Tips for Today: Giving Tuesday
We give thanks on Thanksgiving. We shop big on Black Friday, we shop small on Small Business Saturday, and we shop online on Cyber Monday. And now, we give back on Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday is celebrated by businesses, individuals, charities and schools around the world on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, it falls on Tuesday, December 1. Giving Tuesday uses the power of social media and the spirit of collaboration to bring about real change in communities around the world. By celebrating and encouraging giving, Giving Tuesday “unites countries around the world by sharing our capacity to care for and empower one another.”
The philanthropic movement was created by 92nd Street Y in 2012, a cultural institution in New York City that has been uniting communities around the values of service and giving back since 1874. Today, there are over 30,000 Giving Tuesday partners in over 68 countries. These partners include small businesses, non-profits, large corporations and government agencies. Businesses (and individuals) can visit givingtuesday.org to learn more about the movement, download toolkits and marketing templates and get involved.
Have you considered incorporating giving back into your holiday planning? While donating money, time, services or goods to an organization or charity in need can make you feel good, it can have many other positive effects on your business! It will help you be perceived as a giving and integral part of your community; your customers will be happier to support your business (knowing you give back), and your employees will be happier knowing they are doing more with their job than just earning a paycheck (by supporting your organization of choice).
The holiday season is a time of year when many families in need feel the true weight of their situation, especially if they have young children. A movement like Giving Tuesday is a way for your business to make a difference in your immediate and global community.
How is your small business giving back this holiday season?
