On December 3, 2013, the nation will be celebrating its second annual day of giving. #GivingTuesday is a movement started by the United Nations Foundation to kick off the holiday season in the right spirit by encouraging and celebrating nonprofit organizations. Following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is a day for communities to come together and support the charities they love.
When the United Nations Foundation launched the #GivingTuesday campaign last year, the world instantly got on board. There were over $10 million in online donations on #GivingTuesday 2012 – a 53% increase from the Tuesday after Thanksgiving the previous year. With a 46% increase in online donations and more than 50 million people worldwide trending the hashtag on social media, #GivingTuesday quickly solidified itself as a day as monumental as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Whether you are an Invisible Children supporter, fundraiser, or simply browsing our blog, we want to invite you to celebrate #GivingTuesday with us as we reflect on the incredible successes we’ve seen for the rescue and rehabilitation of children kidnapped by Joseph Kony’s army.
As a charity, we make sure our resources are spent as effectively and efficiently as possible. That’s why 81.48% of donations fund the life-saving programs in our four-part model, while only 12.99% is spent on overhead costs and 5.53% on fundraising efforts. However, statistics only paint a portion of the picture: the stories of Opondo’s escape from the LRA, or Joseph Kony’s child rescued from danger, or George reunited with his family and starting a brand new life, are what remind us of the true value of our work.
Regardless of what cause is closest to your heart this #GivingTuesday, be sure to volunteer, promote, or donate to your favorite charity in whatever capacity feels right to you. December 3rd may be only the second annual #GivingTuesday, but it’s a trend worth continuing.
Think people should hear about this?