We give thanks on Thanksgiving, go to the mall on Black Friday, and browse the web on Cyber Monday. Now, we have a day dedicated to giving back. On #ILGive for Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29), nonprofit organizations, families, local businesses and students around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
Now in its fifth year, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by collaboration and the power of social media. Observed in the U.S. on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of organizations participating in spreading awareness and rallying communities. To date there are more than 40 civic campaigns across the U.S. harnessing the power of social media and goodwill driving charitable contributions to favorite causes and organizations.
As of 2015, the movement has gained 30,000 partners in more than 60 countries and it is estimated that online donations have jumped 470 percent since #GivingTuesday was born in 2012.
Based in Chicago, #ILGive (pronounced “I’ll Give”) is in its second year as the statewide campaign for #GivingTuesday. Launched in 2014 by Forefront (previously Donors Forum), the state association for foundations and charitable nonprofits, the campaign mobilized thousands of people to donate nearly $4 million to their favorite causes in one day in its first year.
(This is truly the giving season: No one makes a profit from this campaign. All donations are meant to go directly to the organizations donated to.)
This year, #ILGive is raising the bar — $9 million is the ambitious goal. More than 300 charitable nonprofits have joined the campaign and now is the time for donors to start thinking about ways to prepare for the big day.
How Can You Be a Part of #ILGive on Nov. 29?
- Share on your social media channels.
- If you don’t already have a cause you donate to, check out #ILGive’s list of participating #ILGive nonprofits to help you find a worthy cause to give to.
How Can Your Family Be a Part of #ILGive on Nov. 29?
- For a week or two, encourage everyone your family to skip the “extras.” Take the money you would have spent and collect it in a jar. Watch it grow and donate to your favorite cause!
- Be a social media ambassador. Help an organization you care about raise awareness by sharing the work they do on social media using the #ILGive hashtag.
- Have a conversation with your family about a cause that all of you can support. Donate to an organization that supports that cause.
- Hold a neighborhood yard or bake sale and donate the proceeds to a shared cause.
- Rather than purchasing gifts for the holiday season, go all out for your cause. Ask friends and family to donate to your organization on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
Why give? It feels good, it does good, and, ultimately, giving to worthy organizations makes our neighborhoods and families stronger. With campaigns like #ILGive for Giving Tuesday raising awareness, maybe giving back will be the indispensable gift this holiday season.
This article was originally posted Nov. 23, 2015. It was updated Nov. 23, 2016.
