Giving Tuesday

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Giving Tuesday Providence Moms Blog
Photo Credit: Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Giving Tuesday, often known as #GivingTuesday to the millennial world of hashtaggers, refers to the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It was named an international day of financial giving to charity as the “unofficial” kick-off to the holiday fundraising season. The very first Giving Tuesday started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the days following Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

I realize that everyone comes from different situations and scenarios. Some have the means to give back, and others just don’t right now. Trust me when I say that I get it. The purpose of this piece is not to make anyone feel guilty. To those of you who have taken part in this day of giving over the past five years, thank you. To those of you who haven’t, I thought it might be helpful to share a “how to” guide when it comes to making educated decisions about financial contributions.

Research the organization that you are donating to!

It’s an unfortunate reality that some organizations are not as honest as they make themselves out to be. It’s important to verify the 501C status of an organization. If in doubt, head to a site like https://www.charitynavigator.org/ to double check. It’s super easy to plug in the website or name of the charity that you’re interested in supporting to get up to date and real information on their efforts.

Find an organization that is near and dear to your heart

Your inbox will be flooded this holiday season with organizations around the world who are looking for support and year end donations. Making the choice of which organization to support (when so many seem lovely!) will not be easy. One of the best ways to sift through the choice is to think about what matters to the heart. Are you an animal lover? Perhaps a donation to an animal hospital or local organization that supports animals is the right choice for your family. Is the environment the biggest concern for your children? The Nature Conservatory might be what you’re looking for.

Ask where the money will go to and what it will be used for

Many organizations have the ability to shift funds to be used for anything that they need. This can be really useful when situations occur like Hurricane Harvey or a medical outbreak. On the flip side, it’s important to know where funds are being allocated and how many pennies to the dollar are going directly to the cause.

Giving Tuesday is a chance to better the lives of those around us who are less fortunate. It’s a chance for us to band together to help. If you have the means, please consider making this Giving Tuesday one to remember.


At Providence Moms Blogs, we are thrilled to bring you our favorite charities for #GivingTuesday. Check out the “For Good” section of our ShopPVD Holiday Guide if you are interested in giving to a local charity in our community.