The holiday season invites us to turn gratitude into meaningful social impact. Giving Tuesday, observed this year on Dec. 2, reflects the growing interest in philanthropy that fuels real outcomes — from venture philanthropy models to impact investing — all aimed at strengthening communities and supporting organizations doing essential work.
Established in 2012 by New York City’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday was a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Instead of funneling money into corporations, Giving Tuesday inspires people to support charitable causes.
Whether it’s supporting nonprofits with a financial contribution or volunteering your time, this movement reminds us that real change begins when we step up for others. Plus, research shows that acts of generosity, like volunteering and donating, are linked to greater happiness and well-being.
To help you focus your giving this year, we’re highlighting the Giving Tuesday efforts of standout nonprofits — many of them Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winners and grant content partners.
Learn more about how your nonprofit or one you champion can partner with the Make It Better Foundation.
Chicago Sky Foundation
This Giving Tuesday, the Chicago Sky Foundation, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, is encouraging supporters to join its mission to empower women, youth, and communities across Chicago. Drawing on the platform of the WNBA team, the foundation works to create pathways to success by helping individuals gain the confidence, skills, and access needed to drive lasting change. By elevating the voices of women and girls and investing in the next generation, it aims to build a more inclusive future.
Gifts made during this season of giving help the foundation continue developing programs that inspire leadership, support educational opportunities, and strengthen community connections. Together, these efforts help ensure that every opportunity counts — on and off the court.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 funds a Jr. Sky visit to a CPS school, inspiring students through basketball and mentorship.
$250 provides community busing to games, connecting families to experiences they’ll never forget.
$500 gives youth programs access to enjoy Chicago Sky games at Wintrust Arena.
$750 supports workshops for our Girls Mentorship Program.
$1,000 supports women in coaching programs, empowering the next generation of leaders on and off the court.
Donate to Chicago Sky Foundation
A Safe Haven Foundation
A Safe Haven Foundation, a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award Winner, operates on a simple but profound belief: everyone deserves the dignity of a home, access to healthcare, and a real chance to rebuild their life. The organization translates that mission into action by providing individuals and families facing homelessness with housing, wellness services, job training, and community support — all under one roof.
This Giving Tuesday, A Safe Haven is inviting supporters to help neighbors take the next step toward independence. A contribution can become the meal that nourishes, the bed that provides rest, or the job training that opens the door to long-term stability. Through its comprehensive, wraparound model, A Safe Haven empowers true transformation and ensures no one has to rebuild their life alone. All the Help. One Place. Real Change — Because of You.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 provides one day of safety, meals, and care for an individual rebuilding their life.
$500 supports a week of housing, healthy meals, and case management for a family in transition.
$1,000 funds job training, career coaching, and essential furnishings for families moving into permanent housing.
Donate to A Safe Haven Foundation
After School Matters
After School Matters’ mission is to provide Chicago high school teens with after-school and summer opportunities to explore their interests, develop their talents, and build critical skills for work, college, and beyond. The organization delivers on this mission through high-quality out-of-school programming in the Arts, Communications and Leadership, Sports, and STEM. With access to professional instructors, state-of-the-art resources, stipends for participation, and safe spaces to grow, teens are able to pursue their passions, gain confidence, and envision their futures. Each year, After School Matters offers more than 26,000 opportunities across more than 1,600 programs citywide.
Chicago’s teens represent the city’s future — the next generation of artists, doctors, teachers, coders, and leaders — and uplifting their voices today helps build a stronger, more vibrant tomorrow for everyone.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$50 provides guitar strings for a music program.
$100 furnishes tools for a jewelry-making program.
$250 provides one stipend for a diverse learner in a school-year program.
$500 provides round-trip transportation for a field trip for one ASM program.
$1,000 covers supplies for a teen art program.
Donate to After School Matters
Allies for Community Business (A4CB)
Supporting small businesses and strengthening communities are at the core of Allies for Community Business (A4CB). The organization, formerly known as Accion Chicago, is a Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner. A4CB operates on the belief that entrepreneurs from any background can start and grow businesses that build generational wealth for their families and neighborhoods. A4CB advances this mission by providing the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow strong businesses that create jobs and economic opportunity. Each year, more than 90 percent of A4CB’s clients are entrepreneurs of color, women, or individuals with low-to-moderate incomes.
This Giving Tuesday, A4CB is spotlighting its three decades of service to neighborhood entrepreneurs.
Since 1994, the organization has supported more than 100,000 Chicagoland entrepreneurs who have generated and sustained an estimated 30,000 jobs in diverse and low-to-moderate-income communities across the region.
A4CB continues to champion small business owners who work every day to strengthen their communities. And this year, every contribution has double the impact thanks to a matching grant from an anonymous donor.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Based on 30 years of economic and community development experience, A4CB has demonstrated that business ownership is one of the most powerful pathways to increased opportunity for people facing 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.
Donate to Allies for Community Business
American Red Cross
In times of crisis, communities across the country depend on the Red Cross for critical support, and this year, CBS 2 Chicago is stepping up to help. The 14th Annual Day of Giving, scheduled for December 2, 2025, 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’s 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 CBSChicago.com/redcross, or simply text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to donate.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1000 covers the cost of providing emergency preparedness training to 100 children.
$500 provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 25 people affected by disasters.
$250 can help keep 50 people warm with blankets after a disaster.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. The museum collects, cares for, and interprets works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers and recognizing that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. As a gathering place, the museum encourages conversation, exchange, and a more expansive understanding of human creativity.
For many visitors, the Art Institute has been a place to encounter new ideas and see the world through a different lens. During this season of giving, the museum invites those who value its role in Chicago’s cultural landscape to consider supporting its ongoing work.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$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.
Donate to Art Institute of Chicago
Big Shoulders Fund
Big Shoulders Fund, a Make It Better Foundation grant partner, is an independent charitable organization that supports schools with demonstrated need, providing students with a quality, values-based education that strengthens both families and the broader community. The organization is unique in that its administrative expenses are covered by an endowment and other income, allowing 100 percent of current fundraising to go directly toward four core areas: scholarships and enrichment, operational improvements, academic programs, and leadership development. Its work focuses not only on strengthening schools, but also on preparing students for long-term success.
Through targeted interventions and supports, Big Shoulders Fund helps students explore their interests, build critical skills, and access the resources they need to chart their own paths forward.
As this academic year unfolds, Big Shoulders Fund invites supporters to join its mission this Giving Tuesday.
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 essential classroom supplies, books for the classroom library, small whiteboards, and dry-erase markers.
$500 provides specialized kits for hands-on science experiments, a set of classroom printers, a set of headphones for learning activities.
$1,000 provides scholarship and tuition assistance, after-school programming including STEM, arts, and literacy, and instructional coaching for teachers.
C24/7: Father’s Arm’s Ministries
C24/7 is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of children and young adults in the North of Howard neighborhood by offering the tools, stability, and support they need to thrive academically, economically, socially, and spiritually.
The organization is now at a key moment in its growth. With the launch of its VISION2030 Capital Investment, C24/7 is beginning the next phase of its mission: building the C24/7 House of Hope, a 14,673-square-foot facility located just steps from its current headquarters. Designed as a hub for relational care and intensive services, the new space will allow C24/7 to deepen its work with families and meet the scale of need in the community.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Through three core pillars — the After School Program, Job Development, and Outreach — C24/7 creates opportunities for children, teens, and adults to access resources, build stability, and find spiritual and emotional support. Donor generosity has already helped expand these programs to reach more households. This year, the organization aims to grow its After School Program to serve 70 students in grades K–12, continuing its commitment to providing vital support for local families.
$1,000 provides a month of meals for the After School program youth.
$500 provides a monthly stipend for teen interns in the Job Development Program
$250 helps provide education technology for the After School program.
$100 provides grocery support for one family.
$25 provides school supplies for the After School program youth.
Donate to C24/7: Father’s Arm’s Ministries
Changent
Changent, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, champions the health and well-being of families and children by improving outcomes through its data-driven programs, Child First and Nurse-Family Partnership, both grounded in decades of research. In a moment of continued uncertainty, the organization remains focused on strengthening the resilience of its local partners and the young families they support.
This Giving Tuesday, Changent is encouraging donors to help ensure that families across the country have someone in their corner. Through Child First and Nurse-Family Partnership, trained home visitors connect families to comprehensive services, build trust and community, and provide the support needed to create lasting stability.
These efforts work together to break cycles of trauma and poverty and build healthier, more resilient futures.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$25 is enough to provide a crucial service like a prenatal wellness screening from an NFP Nurse Home Visitor.
$50 allows a Child First clinician to complete 2 parental depression screenings.
$500 funds travel to Washington, D.C., for one Parent Ambassador to speak with legislators and advocate on behalf of other families served by Child First and NFP.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s mission is to create vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of the world. Working in partnership with educators, families, and community organizations, Chicago Shakespeare is committed to providing access to high-quality, culturally responsive arts education and to fostering a love of lifelong learning through innovative programming.
This Giving Tuesday, the theater invites supporters to invest in its education programs. Gifts made on Dec. 2 will be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming production.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1,000 affords one classroom the experience of attending a student-matinee performance throughout the season.
$500 funds a Teaching Artist for our SLAM program.
$100 keeps our Team Shakespeare Digital Learning Hub thriving for Chicago’s teachers and students.
Donate to Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Community Youth Network
Community Youth Network Counseling Center works to make mental health care accessible for children, teens, and adults across Lake County. Therapists provide counseling in schools and at the Grayslake center, offering support in English and Spanish and reduced or free services for families who qualify. More than 90 percent of the people the organization serves receive care at no cost or at significantly reduced rates.
This Giving Tuesday, CYN is asking the community to help strengthen that access. Every new or increased gift made in December will be matched by the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, doubling the impact and helping more young people and families connect to the support they need.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1,000 is equivalent to 14 counseling sessions each year for an individual who would otherwise go without care.
$750 is equivalent to 9 weeks of summer therapy for a student who would otherwise lose access when school is out.
$500 is equivalent to 6 weeks of intervention for someone in crisis.
$250 is equivalent to three trauma counseling sessions for a domestic violence survivor.
$150 is equivalent to one full family therapy session.
$75 is equivalent to surge protectors for six homes in our Intact Families program.
$50 is equivalent to the materials for two parents in our Nurturing Families Program.
$25 is equivalent to supplies for a child’s art therapy session.
Donate to Community Youth Network
Conservation Nation
Conservation Nation, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, works to remove barriers in order to build a more inclusive, representative, and resilient community of conservationists and young wildlife champions. The organization supports field conservationists through grants and capacity-building, while also providing free online conservation lessons designed to inspire the next generation of planet stewards.
This Giving Tuesday, Conservation Nation aims to extend that impact even further. With community support, they hope to reach 500,000 students with its lessons in the coming year and award up to five additional grants to conservationists working around the world.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 provides science equipment such as binoculars, microscopes, or even a set of classroom books for nature literacy to one Conservation Nation Academy school.
$500 provides a teacher stipend to support professional development and to integrate Conservation Nation Academy lessons into the middle school curriculum.
$1,000 provides Field trips for two Conservation Nation Academy schools to get students into nature.
Cradles to Crayons Chicago
Cradles to Crayons provides children experiencing homelessness or living in low-income situations with the essentials they need to thrive — at home, at school, and at play. This season, through their Gear Up for Winter initiative, the organization aims to distribute at least 50,000 winter coats along with thousands of hats, gloves, boots, and warm outfits. Community support helps ensure these items reach children quickly, giving local kids what they need to stay warm throughout the winter.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$15 can provide a child with a high-quality, warm winter coat.
$100 provides 7 coats to local children experiencing poverty.
$500 provides 33 coats.
$1000 provides 67 coats.
Donate to Cradles to Crayons Chicago
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
With the holidays around the corner, the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, a Make It Better Foundation content partner, encourages supporters to consider gifting a Conservatory membership to the budding botanist in their life. Whether the recipient is a frequent visitor or someone discovering the Conservatory’s 12-acre campus for the first time, a membership deepens their relationship with plants while supporting equitable nature access and education on the West Side. With the Conservatory’s new admission fee, membership is even more meaningful for those who live outside Chicago.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 can be split between either an Individual or Dual-Level Membership and an annual fund donation. Membership perks include discounts on classes, in the Gift Shop, and at partner organizations like Chicago Plants, Inspiration Kitchens, and Momentum Coffee, along with exclusive access to special events, plant sales, and more.
$500 provides a Fern Circle membership, which includes all individual-level perks plus recognition on the donor wall, first access to annual honey harvested at the Conservatory, and a private tour.
$1,000 provides a Jensen Society-level membership, the Conservatory’s highest membership tier.
All gifts to their annual fund and membership program support nature education, access, and free nature-based programming at the Conservatory and gardens.
Donate to Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
GO Campaign
GO Campaign believes every child deserves access to opportunity — from education and medical care to food, shelter, clean water, and enrichment. Their mission centers on ensuring children have a fair chance at life.
Since 2006, GO Campaign, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, has worked alongside Local Heroes to create community-led solutions for vulnerable children around the world. To date, they have partnered with 201 Local Heroes to improve the lives of more than 418,000 children across 40 countries.
This Giving Tuesday, GO Campaign is launching the 1,000 Child Challenge. All donations are doubled thanks to a matching gift, directly supporting children in need across the globe.
Last year, the organization impacted 3,957 young lives. This year, they aim even higher through the 1,000 Child Challenge.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Every $32 provides essential support and opportunity for a child.
$100 becomes $200 to help six children.
$1,000 becomes $2,000 to support 63 children.
The first five donors to give $25+ will receive a GO Campaign t-shirt.
The first three donors to give $5,000+ will receive a personalized video message from a GO Campaign Celebrity Ambassador.
Goodman Theatre
Guided by the principles of quality, diversity, and community, Goodman Theatre, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, strives to be a leading cultural institution in Chicago, producing work that enriches the city and expands access to the arts. This Giving Tuesday, the Goodman’s Scenemakers Associates Board is raising funds to support the theater’s productions and Education & Engagement programs. The Scenemakers note that each of them has been moved by the power of theater — welcomed, inspired, and encouraged to use their voice — and they aim to help extend these experiences to audiences across Chicago.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1,000 supports young people in 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 New Stages Labs or New Stages Residencies as they develop new work and present it to an audience.
$100 sponsors one artist in GeNarrations, a storytelling workshop for adults aged 55+.
Harris Theater
The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, a Make It Better Foundation grant content partner, is Chicago’s primary home for music and dance, connecting audiences with leading artists from across the city and the world. Giving Tuesday donations support their Access Tickets Program, which provides community organizations with free tickets and accessibility services for performances.
Access Tickets create opportunities for audiences who might otherwise face financial, geographic, or other barriers. Through this program, the Harris offers more than 1,500 complimentary tickets each year to families and students with limited economic resources, families of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, veterans, seniors, and students across Chicago.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 underwrites Access Tickets for four children and their family members from a Community Partner organization to attend a Harris performance.
$500 covers free bus transportation for a Community Partner student group attending a performance through the Transportation Program.
$1,000 supports a free masterclass for Community Partner students taught by visiting artists performing on the Harris Theater stage.
Have Dreams
Have Dreams’ mission is to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they learn, build independence, and develop the social and life skills needed to reach their full potential.
With the rate of autism continuing to rise, Giving Tuesday support helps Have Dreams respond to the growing needs of participants — especially teens preparing for adulthood amid limited full-day programs and employment training options.
Donor support ensures that young people on the spectrum can access social skills programming, that autistic teens have pathways to independence, and that adults are welcomed into workplaces that recognize their strengths.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 funds a session of their free parent/caregiver support group.
$500 provides autism-specific best practice trainings for teachers and other professionals.
$1,000 provides workforce training program scholarships for individuals with autism enrolled in the Have Dreams Academy.
Igniting Minds
Igniting Minds helps break the cycle of poverty by supporting students beyond the classroom through meals, mentoring, and academic enrichment. They make sure students have the academic support and nutrition they need to stay focused, motivated, and on track for success.
A child can’t dream big on an empty stomach. When they have to choose between learning and hunger, hunger always wins.
This Giving Tuesday, help Igniting Minda ensure students have what they need to learn. The Meals That Matter Fund provides healthy study snacks and take-home meals students can easily prepare on their own, removing hunger as a barrier to academic success.
Your support gives students more than food. It gives them the freedom to focus, participate fully, and stay engaged in their learning. When students are nourished, they don’t just eat, they thrive.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 — Supports one student for one month by providing healthy study snacks during tutoring sessions.
$500 — Supports a small group of students for one month by covering 20–25 take-home meal packs plus snacks for tutoring sessions throughout the month, keeping five students nourished, engaged, and ready to learn.
$1,000 — Hunger-Free Study Zone for a full semester which stocks healthy snacks at every tutoring session, removing hunger as a barrier to academic success for an entire program site.
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 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 you 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.
Lurie Children’s
This GivingTuesday, 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. 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.
Marine Trades Institute
The Marine Trades Institute (MTI) provides specialized hands-on training to prepare students for rewarding careers in the marine industry. This Giving Tuesday, MTI is partnering with Soo Co-Op Credit Union to match donations 1:1 up to a total of $1,000. Donations made to the Student Enrichment Fund between December 1-7 automatically qualify for the match. Your support helps provide an excellent student experience by providing funds for equipment, special training initiatives, field trips to leading marine companies, and more while keeping tuition at an affordable price. Help empower the next generation of marine professionals by supporting Marine Trades Institute Students this giving season!
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Consider supporting MTI students by selecting a “lake level” that is meaningful to you. At each level, you can see examples of how your gift may positively impact the MTI student experience. Your support empowers the next generation of marine workers!
Les Cheneaux (Up to $500): Fund student life activities such as picnics, hikes, hockey games, and other events to complement students’ work in the classroom, library, and shop.
Ontario ($500-$1000): Support professional development for our talented faculty members to enable them to remain current with the trends in the marine industry.
Erie ($1000-2,499): Assist with the purchase of replacement parts and diagnostic equipment for the Marine Service Technology shop.
Michigan ($2,500-4,999): Fund a student field trip to a marine manufacturer or marina operator so that students can learn about rewarding career opportunities in the marine industry.
Donate to Marine Trades Institute
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, New Moms holistic approach provides support for young moms affected by systemic barriers.
This year, New Moms has a special Giving Tuesday match from their Associate Board where any-sized gift will be matched with $5,000. Give to New Moms and help young families achieve multigenerational success!
The New Mom’s Associate Board will be hosting a Giving Tuesday Event on 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!
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.
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 their mission to nurture better worlds, starting with great families. Give a gift that keeps on giving, and help create great futures.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
A gift of just $25 is 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 depression screenings.
$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.
Donate to Nurse-Family Partnership
Orchard Village
Orchard Village is a charitable organization in Skokie, IL, that empowers 300 individuals with developmental disabilities so they can live, work, and enjoy their communities. Orchard Village offers eleven 24-hour monitored houses in suburban Cook County, as well as education, job training, and mental health services.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
Your donation helps Orchard Village reach their Giving Tuesday gift-matching goals and double your impact on the individuals they support.
$100 – Purchases assistive technology, such as phone apps. Apps can assist with preparing for employment, accessing and using public transportation, and completing household tasks.
$500 – Rides for ten vocational participants taking the bus to work and a taxi or Uber home at night.
$1,000 – Holiday presents for 10 residents so that each one can experience the joy of the holidays.
Radical Generosity Chicago
Radical Generosity Chicago mobilizes communities to support Chicagoland individuals and families facing food and housing insecurity. With 68,000 people unsheltered in Chicago, 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 warmth and resources with Chicago’s unhoused neighbors. Through RGC’s 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.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
With the combination of increasing costs of food along with decreasing SNAP benefits, your help in providing essential items is more crucial than ever!
$100 provides essential toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, etc) to housing-insecure/unhoused individuals. Providing toiletries to unsheltered 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 Chicago’s bone-chilling winter months!
$500 provides winter coats for 10 unhoused children. Providing coats to unhoused children offers several essential benefits, particularly in helping them stay warm, healthy, and safe during colder months.
$1000 helps support the SNAP gap with shelf-stable food for families in great need of essential nourishment!
Donate to Radical Generosity Chicago
Read It and Leave It
Read It and Leave It began with a blanket and a box of books in NYC parks. Today, they organize monthly literacy pop-ups with art and play-based reading activities, partnering with groups like Harlem Grown, Union Settlement, and NYCHA tenant associations. Read It and Leave It events are free and open to all. Kids leave with books they’ve chosen themselves—books where they see their names, neighborhoods, and dreams represented.
Read It and Leave It distributed thousands of books and served hundreds of children, but more important than the numbers are the stories. One mother shared that her son, who usually avoids books, now insists on reading every night with the flashlight he received from Read It and Leave It’s “Books & Bedtime” bundle. A school principal shared how a Read It and Leave It program sparked new enthusiasm for reading among her most reluctant learners. This isn’t charity. It’s equity.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
With just $100, 40 children can receive two brand new books of their choice.
$500 can offset expenses for community resources events (hot food, fresh produce, art/literacy activities, haircuts, hair braiding, self-care activities, etc.)
$1000 sponsors 10 families’ participation in the FRESH- The Family Reading Support in Harlem Program
Donate to Read It and Leave It
The Family Institute at Northwestern University
The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation’s leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations, strengthening and healing families through clinical services, education, and research. The need for this work has never been greater. Mental Health America reports that 25 percent of adults in Illinois who experience frequent mental distress are unable to access professional care due to cost — underscoring the urgency of reaching individuals and families early, and affirming that high-quality mental health care is essential at every age and stage of life.
This Giving Tuesday, The Family Institute invites you to help expand access to care for those who need it most. Your gift directly supports free and accessible behavioral healthcare for individuals and families who would otherwise go without, helping ensure cost is never a barrier to healing — and making behavioral healthcare a reality for more people.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
At The Family Institute at Northwestern University, every gift has a direct and meaningful impact on the clients and families. On Giving Tuesday, your generosity expands access to high-quality mental health care for those who need it most.
$5,000 funds a year of one-on-one mental health support
$2,500 supports a child through behavioral therapy for 6 months
$1,000 ensures a family receives professional support for two months
$500 provides a month of therapy for an individual
$250 helps a couple begin therapy together
$100 gets a client started on their mental health journey
Donate to The Family Institute at Northwestern University
The Honeycomb Project
The Honeycomb believes kids aren’t just the leaders of the future—they’re the leaders of today. When people staying at shelters need a hot meal, Honeycomb kids are there in the kitchen. When Chicago’s forests and beaches are littered with trash, Honeycomb kids are there to pick it up. When neighbors are in need of clothing, diapers, food, or comfort, Honeycomb kids are there to give whatever they can.
Honeycomb is cultivating empathy, leadership, and civic responsibility across generations. This Giving Tuesday, Homeycomb not only ask that you see all of the change incredible youth volunteers will make in the future, but also all of the impact they are making right now. When you make a gift to The Honeycomb Project, you are supporting more than 5,000 kids and their families at the forefront of social change in Chicago, and more than 50 essential partnering nonprofits.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$1000 funds four high-impact programs with new nonprofit partners and mobilizes 100 kids
$500 funds two Honeycomb projects and mobilizes 50 youth leaders
$100 mobilizes a new family in service with Honeycomb
Donate to The Honeycomb Project
The Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is dedicated to advancing the art of dance through bold performances, transformative education, and meaningful community engagement. The Joffrey Ballet is excited to expand access to their Grainger Academy programs within the next year, deepen partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, and present innovative new works on stage.
This Giving Tuesday, The Joffrey Ballet invites you to join them in supporting their mission of Joffrey for All. Your gift ensures a continued legacy of artistic excellence, inspires future generations by strengthening the Grainger Academy and Community Engagement programs, and enables more students, families, and audiences to experience the magic of ballet.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$100 – Pointe Shoes for a Company Artist: Your $100 gift provides a Joffrey dancer with a pair of pointe shoes—essential for every performance. These shoes support strength, artistry, and precision. Help sustain the beauty and discipline of ballet by directly supporting the tools our artists need to bring magic to the stage.
$500 – Support ASL Interpretation: A $500 donation funds an American Sign Language interpreter, making Joffrey performances accessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Your gift promotes inclusion and ensures everyone can experience the emotion and artistry of ballet. Support the commitment to accessibility and equity in the arts.
$1,000 – Invest in Grainger Academy Faculty: Your $1,000 gift supports the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet’s world-class faculty by funding production and performance needs. Your generosity empowers educators to inspire and train the next generation of dancers. Invest in the future of ballet through excellence in education.
The People’s Music School
The People’s Music School is the largest completely tuition-free music school serving the Chicago metropolitan area, 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 more than 800 students from 55 different zip codes at its 4 program sites, and boasts a 90 percent student retention rate and 94 percent 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 percent 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’s 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
Donate to The People’s Music School
The Volunteer Center
Each week this November, The Volunteer Center is sharing one story of how your support advances volunteerism. These stories will lead to Giving Tuesday on December 2, the year-end appeal to sustain The Volunteer Center’s work into 2026. Whether through a donation or the gift of your time, every act of service helps.
Recently, The Volunteer Center’s Junior Board volunteered at the New Trier Township Food Pantry. Students accepted donations, sorted items, and stocked shelves, ensuring the pantry is ready to serve local families who rely on it each week.
Each month, The Volunteer Center helps sustain vital community programs like this. They purchase groceries, coordinate volunteers, serve meals, and so much more through partnerships with nonprofits. With your support, they can do even more.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
$150 covers the cost of one Junior Board service outing. For example, a trip to an animal shelter where students clean crates, fill kongs, fold towels, and socialize with animals.
$300 covers the cost of groceries and supplies to serve a meal at a local homeless shelter. Junior Board students help prepare and serve each dish.
$1,000 covers the supplies for a Day of Service. A hands-on event where youth create cards, toiletry kits, and no-sew fleece blankets for neighbors who are lonely, cold, or without basic comforts.
$2,500 supports all of the above programming. With more than 150 students already signed up to volunteer this year, your support helps us meet growing demand—funding meals for shelters, supplies for service projects, and opportunities that teach youth the value of giving back.
Donate to The Volunteer Center
The Way Of The Rain
The Way Of The Rain (TWOTR), which serves Illinois’ Cook and Lake County regions, among others globally, is a public charity using art, poetry, music, film, and narrative to raise awareness for the environmental plight of the Earth’s land and oceans. Led by environmentalists President/Artist Sibylle Szaggars Redford and formerly VP/Director Emeritus actor Robert Redford, TWOTR is a movement engaging and educating youth and adults about Earth’s unique beauty and the vulnerability of its ecosystems. It accomplishes this through live performances, film, and workshops in collaboration with orchestras, choirs, dancers, visual artists, poets, writers, along with K-12 schools, universities, and leading environmental advocates. Inspired by monsoon rains that sustain life on the fragile desert landscape, TWOTR believes, like raindrops, people working together can make a difference in preserving Earth’s fragile, precious ecosystems. A Giving Tuesday gift to TWOTR honors our planet Earth and raises awareness for efforts to safeguard it.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
TWOTR has built a network of artists and innovators who use the arts as a universal language to drive change. Consistent resources are needed, particularly in today’s gig economy. Giving Tuesday donations will help provide much-needed operational support to ensure continued successful programming for youth and adults alike.
$100 helps impact a youth poet/artist’s participation in an educational workshop.
$500 helps impact a workshop of K-12 students screening an educational documentary on the “Hope for Earth” and/or the “Hope for Oceans” along with a participatory and artistic/poetic workshops, some of which are brought to the stage for live performance and/or published.
$1,000 helps underwrite/impact broader in-person and virtual community screenings and multidisciplinary live and/or recorded programs for hundreds, which raise awareness both for adults and students, about climate change and its impact on planet Earth.
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 working to end hunger in Haiti, Uganda, and more than 20 nations across the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa.
Each tree planted feeds families, supports small businesses, and restores the environment for generations to come. Trees That Feed envisions self-sustaining communities with abundant food, thriving marketplaces, and healthy, reforested landscapes.
Your gift delivers triple the benefits—tackling hunger, poverty, and climate change. And this December, every donation will be matched, doubling your impact. Plant hope. Feed families. Grow the future.
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
Donate to Trees That Feed Foundation
Writer’s Theatre
The Writers Theatre’s mission is to create intimate connections through astonishing performances and innovative programs by activating relationships between artists and community and inviting people to gather in their spaces for transformative experiences. The 2025/26 Season at Writers Theatre promises a year of unforgettable artistic programming in their deliberately intimate setting. From the high-quality productions to the thoughtful engagement events and education initiatives, Writers welcomes the community to connect with live performance through enriching experiences that extend beyond the theatre.
What impact does a donation have at different levels?
This Giving Tuesday, help keep the magic of live theatre alive! A gift of any size supports inspiring performances and transformative arts education that reaches audiences of all ages. Every donation—big or small—brings stories to life, nurtures creativity, and strengthens our community. Join the Writer’s Theatre in celebrating the power of theatre to connect, uplift, and inspire.
