Giving Tuesday 2024: 5 Ways to Make a Difference

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The months of November and December are well known for giving thanks in the United States, but elsewhere, the end of fall is often just a waypoint for changing seasons on the way to a new calendar year. That all changed 11 years ago when a charity-minded non-profit group decided to make it an international event for philanthropic work.  

This December 3rd is Giving Tuesday 2024, a global movement inspired by international philanthropic organization GivingTuesday’s belief that kindness and radical generosity are a means for making the world a better place. There are many, many ways to make a difference on any scale, and by standing up and contributing to your favorite charitable cause before this year ends, you can make sure the next one begins with a little more hope and fulfillment.

The Birth of a Movement

GivingTuesday came into existence on November 27, 2012, when a group of generosity geniuses in New York City decided that talk was just too cheap when it came to helping others. Leveraging the rapidly evolving power of social media, the goal was to remind us all that the simple act of giving can be a catalyst for enormous positive change in the world.

The foundational principle behind GivingTuesday is that everyone—no matter their means or circumstances—is a valuable member of society who has something to contribute to the betterment of the whole. Whether it’s money, time, energy, or advocacy and support, by teaming up with nonprofits and influencers established in social networks, GivingTuesday began the work of spreading their affirmative message across the information landscape.

12 Years On, and Still Giving Strong

As of today, this humble and uplifting message has become a game-changer for nonprofits across the globe. In the United States alone, Giving Tuesday 2022 raised $3.1 billion dollars in 24 hours for vital charitable causes, marking a 15% increase over the previous year. 37 million adults participated, meaning the average donation was less than $100. It’s a small but not insignificant figure, and for the average person living on a modest budget who is nonetheless inspired to lend a hand, and it exemplifies the vision of GivingTuesday CEO Asha Curran:

“The most magical part of GivingTuesday, the special and unique characteristic that drives this generosity movement, is that this remarkable day of giving is made possible by the many and not the few; everyday people’s kindness, acts of generosity, and commitment to a better world fueled this day of good.”

5 Ways to Make a Difference

Whether you’re an individual, a family, a business, or a community-based organization, how you participate in Giving Tuesday 2023 is limited only by your imagination. Expressing generosity is well within anyone’s grasp, and if you’re wondering how to make a difference this year, there are several easy ways to get started.

1. Donate to a Nonprofit or Community Organization

GivingTuesday seeks to encourage a culture of philanthropy and altruism where contributing to organizations that align with your values is the foundational means for affecting positive change. Donating to large or small non-profit organizations will help them pay it forward, furthering the generosity agenda on Giving Tuesday 2024.

Here are some organizations the creators at Premiere have been involved with that are excellent places to start making a difference for people in marginalized communities and difficult circumstances.

Watsi

There are thousands of children around the world who are desperately in need of life-changing surgery, and Watsi is dedicated to connecting needy families with the financing they need to make it happen. 100% of donations goes directly to patients.

March for Moms

March for Moms aligns the advocacy efforts of families, healthcare providers, industry, policymakers, and other industry partners in order to ensure that all families can grow with dignity.

Northern Ohio Branch of the International Dyslexia Association

NOBIDA is dedicated to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, quantitative research in literacy instruction.

The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center

The LOFT is a nonprofit institution that provides a range of services for the LGBTQ+ community in Westchester County, NY, and the Lower Hudson Valley region.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

CHADD seeks to empower people affected by ADHD through evidence-based information, supporting individuals, their families, and advocacy for equity and inclusion.

2. Distribute Daily Essentials to People in Need

Nonperishable goods are a great place to start for families in need. Canned foods, snacks, and water are shelf-stable necessities that can also be transported long distances. Other daily essentials like soaps, shampoos, lip balm, deodorant, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, socks, are all valuable contributions that can make a huge difference in the lives of others.

3. Use Your Voice

Social media platforms have created a more powerful medium than ever to influence and support movements on Giving Tuesday 2024. Post about your favorite non-profit organization and tag them so people can easily connect (and possibly donate!), and trumpet your top causes and upcoming community events to bolster attendance and awareness.

To support GivingTuesday, use #givingtuesday to tap friends and family, and reach out to your elected officials to bring attention to policies and socially responsible funding needs. And what’s the best part about using your voice? It won’t cost you more than a little time to get the kindness ball rolling.

4. Use Your Skills

We all have talents we’ve developed both professionally and through our interests and hobbies. Giving Tuesday 2024 is the perfect moment to contribute your gifts to others!

The internet has taught us that the first barriers to change are education and information. What we are capable of achieving is limited by the knowledge and skills we are able to harness, and that includes getting help from people who are in the know. Are you skilled in ways that might allow you to fix a problem? Do you have skills in business or marketing that might be valuable to someone else? Those are the starting points for finding a way to make a difference during the holiday season, so reach out to local charities and organizations and see if they could benefit from your expertise.

5. Pay It Forward

Paying it forward is the ultimate sneak attack of kindness. Through covert acts of generosity you can instantly brighten someone’s day. Paying for the person’s coffee behind you in line or dropping a gift card in someone’s cart at the grocery store may just be the inspiration they need to start looking at the world as an opportunity for positive change. And the best part is, there’s no downside to random acts of kindness! By being generous and thoughtful, you’ve already made the world a better place.

What Will Your Act of Generosity Be on Giving Tuesday 2024?

Giving Tuesday 2024 is all about empowerment for positive change, and by spreading the word and lending a hand this November you can join the millions of people worldwide who are making tomorrow a little better for us all. As creators of educational content at Premiere, we know that education is the gift that keeps on giving. By enhancing your knowledge and skill sets, your professional growth will help you better support the people you serve.

Healthcare providers, educators, and people working in the service industry are naturally wired to give of themselves and their resources for the betterment of others, and a big part of that experience is supporting your own professional growth and development. The courses offered by Premiere span numerous mission-critical topics and are created by industry-leading experts. We always make sure you’re learning from the best and getting data-driven, science-backed content, so when you’re in the position to make a positive difference in someone else’s life, you have the tools you need to get the job done.