For a second consecutive year charities, non-for-profit organisations, profit organisations, schools and everyone else who would like to help, will be part of one of the biggest charity movements around the world – Giving Tuesday. (December 3, 2013.)

In a nutshell, Giving Tuesday is an international campaign aiming to encourage charitable events and to increase the support for various non-profit organisations.

Another main goal is to ‘unlock’ the desire of people to give, which would lead to Christmas vacation full of charity and donations. The statistics show that last year’s Giving Tuesday had a great success and reached its goals – Blackbaud processed 53% more donations than the same day last year (total of $10 million), while DonorPerfect marked 46% more and the average donation was 25% bigger.

Aside from the material side, more than 50 million people heard and talked about the campaign and helped spreading it around the world.

How can you and your non-profit organization become involved with Giving Tuesday and what are the benefits? First of all, you need to choose a charity initiative to participate with. It can be any kind of charity and the statistics show that the more creative, the better. The benefits from your participation are plenty – you are doing good and helping a good cause, you are able to invigorate your community and members and give them an inspiration to become more active and you gain popularity – another participants in the Giving Tuesday may like your non-profit organisation and join it.

There is also a way to raise money for your own non-profit organisation. You cannot receive a part of the donated money, but you can ask people to donate for you. Last year different non-profit organisations tried to increase awareness in their causes and managed to use the general idea of Giving Tuesday to achieve their annual goals. For example, the American Diabetes Association sent about 100 000 emails asking for an online donation of $26 or more (26 for the 26 million people having diabetes) and managed to raise $21 000.

You can also partner with local corporates and encourage them to activate their community in support of your not-for-profit.  Have a look at the case studies to see how that could work for you.

Giving Tuesday raises awareness of special causes and increase the number of charity events and donation before the Christmas holidays. The campaign had a huge success last year and is aiming to reach even greater goals this one. Everyone can be a part of the Giving Tuesday and everyone can contribute – so better think up how to include your organisation, too!