It’s Giving Tuesday, one of the most charitable days of the year. The event, started in 2012, encourages people to allocate some of their holiday dollars towards worthy causes.
Last year, $3.1B was donated by over 35 million people, but much of the funding is allocated to larger, well-known organizations that may not need the support as much as smaller, grassroots initiatives led by the communities they serve. We’ve collected some of the causes we recommend if you’re looking to make an impact. We’ve included ways to volunteer, too, so you can support without spending a dime. Here are our recommendations for where to start.
TAKE ACTION
• Use these practices to amplify your philanthropic efforts on Giving Tuesday and every other day!
- Give to smaller, grassroots organizations led by the communities most impacted instead of large, multinational and well-established nonprofit organizations.
- Give on a recurring basis instead of one-time (unless the organization and or the
situation directly calls for that).
- Make proactive plans to volunteer instead of showing up last minute (when you
can!).
Abolition
Abolition gained traction in 2020, but since then, the promises made toward reimagining our criminal legal system have fallen far short. Police funding increased nationwide in 2022 compared to 2019, and our prison population increased for the first time in a decade.
Donate
- Jailhouse Lawyers Speak and Critical Resistance fighting against the prison-industrial complex.
- Just Detention helping incarcerated survivors of sexual abuse.
- Freedom for Immigrants’ National Immigration Detention Bond Fund is working to abolish immigration detention and pay the bonds of detained immigrants.
- Bayview Senior Services helps formerly incarcerated seniors reintegrate.
- Donate books to those incarcerated.
Volunteer
- Write letters to criminalized survivors. Survived and Punished offers addresses and templates to get you started.
Reproductive Rights
It’s been a brutal year for reproductive rights as states move forward with their own decisions after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Since its passing, 14 states have made abortion illegal. Much-needed abortion funds are drying up, and people are increasingly criminalized for having an abortion, a miscarriage, or supporting someone else seeking care. Our bodily right to autonomy can’t be denied by mere legislation. This work can use your help.
Donate
- The Brigid Alliance and Midwest Access Coalition help those seeking abortions with travel, food, lodging, child care, and other support.
- Keep Our Clinics to keep independent abortion clinics in small towns, rural areas, and anti-abortion hostile states open.
- Indigenous Women Rising is a Native-led and Native-centered reproductive justice collective and fund.
- Period OKC, or a local organization, that provides menstrual products and other period support.
Volunteer
- Support the movement to defend frontline defenders supporting people to access their right to abortion. You can amplify the voices of those directly impacted, or share a story you may have of protecting abortion rights directly, or your own experience with abortions.
Political Advocacy
We’re gearing up for a hotly politicized election with distinct differences in values, priorities, and beliefs. Trump, facing multiple charges, is leading the polls while leading a hostile and hateful campaign tour. Meanwhile, failed promises and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are leading to waning support from Black voters and other voters of color. This upcoming election will depend on mobilizing historically excluded voters to get to the polls. Here’s how you can help.
Donate
- Black Voters Matter Fund, which works to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities
- Voice of the Experienced, an organization led by formerly incarcerated people dedicated to restoring voting power for communities impacted by incarceration
Volunteer
- Sign this petition to stop the arrests of formerly incarcerated people in Florida for voting errors.
- Organize a carpool to your next local or state election.
You are reading our daily newsletter, sign up to get it delivered to your inbox every morning.
Indigenous Sovereignty
From land rematriation to water rights, it’s been a pivotal year for Indigenous rights. The federal government has spent more than $8.5B on water rights settlements with Native tribes, forcing many to make tough decisions. And abroad, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is reigniting conversations here at home. Do your part to support.
Donate
- Sovereign Bodies Institute, addressing gender and sexual violence against Indigenous people.
- Native American Rights Fund, fighting for Native and tribal sovereignty for Indigenous people.
- Land back efforts like the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. If you live in the East Bay area in California or Seattle, you can support the Indigenous people of that land by paying rent.
- Hawai’i People’s Fund, which supports grassroots organizations in Hawai’i and those impacted by the Maui fires.
Volunteer
- Share the stories of MMIWG2, like Mika Westwolf, Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, Pepita Redhair, and others.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Although some progress was made for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. this past year, it was an overall sobering time. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of discrimination based on sexual orientation, which directly harmed queer communities but set a dangerous precedent for future court cases. Hundreds of anti-trans and anti-queer legislation was proposed and passed, and book bans are being used to silence LGBTQ+ education and stories in classrooms. And violence against trans people is on the rise. Here are our recommendations for how to support LGBTQ+ communities – on Giving Tuesday and year-round.
Donate
- The TransLatin@ Coalition, a trans Latina-led organization advocating for the needs of Trans Latina immigrants residing in the U.S.
- Zebra Youth provides support for LGBTQ+ individuals aged 13-24 in Florida, one of the most hostile states for LGBTQ+ communities.
- Trans Disabled Care Fund MN provides support for trans and nonbinary disabled people in Minnesota.
- Disability After Dark, a podcast dedicated to highlighting LGBTQ+ disability stories that are often ignored.
Volunteer
- Work with TGI Justice Project, a CA-based, trans-led organization voice, power, and leadership among transgender, gender variant, and intersex people, is looking for a wide range of support.
- Use these resources by the ALA to rally for banned books (yes, the link says Banned Books Week, but you can apply these best practices anytime)!
Gun Violence
The U.S. is currently on track for 700 mass shootings this year, on track to match statistics from last year. Firearms caused more deaths of children under the age of 17 in the U.S. than any other type of injury or illness. Despite that, federal legislation in Congress has stalled, and the Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could limit Congress on gun control. Gun violence is difficult to curb without federal legislation, but here are a few causes addressing contributing factors – and offering ways to heal – in its absence.
Donate
- Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, a Chicago-based grassroots organization that helps people heal from trauma in partnership with community-based organizations.
- Community Justice Action Fund, or a local organization, confronting gun violence.
- YEAHPhilly, working to reduce the impact of violence on Black youths in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
- Survivors Lead, a survivor-led group helping survivors and the families impacted by gun violence.
Volunteer
- Sign the Everytown petition to hold the gun industry accountable for youth deaths.
- Written by
- Nicole Cardoza
- First published
- in Anti-Racism Daily