The holiday season invites us to reflect, express gratitude, and transform it into meaningful action. Giving Tuesday, observed this year on December 3, is more than a single day of generosity — it’s a global movement encouraging us to make a lasting impact through intentional giving. Established in 2012 by New York City’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday was conceived as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, aiming to inspire people worldwide to support charitable causes.
Whether it’s supporting groundbreaking nonprofits with a financial contribution or volunteering by donating your time, talents, or resources, this movement reminds us that real change begins when we step up for others. And if you needed any extra motivation, research has shown time and again that acts of generosity, like volunteering and donating, are linked to greater happiness and well-being.
To guide your generosity this year, we’ve compiled a list of outstanding organizations that are not only making a difference but have also been recognized in our 2024 Guide to Giving for their year-round commitment to driving positive, measurable outcomes. These nonprofits are turning contributions into transformative results — and they deserve your support, this season and always.
Learn more about how your nonprofit or one you champion can partner with the Make It Better Foundation.
Nurse-Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership positively transforms the lives of vulnerable babies, mothers and families. Giving Tuesday, a day that’s become a beacon of hope and generosity, is a chance for you to join Nurse- Family Partnership in our mission to nurture better worlds, starting with great families. Give a gift that keeps on giving, and let’s create great futures together.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$25 – enough to provide a crucial service like a prenatal wellness screening from an NFP Nurse Home Visitor.
$50 – allows an NFP nurse to complete 2 postpartum depressionscreenings.
$500 – funds travel to Washington D.C. for one Parent Ambassador to speak with legislators and advocate on behalf of other families served by NFP.
Visit the Nurse-Family Partnership donation page to pledge your gift.
The People’s Music School
The People’s Music School — a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner — is the largest completely tuition-free music school serving Chicago metropolitan area children, focusing on removing barriers to access for students who otherwise would not have the opportunity of intensive music instruction. The People’s Music School enrolls 800+ students from 55 different zip codes at its 4 program sites, and boasts a 90% student retention rate and 94% high school graduation and college acceptance rates.
This Giving Tuesday, you have the opportunity to double your impact. Each donation made to The People’s Music School will be matched up to $15,000 thanks to the generous support of the Quest Foundation. Your gift will go twice as far providing access to the benefits of a high-quality music education.
Donate to The People’s Music School this Giving Tuesday and ensure that every child has the chance to discover their potential through 100% tuition-free intensive music education.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$2500– funds one semester of intensive ensemble instruction
$1000 – funds one student double bass
$500 – funds one performance or master class from a visiting artist
$250 – funds one week of ensemble instruction
$100 – funds two private lessons
$50 – funds one month of oboe reeds for a student
Visit The People’s Music School donation page to pledge your gift.
After School Matters
After School Matters’ mission is to provide Chicago high school teens with quality after-school and summer opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. ASM achieves this mission by offering high-quality, out-of-school time programming in the Arts, Communications & Leadership, Sports, and STEM. By providing teens access to professional instructor-mentors serving as positive adult influences, state-of-the-art educational resources, stipends for participation, and safe places to pursue their passions, ASM programming enables Chicago teens to discover their future and meet their full potential.
ASM provides over 26,000 opportunities to teens each year, offering over 1,500 programs across Chicago. Teens represent the future of Chicago – the next generation of artists, doctors, teachers, coders, and leaders. It’s essential to nurture and elevate their voices, as they will play a pivotal role in creating a brighter future for everyone. Give now to support their future!
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 – furnishes tools for a painting program.
$250 – provides one stipend for a diverse learner in a school-year program.
$350 – covers bus transportation for one program field trip.
$500 – provides one stipend for our spring break college visit program.
$1,000 – supports a teen stipend for a summer arts program.
$2,500 – provides one stipend and program costs for a summer culinary program.
Visit the After School Matters donation page to pledge your gift.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Your donation this holiday season enables the Art Institute of Chicago to provide educational resources to tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners in our community.
$100 – provides support for artmaking materials for a free teen studio workshop, such as Experimental Weaving or Painting Personal Landscapes
$500 – supports a free community artmaking activity, available at public celebrations like Switch on Summer
$1000 – supports two school buses to bring CPS students to the museum for a student-centered, interactive guided tour.
Visit the Art Institute of Chicago donation page to pledge your gift.
Trees That Feed Foundation
Trees That Feed Foundation is dedicated to planting fruit trees in developing countries to nourish communities, generate employment, and improve the environment – they are also a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner. We are working to end hunger in Haiti, Uganda, and 20+ nations across the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa. We envision self-sustaining communities with abundant food, flourishing marketplaces, better job prospects, and a reforested environment. Your gift delivers triple the benefits, tackling hunger, poverty, and climate change.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 – Five robust breadfruit trees, each of which can feed a family for generations
$500 – A fruit shredder, equipment necessary for an entrepreneur to set up a breadfruit flour factory
$1,000 – Breadfruit-based meals for 250 children for an entire school year
Visit the Trees That Feed Foundation donation page to pledge your gift.
Big Shoulders Fund
Big Shoulders Fund’s mission is to provide students with access to a quality, values-based education that helps them reach their fullest potential. For nearly four decades, Big Shoulders Fund has provided access to quality educational opportunities and delivered cutting-edge programming for thousands of students from the most under-resourced and underserved communities across the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. We envision a world in which all students have access to the education, environments, and experiences that prepare them for lifelong success. Your gift enables us to support nearly 25,000 students, their teachers, families and communities across 92 schools in our Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana network.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Teachers typically spend their own money on school supplies and often more than $500 for basic items. Science teachers or physical education teachers may spend over $2,000 on supplies in a school year.
$100: Provides extra supplies for Extended Day program for seasonal arts, crafts and activities, art supplies, games, puzzles, and sports equipment.
$500: Restocks a classroom library with new, high-interest books to engage readers of all levels and interests.
$1,000: Can equip a science classroom with a set of microscopes or cover the cost of a classroom science curriculum for one year.
Visit the Big Shoulders Fund donation page to pledge your gift.
Radical Generosity Chicago
Radical Generosity Chicago (RGC) mobilizes communities to support Chicagoland individuals and families facing food and housing insecurity. With 68,000 people unsheltered in our city, RGC’s grassroots efforts, powered entirely by volunteers, help those in need bridge their food and housing gaps with energy, compassion and humanity. Volunteers, both adults and children, move beyond witnessing hardship into action, sharing their warmth and resources with Chicago’s unhoused neighbors. Through RGC’s various initiatives, volunteers learn firsthand, not just about homelessness, but empathy—building a future where kindness and community thrive, and move us one step closer to ensuring no one is left to face hunger and the elements alone. Join RGC in creating change that has an enormous impact every single day.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Each of the following options not only provides essential support but also allows donors to see the immediate impact of their contributions!
$100: Provides essential toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) to 10 housing-insecure/unhoused individuals for one month. Providing toiletries to homeless individuals offers several benefits that can positively impact their health, dignity, and overall quality of life.
$250: Provides a “Ready for Chicago Winter” bundle (sleeping bag, coat, hat, mittens + scarf) for an unhoused person. This provides critical warmth and comfort during the bone-chilling winter months.
$500: Provides winter coats for 12 unhoused children. Providing coats to unhoused children offers several essential benefits, particularly in helping them stay warm, healthy, and safe during colder months.
$1,000: Provides 100 dinners for an unhoused individual or one dinner for 100. This includes nutritious hot meals that provide critical nourishment.
Visit the Radical Generosity Chicago donation page to pledge your gift.
New Moms
No one should parent alone. For more than 40 years, New Moms has partnered with young moms, 24 and younger, to help them build the confidence needed to achieve long-lasting success. Through housing, paid job training, and family support, our holistic approach provides support for young moms affected by systemic barriers.
Giving Tuesday Match:
This year, we have a special Giving Tuesday match from our Associate Board where any sized gift will be matched with $5,000. Give to New Moms — a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner — and help young families achieve multigenerational success!
Giving Tuesday Event:
Our Associate Board will be hosting a Giving Tuesday Event Tuesday, December 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Ranalli’s in West Loop, located at 1326 W Madison St, Chicago, IL. Stop by and have fun for a good cause — find more information on the event site.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$125 – provides a one month supply of diapers for a family.
$360 – provides 1 week of Job Training program wages per mom.
$450 – funds a baby shower for participants in our prenatal support group.
$1500 – provides 1 month of Housing for a family with supportive coaching.
Visit the New Moms donation page to pledge your gift.
Allies for Community Business (A4CB)
Supporting small businesses. Strengthening communities. A4CB believes that entrepreneurs from any background can start and grow businesses that create generational wealth for their families and communities. A4CB’s mission is to provide the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses that create jobs and wealth in their communities. Each year more than 90% of A4CB clients are entrepreneurs of color, women, or individuals with low-to-moderate incomes.
This Giving Tuesday, please support our three decades of work serving neighborhood entrepreneurs. Since 1994, A4CB has supported more than 100,000 Chicagoland area entrepreneurs that have generated and sustained an estimated 30,000 jobs in primarily diverse and low-to-moderate income communities in our region.
Together, we can support neighborhood entrepreneurs who work hard every day to strengthen their communities. When you invest in A4CB today your impact is doubled thanks to a matching grant from an anonymous donor.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Based on A4CB’s 30 years of economic and community development experience we know that business ownership is one of the most powerful pathways to increase opportunity for the clients we serve who face deep economic inequality.
When you support A4CB, you support entrepreneurs who: Create and maintain jobs in communities in need of opportunity; Provide needed services and products in their communities, and; Reinvest their earnings back into the local economy.
By partnering with local entrepreneurs, A4CB offers one of the most efficient ways to create jobs and wealth in underinvested communities; for every $1,300 A4CB raises, a community business we serve creates or maintains one job. Your gift of any amount helps us to continue serving small business owners who face barriers to entrepreneurship.
Visit the Allies for Community Business (A4CB) donation page to pledge your gift.
Lurie Children’s
This Giving Tuesday, give a gift that helps a child at Lurie Children’s. As Chicago’s top pediatric hospital, Lurie Children’s is dedicated to providing superior care and advancing medical breakthroughs for every child. Our Feel Good Gifts guide makes it easy to learn about our greatest needs and choose an area to support. You can choose a gift that resonates with you, whether it’s art supplies for creative therapy, comfort items for extended stays, or specialized medical equipment. It’s easy: select a gift, add a personal note, and know that your support goes where it’s needed most. Join us this GivingTuesday by visiting us online. Your generosity will make a lasting difference in a child’s life and support our ongoing commitment to pediatric healthcare excellence.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 – can provide toys, games and distraction/pain management tools that help Child Life Specialists bond with patients, explain procedures and relieve pain and stress.
$500 – can provide a mental health care visit for a teenager experiencing difficulties at a time when pediatric behavioral health providers are in short supply.
$1,000 – can provide staff support for a pediatric oncology clinical trial to help discover new or more effective treatment options.
Visit the Lurie Children’s donation page to pledge your gift.
Keshet
At Keshet, kids and adults with disabilities find more than just activities—they find a place where they truly belong. With open hearts, Keshet’s dedicated staff lead with compassion and a commitment to valuing each person for who they are. Keshet — a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner — opens doors to a world of opportunities filled with successes, authentic friendships and encouragement to try new things. By offering individualized support, Keshet empowers every participant to pursue a meaningful life filled with growth, independence and connection. When give to Keshet, you become the key to unlocking new possibilities for a more inclusive future. Giving Tuesday gifts will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the generosity of Amy and Bob Greenebaum.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Your Giving Tuesday gift is matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000.
$100: Provides the opportunity for someone to experience being part of a team by covering the cost of a season of buddy baseball for one player.
$500: Sponsors 14 hours of individualized job coaching for an adult gaining financial independence for the first time.
$1000: Gives 7 days of camp, fun and friendship to a child who otherwise could not afford to attend.
Visit the Keshet donation page to pledge your gift.
CYN Counseling Center
This Giving Tuesday, CYN Counseling Center invites the community to double their impact on mental health support in Northern Lake County through a $10,000 matching grant from the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County (HFNLC). All new and increased donations made between November 26 and December 24, 2024, will be matched dollar-for- dollar, increasing the reach of each contribution and enabling CYN to bring its services to even more children, teens, and families in need. For more than 40 years, CYN Counseling Center has provided Lake County with essential mental health services for individuals and families. Through its Community-Based Therapy, CYN offers individual, family, and group counseling for children, teens, and adults, addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges. Services are accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of financial situation. No one is turned away due to an inability to pay; for those who are not insured or are unable to afford services, care is provided either free or on a sliding fee scale, thanks to
the generosity of community supporters and grants from organizations like HFNLC.
This commitment ensures that individuals and families in need can access high-quality mental health care when they need it most. In addition to community-based therapy, CYN’s School-Based Counseling and Restorative Practices bring trauma-informed therapy, social-emotional learning, and restorative methods into more than 20 local schools. These school-based services help students build emotional resilience, positive relationships, and conflict resolution skills directly within their learning
environment. For justice-involved youth, CYN offers a Therapeutic Mentoring program, pairing young people affected by violence or substance misuse with trained mentors. This program encourages personal growth, life skills, and mental well-being through regular one-on-one and group activities.
CYN also supports families in need through its Nurturing Parenting Program, providing group and individual sessions that foster healthy, nurturing relationships. Available in English and Spanish across five counties, this program focuses on parenting education for at-risk families. “CYN Counseling Center’s programs address a wide range of mental health needs, and HFNLC’s matching grant is an opportunity to reach even more families in our community,” said Gail Weil, Executive Director of CYN Counseling Center. “We’re grateful for the community’s support and encourage everyone to take advantage of this chance to double the impact of their giving.”
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
To participate in the matching gift campaign, donors can contribute online at CYN Counseling Center’s website, or by mailing in donation to: 18640 West Route IL 120, Grayslake, IL 60030
Visit the CYN Counseling Center donation page to pledge your gift.
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
With the holidays around the corner, consider giving the gift of a Garfield Park Conservatory — a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner — membership for the budding botanist in your life! Whether they are a frequent visitor who loves the Conservatory or an individual who has yet to discover the wonders of our 12-acre nature campus offers, a gift of membership is a great way to strengthen an individual’s relationship with plants while simultaneously supporting equitable nature access and education here on the West Side. A new admission fee means a membership is even more meaningful for anyone that does not live in Chicago.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100: can be split between either an Individual or Dual-Level Membership (benefits for 2 individuals), and annual fund donation. Membership perks include discounts on classes, in the Gift Shop, and at partnering orgs like Chicago Plants, Inspiration Kitchens and Momentum Coffee, in addition to exclusive access to special events, plant sales and more at the Conservatory.
$500: can get you a Fern Circle membership, with all individual-level membership perks plus recognition on our donor wall, first access to our annual honey harvested at the Conservatory, and a private tour.
$1,000: can get you a Jensen Society level membership, our highest membership level. All gifts to our annual fund and membership program, no matter the amount, support nature education, access and free nature-based programming here at the Garfield Park Conservatory and Gardens.
Visit the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance donation page to pledge your gift.
Goodman Theatre
By dedicating itself to three guiding principles—quality, diversity and community—Goodman Theatre seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in our city. This #GivingTuesday, the Goodman’s Scenemakers Associates Board is raising money to support the Goodman’s world-class productions and Education & Engagement programs. The Scenemakers have shared that “each of us has been changed by the power of theater, made to feel at home, and given the opportunity for our voices to be heard.” As an arts and community organization, these experiences are what the Goodman strives to give to Chicagoans.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1,000 – provides support for young people in our PlayBuild and Musical Theatre summer intensives, where participants learn to build an ensemble, develop a story and bring it to the stage.
$500 – supports two playwrights through the New Stages Labs or new Stages Residencies as they develop a new play and present it to an audience.
$100 – sponsors one artist in GeNarrations, a workshop sparking dynamic storytelling in adults aged 55+.
Visit the Goodman Theatre donation page to pledge your gift.
GO Campaign
We believe every child deserves the right to opportunity. Opportunity to education, to medical care, to shelter, to food and clean water, to enrichment… to a fair chance in life. Founded in 2006, GO Campaign improves the lives of vulnerable children around the world by partnering with Local Heroes to deliver local solutions. Since 2006, GO Campaign has partnered with 201 Local Heroes to change the lives of over 418,000 children across 40 countries – from East LA to East Africa. This Giving Tuesday, we’re launching the 1,000 Child Challenge. Your donation, DOUBLED thanks to a generous matching gift will directly impact the lives of children in need around the world. Imagine the possibilities! Last year, we impacted 3,957 lives. This year, let’s reach even higher. Join the 1,000 Child Challenge today.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$32 – provides essential support and opportunity for a child.
$100 – becomes $200 to help 6 children in need.
$1,000 – turns into $2,000 to support 63 children.
Be one of the first 5 donors to give $25+ and receive a special GO t-shirt! The first 3 donors to give $5,000+ will receive a personalized video message from one of GO Campaign’s Celebrity Ambassadors!
Visit the GO Campaign donation page to pledge your gift.
American Red Cross
In times of crisis, communities across the country depend on the Red Cross for critical support, and this year, CBS 2 and the Make It Better Foundation are stepping up to help. The 13th Annual Day of Giving, scheduled for December 3, 2024, will be an all-day telethon airing on CBS 2 Chicago. This special broadcast provides a powerful way for the community to unite in support of the Red Cross mission of helping those in need.
The telethon will run from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., offering multiple ways to donate. Viewers can call 855-350-2900, visit us online, or simply text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. As an added incentive, the Make It Better Foundation will be matching donations up to $10,000 until 7:00 p.m. CT, maximizing the impact of every dollar raised during this day of giving.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$50 – provides a full day of food and shelter for 1 person This service includes providing breakfast, lunch and dinner, the costs to mobilize and distribute a cot, two blankets and a comfort kit as well as the costs to support the Red Cross workers providing this service.
$150 – provides a crib for an infant in a shelter The Red Cross shelter manager takes the necessary steps to make all residents comfortable in a shelter; this includes families with infants and children.
$250 – provides installation of 1 smoke alarm for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These alarms work in conjunction with audible alarms to alert individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the dangers of a home fire using multiple sensory stimuli, such as flashing lights, low frequency audio alerts and shaking or vibrations.
Visit the American Red Cross donation page to pledge your gift.
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