Giving Tuesday
Americans are a generous lot. In 2015, we contributed more than $264 billion to charitable organizations as individuals. We give to churches, social organizations, educational institutions, the arts, health care groups, and environmental causes. The average American household donates over $2,100 per year, a figure that has been rising steadily. [Statistics courtesy of Giving USA 2016.]
But do most of us plan our giving in advance, or is it something we do spontaneously? Since 2012, nonprofit organizations and philanthropic institutions have been campaigning to make charitable giving a regular part of our holiday season. Following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, we now have Giving Tuesday. This year, the date will be November 29, a national day of giving when all Americans are encouraged to think about making a donation to a cause that is important to them.
One of Giving Tuesday’s founding partners, The Case Foundation, reports that last year 696,000 donors gave $116.7 million online on Giving Tuesday. Paypal alone processed more than $20 million in gifts and claimed the Guinness World Record for most money donated online for charity in a 24 hour period. Here in Brevard County, dozens of nonprofit organizations participated, including the Brevard Zoo, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Family Promise of Brevard, United Way, Community Foundation for Brevard, Brevard Humane Society, the M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, and Serene Harbor. Almost 1500 Florida Institute of Technology alumni donated to their alma mater on Giving Tuesday 2015, nearly tripling their goal.
Florida donors who want to make sure their money is going to a legitimate organization can review the legally-required reports all nonprofits incorporated here are required to file annually with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The information is made available to the public as The Gift Giver’s Guide at www.FreshFromFlorida.com.
Organizations who want to participate in Giving Tuesday will find a downloadable toolkit with logos, sample press releases, tips for social media, and other materials at www.GivingTuesday.org. And be sure to let Everything Brevard know you are participating, so we can add you to our list and link our visitors straight to your donations page. Visit www.Everything Brevard.com to find out more, including information about how your non-profit can qualify for a Giving Tuesday $2500 donation provided by the Kim Jones Insurance Agency. Vote Now
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