Mission-focused organizations like 'Empowering Everyday Women' see an uptick in GivingTuesday donations
AP // EEW Magazine Online // Charity
In the past 10 years, charities have been blessed with billions in donations from generous givers on GivingTuesday, which takes place the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
Last year, American donors gave nearly $2.5 billion amid growing needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. How much supporters will help charities this Tuesday is anyone’s guess.
The giving campaign was launched in 2012 to get people to remember to donate to charity at a time when they were already spending money on the holiday shopping season. The 92nd Street Y, a community center in New York City, came up with the idea and developed it until two years ago, when a separate organization called GivingTuesday took up the mantle to organize the giving day.
Charities host fundraisers, events, and use the hashtag on social media to bring awareness to their cause and solicit donations which have increased throughout the years. But it’s not just a fundraising day — it’s a generosity movement, said Asha Curran, the CEO of the organization that promotes the campaign. People also participate through acts of kindness like volunteering.
“We have seen an uptick in the number of people volunteering and giving this year, and we are thankful,” said Dianna Hobbs, Founder and CEO of Empowering Everyday Women, a Buffalo-based 501c3 nonprofit participating in Giving Tuesday along with other people in a total of 81 countries.
Dianna Hobbs is CEO and Founder of 501c3 nonprofit, Empowering Everyday Women (Credit: Instagram.com/imdiannahobbs)
“Folks around the world have reached out to assist us in our mission,” said Hobbs, whose organization donates food and clean water, distributes free Bibles and Christian resources, provides literacy training to urban youth, and hosts annual food drives and events to serve under-served populations.
“Our team is genuinely amazed at how we are seeing a huge outpouring of giving, which is especially meaningful for families that are going through an especially hard time caused by the pandemic,” added Hobbs.
Organizations like Empowering Everyday Women with clear missions linked to good causes are seeing increased support from those who share their passion to promote positive change in the world.
“People really want to feel like their giving is impactful and transformational,” said Curran.
If their campaign response is any indication, they feel precisely that way.
To contribute to Empowering Everyday Women on GivingTuesday, visit EmpoweringEverydayWomen.org. To learn more about the movement, visit GivingTuesday.org.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
