What is Giving Tuesday? All of your questions answered

It’s the most wonderful time of year! For many nonprofits, Giving Tuesday marks the beginning of the lively end-of-year giving season. In this article, we’ll dive into the Giving Tuesday when, who, why, and how, answering all your burning questions, including how to make this year a smashing success for your organization. 

Let’s start with the basics. 

What is Giving Tuesday all about?

Giving Tuesday is an annual day of giving that encourages individuals, businesses, and groups of all stripes to give back to their communities. Designed to always fall on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it is a designated day for generosity after consumer-focused Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

This day serves as a powerful platform for nonprofit organizations to bring in donations, raise awareness, and foster a culture of support for their missions as year-end giving ramps up. 

When is Giving Tuesday 2024?

This year, Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, December 3, 2024. 

How does Giving Tuesday work? 

Giving Tuesday is a simple concept: Individuals and groups are encouraged to donate or give back in some way to their favorite causes on this day. Nonprofits leverage various digital and offline channels to promote campaigns and engage supporters to bring in a large number of online donations, new signups, or any other needs they may have. 

When did Giving Tuesday start?

Giving Tuesday history dates back to 2012. The Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at New York’s 92nd Street Y worked with the United Nations Foundation to ​​designate a day of giving back the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving as a response to holiday consumerism. 

The timing was intentional—and, as it turned out, impeccable. The first Giving Tuesday generated more than $10M in donations for participating campaigns, and by Giving Tuesday 2023, that figure soared to a record-breaking $3.1 billion, with tens of billions of social media impressions of the hashtag alone. 

Why is Giving Tuesday important? 

The importance of Giving Tuesday is twofold. While Black Friday marks the beginning of holiday shopping madness, Giving Tuesday reminds us of the true spirit of the season. The Giving Tuesday meaning is about being part of something bigger than ourselves and our wishlists and putting resources where they are needed most. 

For nonprofits, the benefits of Giving Tuesday can’t be understated:  

• Increased donations 🎁 It's a concentrated day of giving, leading to a surge in donations for nonprofits. 
• Community building 🤝 It fosters community and encourages people to come together for a common cause.
• Awareness raising 🌱 Nonprofits can use this day to increase awareness of their mission and the impact of their work.
• Philanthropic culture 💛 It helps to promote a broader culture of giving and generosity.

Starting out in the United States, the Giving Tuesday movement has become a global phenomenon, with millions of people participating worldwide. Since its inception, the day has inspired hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity—with more than 80 countries now participating.

How to participate in Giving Tuesday

If you’re wondering what to do for Giving Tuesday, you’re in luck. Individuals, groups, and organizations can get involved with your nonprofit in all kinds of ways: 

• Donate 💸 Ask your community to chip in and help you raise money for your programs, an upcoming campaign, or a new initiative.
• Volunteer 💪 Give your supporters an opportunity to give back, whether packaging items, joining in a community clean-up project, stuffing envelopes, or tutoring students. 
• Advocate 📣 Spread the word about your cause and encourage others to participate by handing out flyers, signing petitions, or taking action online.
• Fundraise 🎉 Go big with an event or peer-to-peer fundraising campaign. Find the right Giving Tuesday platform to help meet your goals. 

In the words of the official GivingTuesday organization:

Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.

How to make the most of Giving Tuesday 

Almost one-third of annual giving happens during the final weeks of the year, and the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has the potential to be your biggest donation day of them all. You’ll be facing some steep competition at this time of year, so it’s essential to make a game plan. 

Explore our full spread of Giving Tuesday resources and strategies to guide your planning, spark inspiration, and make your campaign stand out among the crowd:

• Plan ahead 🧭 Develop a comprehensive strategy and explore Giving Tuesday ideas, best practices, and campaign planning tips.   
• Engage supporters 💌 Map out your Giving Tuesday emails to engage donors before, during, and after the big to encourage them to participate.
• Use social media 👍 Promote your campaign with a Giving Tuesday social media strategy across platforms—and don’t worry, you don’t have to use every single one!
• Offer incentives 👏 Make giving extra appealing with matching gifts or enticing merch.
• Tell your story 📘 Share the impact of your work to inspire giving. Use photos, graphics, or even a special Giving Tuesday video to inspire viewers to be part of the solution. 
• Express gratitude 🙌 Don’t forget to say thank you! It’s the right thing to do—and it increases donor retention after Giving Tuesday. 

Freebie alert!

Get everything you need for success in our free Giving Tuesday Toolkit ->

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Be sure to check out the official Giving Tuesday website to access their logo and other assets for your campaign.

Givebutter is your Giving Tuesday hub

Givebutter is the easiest-to-use, all-in-one platform that brings together everything changemakers need to raise more, pay less, and give better this Giving Tuesday. From free donation forms, fundraising pages, event ticketing, and auctions to a built-in nonprofit CRM and world-class communication tools, Givebutter helps you anchor your fundraising efforts and donor engagement in one convenient place. 

The best part? To celebrate the incredible organizations that power their missions with us, Givebutter is giving back $25K to nonprofits for Giving Tuesday this year. The five Most Engaging Giving Tuesday campaigns will each receive a $5K matching donation to build on their momentum and maximize their impact for year-end giving.

Create your free Givebutter account today to churn out changes for this Giving Tuesday and beyond! 🚀

Giving Tuesday FAQs

Looking for even more Giving Tuesday facts? You’ve got questions—we’ve got answers. 

Define Giving Tuesday 📖

The Giving Tuesday definition is a simple one: it’s a global day of giving that encourages people to give back to their communities. The purpose of Giving Tuesday is to inspire generosity and create a culture of giving. 

On Giving Tuesday, which occurs annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people around the world come together to donate to their favorite causes and make a positive impact. This special day isn't only about donating money. While you can certainly make a financial contribution on an organization’s official site or give to a campaign that resonates with you, the day is ultimately about encouraging people to do good in any form, whether it’s your time, energy, or expertise.

When does Giving Tuesday start? 🏃‍♂️

Giving Tuesday typically starts at midnight on the designated Tuesday, although you can start fundraising before the day begins. This year, the date of Giving Tuesday is December 3, 2024. 

How long does Giving Tuesday last? ⌚

Giving Tuesday lasts for an entire day. However, many organizations keep their fundraising campaign going well past that day, using Giving Tuesday as a kickoff for a larger year-end giving campaign. 

Is Giving Tuesday one word or two? 🤔

Both! Giving Tuesday the actual day is two words. The official organization that champions it is one word: GivingTuesday. 

Do I need to register for Giving Tuesday? ✅

No, Giving Tuesday registration is not required. Any organization or individual can add the Giving Tuesday hashtag and logo to social media posts and donation forms. Check out the official site for Giving Tuesday news, stats, and more. 

Are there any Giving Tuesday rules? 📏

There are no official rules for Giving Tuesday. It's a grassroots movement that encourages people to give back in their own way. 

When is Giving Tuesday 2025? 📅

The next Giving Tuesday will be on December 1, 2025.

Who started Giving Tuesday? ✨

Two nonprofit organizations in New York City started Giving Tuesday in 2012: the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation. 

Which organizations participate in Giving Tuesday? 🤝

Giving Tuesday partners and participating organizations include nonprofits, businesses, and groups of caring individuals. Anyone can join in the action!