GivingTuesday organizers hope for increase in donations

The annual charitable event set a record last year with $3.6 billion being given in the United States.

GivingTuesday, an influential charitable movement following Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, has proven just how much power people hold when they act together.

According to GivingTuesday. com, donations in the United States reached an estimated $3.6 billion in 2024.

That was a 16% increase from 2023 and the highest single day of giving in the event’s 12-year history.

The annual day of generosity returns this week, and nonprofits across Allegheny, Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties are hopeful for another record year of local support.

Since its launch in 2012, GivingTuesday has generated more than $18.5 billion in donations in the United States. Participation has grown steadily, with tens of millions of people giving their time, money, goods or voice to causes that matter to them.

In 2024, 36.1 million people took part nationwide, a 7% increase from the previous year. Organizers said 18.5 million people made financial contributions, up 4%.

Another 12.9 million chose to donate goods, which represented a 32% jump and one of the most significant growth areas of the campaign.

Volunteering also remained strong, with 9.2 million participants offering their time, a 4% increase.

Meanwhile, 16.6 million people publicly spoke out about causes they support, using social media and other platforms to draw attention to needs in their communities.

Each figure is tracked through the GivingTuesday Data Commons, a coalition of more than 60 partner organizations including Blackbaud, PayPal, Fidelity Charitable, DonorsChoose and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The data helps measure trends and gives nonprofits a clearer picture of how donors choose to engage.

“Generosity isn’t just about money. It’s about connection and community,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday. She said the movement continues to grow because people are looking for ways to support one another in a time that can feel divided.

In the Mon Valley, the list of nonprofits deserving of support is long.

Many are participating through Give Big Pittsburgh, a regional GivingTuesday hub that allows donors to browse hundreds of local organizations across Western Pennsylvania.

The platform, used heavily by nonprofits in Allegheny, Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, raised more than $4 million regionally last year. Local leaders hope that number climbs again.

In the past, participants have included food pantries, local fire departments, libraries, animal rescues and youth sports organizations.

Many are expected to return this year, using the platform to reach donors who want to keep their giving close to home.

For example, the American Red Cross of Greater Pittsburgh will participate again, using GivingTuesday donations to support disaster response efforts, emergency sheltering, blood collection and services for families affected by home fires and other emergencies.

Red Cross officials said winter is a particularly critical time for support as weather-related emergencies increase and families face rising seasonal needs.

Residents can get involved by donating online at Give-BigPittsburgh.com, where hundreds of local organizations are listed and allow donors to filter by county, cause, or need.

Those who can’t donate monetarily can volunteer their time or donate gently used items to help with holiday programs, food distribution and winter outreach.

Items such as coats, toiletries, toys and canned food remain in high demand heading into the holiday season.

The GivingTuesday movement is built on small actions that continue to show generosity can scale quickly when people decide to act.

More information on the global initiative is available at GivingTuesday.com, and local campaigns can be found at GiveBigPittsburgh.com.