Giving Tuesday: An invitation to stand in the gap
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Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. It is quickly followed by Cyber Monday, which offers even more deals from online retailers. Both of these days tempt us with the question “What do you want?” I’d love to tell you that I am immune from the whirlwind of hype and deals set to holiday music, but I’m not. I love a good deal. So, I’m not here to shame you for spending a little more than was in your budget this month.
But what I get really excited about is today: Giving Tuesday. It encourages radical generosity. Or, as I prefer to think of it, Giving Tuesday asks us “What do you really want?” Not just what you want today or tomorrow, but what do you want for generations to come? Giving Tuesday asks us to stand in the gap — the gap between the present and the future, the gap between who we are and who we want to be, the gap between our teachings and our reality, the gap between our challenges and our aspirations.
You have likely already seen a lot of Giving Tuesday emails and social media posts from nonprofits asking for gifts today. That is because nonprofits need resources – including financial resources – to make your aspirations for the community come true. However, too often, the act of giving is viewed as a one-way street. When we give to a cause, we may see ourselves as benefactors, while the organizations are seen as passive beneficiaries. But, what if, instead, we think of our gift as an investment, an investment in our shared experience and collective future. By joining our financial gift with the nonprofit’s expertise, we create a recipe for true transformation that wouldn’t be possible without the two coming together.
There is a misconception that only large gifts matter and only people with great wealth can be philanthropists. Giving Tuesday says otherwise. As the leader of a nonprofit myself, I can tell you without hesitation that every gift, no matter how large or how small, has a big impact. Most organizations can also help you set up a monthly giving plan, so you can spread the expense of your gift throughout the year rather than feeling it come out of your wallet all at once. For example, you can set up a monthly gift of $25 which will add up to $300 over the course of the year. $300 combined with a nonprofit’s mission can do a lot of good.
On Giving Tuesday and beyond, let’s strive to stand in the gaps and be bridge builders—to celebrate not just the act of giving but the power of a collaborative, meaningful exchange that lifts us all. Together, we can transform giving from a simple action into a force that unites, empowers, and sustains communities.
