Giving Tuesday ramps up globally to tackle COVID-19

Charity leaders say the world’s giving spirit is needed now more than ever 

Australian charities are being urged to get involved in a global day of giving and unity launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis.          

Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement born in the US, recently announced that #GivingTuesdayNow would take place on 5 May this year.

Organisers hope this day will drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, philanthropy, and support for communities and charities around the world.

Giving Tuesday – which was pitched as an antidote to the consumer frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sales – last year generated $2 billion in giving, just in the US alone. 

Rob Reich, who serves as chair of the board for Giving Tuesday, said this additional giving day was being organised in response to the needs expressed by communities and leaders across the globe.

“For eight years, GivingTuesday has celebrated grassroots generosity, and has built a movement that empowers millions of people to give, engage their communities, and find common ground,” Reich said.

“We are all confronting the same challenge right now, we need the giving spirit more than ever.”

While Giving Tuesday has proved a tremendous success in the US, Australia is yet to fully jump on board.

In 2018, only 7 per cent of Australia and New Zealand’s charities took part in the day and organisations said they did not notice a difference in giving levels even when they did take part. 

David Crosbie, Community Council for Australia CEO, told Pro Bono News now was the perfect time for Australian charities to jump on board the movement.

 “If ever there was a time when we need our communities to engage with and support charities, it is now,” Crosbie said.

 “The day of global action for giving and unity is a rallying call to all charities to be heard and acknowledged.”

Crosbie said he hoped charities across Australia would organise different kinds of public engagement, awareness raising, and opportunities for their communities to give and support their work.  

 “We can reduce the vulnerability of charities by increasing the value our communities place upon them,” he said.

“[This day] is an important opportunity for all of us to highlight the value created by big and small charities across Australia, and to increase community engagement and support.”

Asha Curran, CEO of Giving Tuesday, said the global community could both mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding a way to support one another.

She said #GivingTuesdayNow was a chance to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show we are all in this together.

“Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size,” Curran said.

“Every act of kindness is not only a beacon of hope, it’s a critical act of civic and social solidarity.”