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These 5 Organizations Show What Giving Tuesday Now Is All About
Responding to the dire need that countless families face during the coronavirus pandemic, the organizations behind Giving Tuesday — which for the past several years has fallen on the first Tuesday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday — launched today's Giving Tuesday Now.
Today’s global fundraising push is happening in addition to the one scheduled for later this year on Dec. 1. This movement is now urging citizens to donate what they can afford, or help however they can, in order to stop the spread of this virus and support those affected. These five organizations show what today's fundraising effort is all about.
Say what you want about Facebook, but it’s been one of Giving Tuesday Now’s critical communications partners for this spring’s fundraising push. The social network says it has contributed $20 million in matching donations for today’s efforts, and it is hosting this resource page to provide ideas for people willing to donate time or resources.
Keep America Beautiful
This nonprofit, which has advocated for community improvement, neighborhood beautification and litter removal for almost 70 years, is taking a different approach for today’s event. Keep America Beautiful has launched a “virtual park” in which people can interact and learn about community beautification in a digital environment. Participants can earn points by completing various activities and, in the end, help identify the next site for one of this organization’s community beautification projects once it reaches a fundraising target — and, of course, when volunteers can finally safely work together again.
PayPal
One of the key supporters of Giving Tuesday Now, PayPal has launched fundraising efforts to support six global nonprofits. The fintech giant is also partnering with the Cherie Blair Foundation to provide virtual mentoring sessions for women entrepreneurs across the globe. PayPal is working with credit card companies to arrange ways for consumers to donate any rewards to charity, too.
T-Mobile
The mobile carrier says it will mobilize resources during this day of giving in order to support and recognize the work of frontline healthcare workers. T-Mobile has promised to donate 500,000 medical face masks to the CDC Foundation. In addition, the company is donating funds generated from the purchases of cell phone accessories (up to $100,000) to a Boys and Girls Clubs of America fund that is helping to provide childcare services for healthcare workers. A day-long social media campaign serving to thank these frontline healthcare workers is also part of T-Mobile’s plan for Giving Tuesday Now.
The Thanks-Giving Foundation
There’s no shortage of local nonprofits that need our help so they can continue doing good work within their communities. So, if we highlight one such organization, it’s this Dallas-based nonprofit, which seeks to bring together people of different backgrounds and faiths in order to build mutual respect and understanding. The group has launched an effort that seeks to accomplish two tasks: Show healthcare workers appreciation while keeping local restaurants in business. The Serving Up Gratitude program seeks donations to purchase a meal from a local restaurant and then sends it on to a local healthcare worker or first responder. Visitors to this site can nominate a person who he or she feels is deserving of such a gesture.
Giving Tuesday Now a timely response to nonprofits' struggles
At a time when we’ve seen pitches from companies that say they are doing good by donating fruit cups or slices of pizza, programs driven by compassion and authenticity, like this one run by the Thanks-Giving Foundation, show how funding one good deed can take care of two huge challenges with which COVID-19 has burdened local communities.
In any event, nonprofits across the U.S. are on the brink as fundraising activities have been shelved and families fearful they could have to file for unemployment at any moment are cutting back on spending. Today's event is making it clear that any little bit of cash or time can help.
Curious how you can donate some cash, your time or even some kind words? The people behind Giving Tuesday Now offer plenty of ideas here.
Image credit: Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
Leon Kaye has written for 3p since 2010 and become executive editor in 2018. His previous work includes writing for the Guardian as well as other online and print publications. In addition, he's worked in sales executive roles within technology and financial research companies, as well as for a public relations firm, for which he consulted with one of the globe’s leading sustainability initiatives. Currently living in Central California, he’s traveled to 70-plus countries and has lived and worked in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.
Leon’s an alum of Fresno State, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Southern California's Marshall Business School. He enjoys traveling abroad as well as exploring California’s Central Coast and the Sierra Nevadas.
