about non-profit organizations that need our financial or volunteer support. #GivingTuesday, which began in 2012, rounds out November with a kickoff to year-end philanthropy. Donations can national organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army or to community-based organizations that help feed the homeless, support animal welfare, education or protect the environment. According to the Philanthropy News Digest, $274 million was raised for non-profits on #GivingTuesday in 2017.

Giving back to your community can also mean volunteering your time with a charity. Many charities provide opportunities for the public to get involved whether it’s a few hours or an entire day. It could be anything from cleaning up trash from a local stream or riverbank to serving meals at homeless shelters. In addition to the ‘feel good’ you get from volunteering, you may also meet new friends who might want to volunteer again with you.

You can research how your donation contributes to the mission of a specific charity by checking rankings on GuideStar or Charity Navigator. You can even learn about health-related charities that employ alternatives to animal research on Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Corporations, small businesses, universities, schools, organizations and individuals can visit the web site, GivingTuesday, to learn about how to run a successful giving campaign and use the power of social media to direct potential donors to specific causes, not just today but 365 days a year.

Although today, November 27, 2018, is #GivingTuesday, now is a great time for your company or organization to plan how to give back throughout the year in 2019 and really make a difference. What’s your community impact strategy? Contact Crossbow Strategies today to learn how we can help your organization.