The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave Giving Tuesday the largest grant they have received to date just in time for Giving Tuesday's 10th anniversary.
What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday (GT) is the organization that created the boundary-breaking global generosity movement. It all started in 2012 as a pilot project at the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact in New York City.
The project was 24 hours for people to give anything they were capable of, a hug, a smile, or a small donation of canned goods. No matter how big or small the project believed that “everybody has something to give and every act of generosity counts”. - Giving Tuesday website.
The project was a hit and took off becoming an independent nonprofit and eventually, the global movement we know today.
Does Giving Tuesday Work?
It sure does. Many people doubted the project wondering if it would be a success, it surpassed even Asha Curran’s, CEO of Giving Tuesday, wildest dreams.
In 2019, GT raised 1.9 billion. Many theorized that because of the pandemic there would be withdrawal from charitable activities and as a result, GT would make considerably less than in previous years. That could not have been further from the truth. A whopping 2.5 billion was raised in 2020, in 2021, 2.7 billion and the prediction for 2022 is 3.22 billion.
How Does Giving Tuesday Work?
Giving Tuesday is the snowball effect in action, when one small act builds upon other small acts, it builds momentum and speeds up until it has a tremendous impact. Working together to raise funds on Giving Tuesday amplifies everyone’s impact.
GT also allows people to choose whom they want to support and how. If you have extra clothes donate them, if you have a little extra cash left over after thanksgiving, give it to your favorite charity. The idea is that you give your time, your money, or your talents in a way that suits you best!
GT is trending. It feels great to be a part of something bigger than yourself especially when it is what the cool kids are doing. Giving is in, after a long three years of social distancing and isolation, people want to be involved now more than ever. It is no wonder GT is flooding social media.
Who are the Cool Kids? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMG) decided to give an incredibly generous, $10 million to the Giving Tuesday organization. BMG saw the exponential growth that GT had accomplished both financially and geographically (in 85 different countries to date). BMG loved that GT has been able to help and be a powerful intervention tool for countries needing immediate relief. The other draw to GT was its universal message of giving.
“Anyone can be a giver. Everyone has resources to share and make the world a better place—whether it’s through time, money, expertise, or your voice,” said Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Future of Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday intends to use the funds received from the BMF to scale its current programs and start new initiatives. More specifically, GT will continue to support its regional leaders, build bonds with local charities, and grow a culture that prioritizes giving and generosity. It will also use the grant to collect data, which will be used to understand giving behavior and then utilize this to enhance these behaviors all over the world. Finally, GT will launch Giving Tuesday initiatives in new countries, expanding their outreach and the spirit of generosity even further.
The future is certainly bright for Giving Tuesday. Giving for the sake of giving, what’s not to love?
