What is #GivingTuesdayNow?

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. It’s a day when we can all come together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are.

Who is organizing this?

#GivingTuesdayNow is organized by GivingTuesday, in partnership with its global network of leaders, partners, communities and generous individuals.

GivingTuesday is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

Our ultimate goal is to create a more just and generous world, one where generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world.

GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.

GivingTuesday’s global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.

Does this mean there won’t be a GivingTuesday giving day later in the year as in other years?

#GivingTuesdayNow is a specific emergency event that we are launching as a response to COVID-19. It doesn’t change our plans for our traditional GivingTuesday event that will happen on December 1, 2020 the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Who can participate?

Everyone! GivingTuesday has been built by a broad coalition of partners, including individuals, families, nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, small businesses and corporations. We anticipate there will be people and organizations planning and participating in #GivingTuesdayNow activities in every country in the world.

How can I participate in #GivingTuesdayNow?

Participating in #GivingTuesdayNow is about joining a global movement for generosity in this unprecedented time of need, and there are so many ways to do that. Whether you give your voice, goods, your time, or your money, being generous is a way to fight for the causes you care about and help people in need.

You can join in this global movement for unity and giving back in a variety of ways:

• Discover a local fundraiser, community drive or coordinated event to join others in your area or with your same interests in giving back — they need your help.
• Give to your favorite cause or a fundraiser to help those in need.
• Share kindness with your neighbors (link to examples)
• Show gratitude to healthcare workers, service providers, and other essential workers who are making sure we still have the services we rely on, even at risk to their own health. (link to examples)
• Use social media to spread the word! Remember to use #GivingTuesdayNow.
• Announce your participation in #GivingTuesdayNow to your networks and email lists
• Visit our website for more ideas and ways you can get involved.

What does it cost? What if I don’t have any money

There are no costs to participating in #GivingTuesdayNow. GivingTuesday is a free and open movement to unleash generosity in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. All of our resources are available for free through our website.

If you are an individual who wants to give back, there are many ways to do so. #GivingTuesdayNow is about giving of all types — some may choose to give a financial contribution to their favorite cause or a fundraising drive, others will opt to reach out to neighbors, start an advocacy campaign, donate goods or extra supplies, share gratitude to frontline workers and those keeping us safe. If you can show generosity and share kindness, you have something to give!

I want to give back, help my neighbors and volunteer, but how can I do that safely?

#GivingTuesdayNow is focused on ways to give back and bring communities together safely. We encourage individuals and organizations to adhere to public health guidelines and physical distancing to help reduce the spread of the virus and flatten the curve.

There are many ways people can give back and communities can organize while still staying safe.

There is no reason that our physical separation means we can’t provide the financial, emotional and social supports that nurture our families and communities. We all have gifts to give, and with social media, online giving, delivery, mail, and phones, there are limitless ways to use your generosity to support others. Embrace your power to be a beacon for others, and act.

For more ideas, visit our website or sign up for GivingTuesday Daily Generosity alerts to get ideas and inspiration each day for ways to show kindness and give back while staying safe.

#GivingTuesdayNow will share specific opportunities for individuals to participate in local, regional and country campaigns as well as ideas they can take and use for individual action or to rally their family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and networks to do good.

I lead an organization/company/community/network — how can I help?

Great! First, thank you for your leadership — it’s an important asset for responding to this crisis. We need your influence and voice to rally your networks, constituents and communities to stand together and act generously.

My organization typically participates in GivingTuesday later in the year, do I have to do both?

We recognize that the needs and responses in every community are unique, and every place is in a different stage of the COVID-19 crisis, so we want to emphasize that no one has to participate in this emergency day if it does not feel appropriate to your local needs.

Is GivingTuesday raising money or collecting funds on #GivingTuesdayNow?

No, GivingTuesday is organizing this event in partnership with our global network of nonprofits, communities, leaders, businesses and funders, and individuals who want to give back. Individual organizations may host fundraising drives in conjunction with #GivingTuesdayNow, but the fundraising activities and the funds raised are directed by the individual organization and deployed by the giving platform of their choice.

Why this?

• The annual GivingTuesday event is a proven way to unleash tremendous giving to causes and uplift community connection, and #GivingTuesdayNow is a chance to use that impact in a time when it’s desperately and urgently needed. Analyses of GivingTuesday data have demonstrated:
• GivingTuesday drives a net increase in giving.
• GivingTuesday drives massive giving — the cumulative dollar total of individual donations on the day is 2nd only to Bill & Melinda Gates in annual foundation disbursements
• GivingTuesday brings together partners from all sectors to encourage participation and
• A unifying moment: We are all experiencing this global pandemic and generosity is a fundamental value we can all act on, bringing people together across races, faiths, economic status and political views.
• Generosity is a countervailing force to combat fear, helplessness, and isolation that is so prevalent with the pandemic crisis and the necessary efforts to flatten the curve.

Why now?

• GivingTuesday is already deploying resources and supporting our global network to provide help and hope, but we feel that a much bigger, more urgent response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19 is called for. We want to do what GivingTuesday does best: rally the world to drive a massive, collective spike of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
• Leaders and communities from all over the world have requested help from GivingTuesday to activate giving at a massive scale and increase support for critical services and other causes that enrich our society.
• The world is in crisis and the very structures that counteract negative impacts of a pandemic and recession–community organizations and nonprofits–are overwhelmed. They need swift action to ensure they can continue to serve their communities.
• We will depend on the actions, insights and impacts of these organizations to be able to recover from this crisis and ensure there are resources for those in need.

How does GT add value for nonprofits? Communities? Individuals?

• GivingTuesday is uniquely positioned to lead a collective generosity event that brings together partners, shifts behavior, amplifies networks and drives local action on a global scale.
• The GivingTuesday leadership network now encompasses 60+ countries and 200+ US communities. GivingTuesday has driven more than a billion dollars of giving online in the US, and many multiples of that worldwide. We’ve shifted giving cultures around the world, and have changed the conversation about movement building.
• We’re an established ecosystem with hundreds of millions of participants, of all races, faiths and political views, in every country on the globe. We catalyze support for critical causes. We have convened and collaborated with hundreds of leaders to innovate a new approach to movement building that is growing impact worldwide. We have the systems, resources, and networks in place to activate giving in a time of unprecedented need.
• GivingTuesday supports community organizers and movement builders to drive action in their communities, regions, countries, cultures.
• GivingTuesday offers a way to turn individual passion into collective power by connecting people, networks, and organizations for new collaborations and opportunities/ideas for acts of generosity, no matter their location, economic status, or ability.
• GivingTuesday has the data, insights, and platforms to exponentially increase generous behavior on a massive scale.