Today is GivingTuesdayCLT. What that means and how you can help
I gave thanks Thursday, avoided Black Friday, shopped local on Small Business Saturday and logged on to Cyber Monday. Now what? GivingTuesdayCLT.
Today, for the second year in a row, Share Charlotte will ask Charlotteans to include dozens of nonprofits in their gift giving this holiday season. And the group has a big goal for today’s campaign: Raising $2 million dollars for the 108 participating nonprofits, more than three times the amount raised last year.
“You can’t fail in this business, really,” Share Charlotte founder Kelly Brooks said. “Any amount is wonderful for these nonprofits, and if we can engage people and get them understanding the needs of the local community here … then I think we’ve won.”
How you can help:
– By giving money: The #GivingTuesdayCLT website has a list of 108 nonprofits you can choose from, or you can donate to the general fund, which will be dispersed evenly to the nonprofits.
– By giving time: Pledge to spend any number of hours volunteering in 2016. Obviously, they can’t hold you to this, but you’re honest and trustworthy people, right? (These hours will go toward the $2 million total, valuing each hour at $23.07 based on Independent Sector’s estimation.)
– By giving stuff: The giving page also has links to the wish lists of some nonprofits, so you can buy specific gifts instead of just sending money.
– By buying a T-shirt from 704 Shop.
A photo posted by SHARE Charlotte (@sharecharlotte) on Nov 25, 2015 at 3:36pm PST
– By drinking a beer: Share Charlotte will celebrate #GivingTuesdayCLT with a party 5-9 p.m. tonight at Heist Brewery. It’ll include a DJ, race car drivers and a special-release beer, My Gift, with proceeds going to campaign.
Will you be at the #GivingTuesdayCLT Kickoff Party tonight at @heistbrewery? Grab a pint of “My Gift”, a delicious brew with proceeds going to #GivingTuesdayCLT! ・・・ Our speciality brew this evening for #GivingTuesdayCLT is #MyGift – A brew that is deep red in color with a pronounced #malty backbone. A unique blend of #americanhops provides #floral and #herbaceous flavors and aromas. 5.4% ABV, 54 IBUs, 18 SRM. $6.50 for each beer, $5 for the souvenir glass, or $10.50 for both with a portion of all proceeds going back to local non-profits (a list of over 100 organizations!). #sharecharlotte #whatsyourgift #givingtuesday #cltbeer #craftbeer #noda A photo posted by SHARE Charlotte (@sharecharlotte) on Nov 10, 2015 at 1:25pm PST
Let’s be real, your money does a lot more good going to nonprofits today than it does going to a new 100-inch TV on Black Friday.
The 92nd Street Y in New York City created Giving Tuesday in 2012 as a “global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration,” according to its website. Share Charlotte, an organization that helps connect people to local nonprofits, launched its version of the campaign last year.
In that first campaign, Share Charlotte raised more than $600,000 for 64 nonprofits, including donations from 450 people who had never given to those nonprofits before.
Brooks and Share Charlotte decided to go bigger this year, bringing in more sponsors, more matching grant money and more marketing partners to spread the word. And by setting a loftier goal.
A photo posted by SHARE Charlotte (@sharecharlotte) on Nov 28, 2015 at 11:15am PST
Share Charlotte will find out if it hit its goal Friday and will announce the results next Tuesday, Dec. 8. But, really, it’s not about hitting the goal. OK, it’s a little about hitting the goal, but it’s also about getting more people engaged in the Charlotte nonprofit community.
“It’s all about raising the level of giving in Charlotte and raising the awareness of the nonprofits here in Charlotte,” Brooks said. “We’re just excited to go out and kick some butt and see where it takes us.”
Photos: Corey Inscoe
This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Today is GivingTuesdayCLT. What that means and how you can help."