Did you know that in 2022, Giving Tuesday raised over $3.1 billion for charitable causes in just 24 hours? This global movement of generosity offers businesses a unique opportunity to give back to their communities while strengthening internal team bonds.
Beyond charitable donations, participating in this annual event can inspire collaboration, boost morale, and align your company with meaningful causes. In this blog, we’ll explore how Giving Tuesday can not only make a positive impact on those in need but also foster a culture of giving within your organization, leaving lasting benefits for both your team and your community.
What and When is Giving Tuesday?
Before we get too deep, let’s look at the two basic questions—what is Giving Tuesday all about and when is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. For 2024, it will be on Tuesday, December 3rd. The date can change from year to year, but it is always the Tuesday immediately after Thanksgiving.
So what is Giving Tuesday? It’s essentially a day dedicated to giving. The idea is that after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we should all take a day to give back to our communities and those in need. It’s often called a “generosity movement,” which makes sense since the holiday is all about giving back. Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity for you and your team to bond while helping out your community.
If you’re worried about what to do for Giving Tuesday, don’t worry; we’re going to provide a bunch of Giving Tuesday ideas you can use this December 3rd. For now, let’s take a look at the why.
Why Your Company Should Celebrate Giving Tuesday
While this isn’t a list of every reason or benefit, this should help you see why Giving Tuesday is so important and beneficial for businesses and their teams.
First, we need to talk about corporate social responsibility (CSR). In simple terms, CSR is when businesses take an active role in social issues and make the world a better place by taking action on issues such as social justice, the environment, and more.
CSR comes with many benefits. It helps unite teams, increase engagement, boost retention, and much more. Engaging in CSR such as Giving Tuesday benefits your team members individually, your team as a whole, and your business.
Giving Tuesday is also a way to keep up momentum through Thanksgiving. It can serve as a motivator for when the holiday is over, as well as keep employees engaged and excited for work as their break ends.
It’s also a perfect time for your team to have a shared learning experience. These experiences bring people together, strengthen bonds, and help us learn more about each other. They are a valuable asset to a business and its teams.
Giving Tuesday Ideas for the Workplace
Now that you know what Giving Tuesday is, when it is, and why you should celebrate it, it’s time to look at some Giving Tuesday ideas. The hardest part is often figuring out what you want to do, so we’re going to give you some ideas.
Remember that these ideas are a starting point. Don’t be afraid to tailor these ideas to your team or community’s specific needs. The best events are those that are perfectly suited to your situation, so try customizing events a bit.
Also, there are lots of inspiring ideas online. If you’re still struggling to find Giving Tuesday ideas after this, take a look online and see what others have done. That can be a great way to find new ideas and get your imagination rolling.
Donating
Donating is a very direct embodiment of Giving Tuesday and one of the most reliable community giving ideas. By donating to various causes or charities, you can make an impact on those communities and truly give back. Here are some suggestions for donating:
Match Employee Donations: This is a good option because it lets employees choose where they want to donate, making them feel more involved and engaged with Giving Tuesday.
Give Socially Responsible Gifts: This means buying gifts from brands that donate proceeds to nonprofits. A lot of people choose this option because they get to donate while also rewarding their employees with a gift.
Give Donation Credits instead of Gifts: Similar to donating matching, giving donation credits gives employees more agency and the ability to choose where they want to donate.
Givify Your Holiday Party: Create a company-sponsored donation for each employee who attends the holiday part. This not only does good, but it also boosts employee engagement—meaning it’s a win-win.
And remember, these are just suggestions. There are many ways to donate, so feel free to donate in your own way. Just be sure that the focus is on giving back to the community and those in need.
Volunteering
Volunteering is another one of the common Giving Tuesday ideas. It is a great choice because it requires you and your employees to be directly involved as opposed to just donating money. That means you get the benefits of volunteering, such as improved mental health, on top of being able to bond with your team and give back to the community at the same time.
As with donating, the possibilities for volunteering are endless. We’re going to provide a couple of common choices, but feel free to volunteer in a way that makes sense for your team and community.
Organize a Park Clean-up: Parks are key for any healthy community, but they often get filled up with trash and other refuse. Organizing a park clean-up is the perfect way to get involved directly while making a clear and noticeable difference.
Volunteer at an Animal Shelter: Who doesn’t love animals? Shelters are always in need, especially around busy times like the holidays. Volunteering at a shelter is not only rewarding, but you also get to make a clear impact on the lives of countless animals in need.
Work at a Soup Kitchen: Soup kitchens are an incredibly valuable resource to support those who need food. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen, help provide sustenance, and change lives while building bonds with your team.
Raising Awareness
Another popular Giving Tuesday idea is raising awareness for a specific cause or issue you and your team/organization care about. Many like this option because they have the freedom to choose what issue they want to raise awareness about.
Take to Social Media: Social media is a powerful tool to raise awareness. Create a hashtag like #givingtuesday or #savetheocean and use it to spread the word of Giving Tuesday and your cause.
Involve Customers and Stakeholders: Creating an email campaign to send externally while encouraging them to match your donation can help bring awareness and increase donations, all while bonding with customers and stakeholders over a common cause.
As always, there are other ways to raise awareness. For example, you could organize a charity bake sale or other event to create more awareness in your local community while also raising money for that cause.
Charitable Team Building
Our favorite of the Giving Tuesday ideas is charitable team building. This is an incredible way to build bonds, grow as a team, and learn more about each other—all while directly helping out those in need and contributing to a cause. Here are some potential Giving Tuesday events:
Build Skateboards for Charity: With this event, you and your team will assemble and design skateboards that go to children in need. You’ll flex your creative muscles while doing a good deed.
Do Good Bus: With the Do Good Bus, you get to travel around your city while working to help contribute to and raise awareness for local causes. This is an incredibly fun and rewarding event that also gives you the chance to contribute to charitable causes.
Build Donations for a Food Bank: Like soup kitchens, food banks are a vital community resource. This event involves directly helping out in a food bank by cooking. Again, you get to have fun and bond while making a difference.
Giving Tuesday Quotes to Share on Social
It can be easy to overlook the power of social media when it comes to charity and giving, but it can have a big impact. Quotes, for example, can pull at heartstrings and get people more interested.
Posting some Giving Tuesday quotes on social media can help get your team and your community/network motivated to participate in Giving Tuesday alongside you. Here are some Giving Tuesday quotes to consider posting on social media:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” – John Bunyan.
“There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.” – Idowu Koyenikan.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Hellen Keller.
Celebrate Giving Tuesday 2024 with TeamBonding
Giving Tuesday is a holiday all about giving back and making the world around you a better place. It is a perfect opportunity to make a difference while building bonds and strengthening relationships with team members.
If you need help planning Giving Tuesday, TeamBonding is ready to help. We have numerous charitable team building events that can make your Giving Tuesday planning easy. Take action this Giving Tuesday and help those in need with TeamBonding. Get in touch with us today to start planning your Giving Tuesday event.
