4 Steps to Choose a Charity on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global giving movement fueled by social media and inspired by a vision to make the world a better place. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 with a simple goal: encourage people everywhere to be generous.

Since then, this goal has turned into a global movement in which millions of people give generously, do good, and celebrate one another. Giving Tuesday 2023 lands on November 28.

If you’re wondering how you can make the biggest impact with your gift, below are four ways to choose a charity on Giving Tuesday.

1. Ask Yourself, “What Inspires Me?”

Determining your passions is a great way to kickstart your search for the charity of your choosing. A few questions to help you find what inspires you are the following:

• What motivates me?
• What type of work makes me smile?
• What injustices do I see that bring forth an emotional response?

Often, what stirs emotion in you is what you care about at your core. Every person has a problem that they feel instinctively passionate about solving. Maybe it’s mentoring underprivileged children or helping homeless veterans. Perhaps it’s bringing clean water to families in rural parts of the globe. Consider these questions to narrow your passions.

2. Align Your Values

Now that you’ve begun thinking about causes close to your heart, identify your values. Your values are what guides your passion. They keep you moving forward, and they can help decide which organization to choose on Giving Tuesday 2023.

Below are questions to help clarify your values and find a nonprofit that aligns with you.

• Does it matter if the charity is faith based?
• How important is sustainability to me?
• Am I interested in development (long-term, permanent solutions) or relief work (immediate, short-term solutions to urgent needs/emergencies)?
• Do I prefer international work or something closer to home?
• Do I prefer a large, well-known organization, or do I value more of a lean, nimble nonprofit?

You can find mission and values statements on most nonprofit websites. Understanding your own values and comparing them to other nonprofits can help you decide which charity or charities you want to invest in for Giving Tuesday 2023.

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3. Search Charity Navigator

Another way to choose a charity on Giving Tuesday is to browse ratings from a third party. Charity Navigator is a trusted, independent resource for evaluating charities of all types. To find a charity on Giving Tuesday, just search the names of the organizations you’re considering.

You can also search by organization type and filter by rating, size of the organization, or the scope of the work. When you click on a charity, you’ll get access to their overall rating, their financial rating, and their transparency status. You’ll also be able to see how their programs have made an impact on the problems they seek to solve.

Look for organizations that have a four star rating– the highest offered by Charity Navigator. Four stars means that the organization “Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” It’s a sign of an overall healthy organization that can be trusted with your gift.

4. Look for Real Impact

If you’re giving to a charity that aligns with your passions, your values, and has positive ratings on Charity Navigator, the final piece is to determine the impact of your giving.

A great way to see if a charity is making a positive impact in the areas you care about is that they track progress and share regular updates with their donors. Take a look at their website and social media presence. Do they provide data-backed updates? Are they sharing stories of change?

These things show that the organization values accuracy and transparency. And with this information, you’ll know that your gift will make a difference.

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Help Stop The Global Water Crisis With Lifewater This Giving Tuesday

This Giving Tuesday is an excellent time to make a big impact.

For over 40 years, Lifewater has operated as a faith-based clean water and community health organization committed to helping families living in extreme poverty thrive. Lifewater currently holds Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star charity rating.

We bring safe and clean water to remote communities in great need, and this season, we want you to help bring change to those who need it most.

This Giving Tuesday, Lifewater needs your help to give the most basic gift of life to those who need it most, through safe water access, sanitation, and hygiene.

THINK LIFEWATER THIS GIVING TUESDAY. CLICK HERE TO HELP!