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Five ways to give on Giving Tuesday despite a smaller budget

Many nonprofit leaders fear people may be less charitable this year due to rising costs and tighter budgets.

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By
Keely Arthur
, WRAL consumer reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — The holiday giving season kicks off with Giving Tuesday, but many nonprofit leaders fear people may be less charitable this year due to rising costs and tighter budgets.
Thomas Tighe is the president and CEO of Direct Relief, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency medical assistance and disaster relief in the U.S. and around world. Tighe said the nonprofit world is waiting to see how much the state of the economy affects donations this year.
“We are in tough times,” Tighe said. “I mean, nonprofits are supposed to step up, which is a challenge when there’s just less money available.

"I think we will know how we did in January but there are some reasons to be concerned."

Before forgoing giving-know that there are many ways to do so without breaking the bank and you’ll feel pretty good in the process.

  1. Volunteer: Volunteering is the first way you can give this season without breaking the bank. Be sure to check with your employer, you might have paid volunteer days at your place of work meaning you can volunteer on company time.
  2. Matching donations: If you donate monetarily maximize your money by taking advantage of one of the many non-profits offering to match donations on Giving Tuesday. The American Heart Association and World Vision both do this. Talk with your company’s human resources department to see if they’ll match your donation.
  3. Check for hidden fees: Make sure you’re method of donation doesn’t come with hidden fees. Some methods, like the “text to give" take processing fees. The PayPal Giving Fund, for example, ensures that 100% of your donation goes to the cause.
  4. Show your support: If giving your time or money this year isn’t in the cards consider posting about your favorite cause and giving it exposure. “Even if you’re not able to make a financial gift you can show your support in a public way,” Tighe said.
  5. Avoid scams: Make sure you’re money isn’t going to scammers. Verify who you’re donating to by vetting the charity and using sites like the Better Business Bureau's give.org.
Nearly one-fifth of all giving each year happens in December, Tighe said.
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