Giving Tuesday falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year, following a long weekend of overspending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a day of giving time, money and attention to the charities that matter most to you. According to Vox, the tradition started in 2012 the 92nd Street Y in New York and the United Nations Foundation, but it quickly spread to other organizations.
Even on a tight college budget, there are ways to give back to causes that matter. Whether it’s by volunteering or buying your friends and family charitable donations as holiday presents, donating on Giving Tuesday is a great way to give back during the holiday season. Resources like Charity Navigator and GiveWell can help you find influential organizations, but listed below are some of the top organizations to give to today.
Can’t decide on which charities to donate to today? Split your donations between a few diff orgs using our super easy Giving Basket. Give it a shot: https://t.co/KGQ7Y9KYB8 #GivingTuesday pic.twitter.com/af6u7u3hGF
— Charity Navigator (@CharityNav) November 27, 2018
Women-focused groups include Planned Parenthood and Equality Now. Planned Parenthood focuses more on female reproductive health while Equality Now fights for gender equality around the world.
To give to families trying to cross the border or that have newly immigrated, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services in Texas works to provide low cost or free legal services to immigrants and refugees. The National Immigration Law Center also works towards defending and advancing the rights of low income immigrants.
We helped secure safe passage for these LGBTQ+ migrants to Tijuana and are supporting their asylum claims.
Humans supporting humans.
Please watch and share, to see who’s actually in the migrant caravan. pic.twitter.com/Og5xOSVGE7
— ?????? (@RAICESTEXAS) November 20, 2018
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States. They operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline and work with over 1,000 sexual assault service providers nationwide.
The Trevor Project is well-known for their work towards suicide prevention in the LGBTQ+ community. GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works through public policy, legislation and education to create a society free of discrimination against people based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation.
A more general option is the American Civil Liberties Union. This group is known for defending a variety of social issues to “defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
From city streets to the halls of Congress and from local courthouses all the way to the Supreme Court — we’re fighting to protect people’s rights. But we need your support.
Please consider donating to us for #GivingTuesday. https://t.co/0voIdfaPlH
— ACLU (@ACLU) November 27, 2018
One of the highest proclaimed international organizations to give money to is GiveDirectly. Your donation goes directly to a family in a poor community for them to use how they see fit. Their website outlines how they pick the families and track the money.
If you’d rather give back to animals, Animal Equality also works in 8 countries, including the United States, to end animal suffering. Through investigations and campaigns, they raise awareness and work towards more respect and protection for all animals.
Wherever you choose to give, it’s important to research the organizations in order to understand where exactly your money is going. Secure payment portals and reliable websites are an important way to make sure that your money goes where you intend it to.