For more than a decade, Giving Tuesday has been one of the biggest fundraising days of the year, raising nearly $3.1 billion last year alone.
This designation was created to encourage people to volunteer, donate and give back to their community. This Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, there are many great ways to give back and ensure you are making the most of this special holiday.
Make the most of your giving
Giving Tuesday is one of the few unique days where nonprofits will match donations. This year, donations made to Scouting America Grand Canyon Council will receive a 100% match. In addition, a generous donor has pledged an additional $100,000 if GCC receives 500 individual donors. These funds allow GCC to provide youth throughout Arizona with guidance in character development, citizenship training, outdoor adventures and personal fitness.
“Every gift, large or small, will bring us closer to this milestone, amplifying our local impact on Scouting and strengthening our community,” says Andy Price, GCC Scout executive.
Another thing to keep in mind is the state of Arizona allows dollar-for-dollar tax credit if donations go to a qualified charitable organization.
For the second year in a row, Arizona has increased the credit amount to $470 for individuals and those filing joint taxes can donate up to $938. The amount will increase again in 2025 to $495 for single filing and $987 for joint filing.
“The Arizona charitable tax credit is a win-win-win; for people as donors, for the nonprofit organizations that mean the most to them, and for our community,” says Laura Kaiser, chief corporate relations and brand officer at Valley of the Sun United Way. “This is an incredible opportunity for Arizona taxpayers to directly influence how their tax dollars are used, while growing their impact on the lives of children, families and individuals throughout the state.”
Ways to give
Donating money on Giving Tuesday is a great way to extend your dollars and collect tax benefits. However, it is not the only way to give back to nonprofit organizations. Donating time and goods are just as important in supporting nonprofits and their clients.
Many nonprofits are gearing up to host annual holiday donation drives. Nourish Phoenix, a local food and clothing bank, is actively collecting toys for a toy drive which ensures all children in the Valley have a present to open on Christmas morning, regardless of the family’s income.
“Holidays are a wonderful time to come together as a family or with friends to offer donations or volunteer with a nonprofit,” says Beth Fiorenza, executive director of Nourish Phoenix. “This is also a time when nonprofits need the most support so we are extremely grateful for any and all contributions.”
Volunteering is the third way to support a nonprofit and allows participants to see their impact right away. Nonprofits often run on skeletal crews and rely on the support of volunteers to serve their clients. Volunteering has also been proven to help individuals with anxiety, depression, loneliness and increases self-esteem.
Where to give
With hundreds of nonprofits in the Valley, there’s an exciting array of causes to support. A great way to choose which nonprofit you want to give to is by starting at your workplace. Many places of employment offer corporate giving programs allowing employees to learn about nonprofits and providing ways to help.
"At LAVIDGE, we created our IMPACT program to make giving back both accessible and personally fulfilling for our employees," says Sandra Torre, co-president and IMPACT Leader. “Through corporate giving programs like ours, employees can connect with impactful nonprofits and get involved in meaningful ways. IMPACT events offer something for everyone whether it’s supporting animal welfare, feeding the homeless or helping children. It exciting to discover and support remarkable nonprofits as a workplace team.”
Finding a nonprofit that aligns with your personal beliefs is also a great way to narrow down who to support.
No matter how you choose to give or which organization you support, make a contribution, large or small, this Giving Tuesday. Your time, skills and generosity will have a powerful impact on the nonprofits and the individuals they serve.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
