Community groups, charities and their supporters are being urged to jump on board to one of the world’s largest giving bonanza in the leadup to the December giving season. 

#GivingTuesday, December 3, has become a fast-growing antidote to the pre-Christmas consumer frenzy, with everyone from tiny charities and big business getting involved. 

Already thriving in 50 countries, this year Our Community through it’s giving arm GiveNow is promoting Australia’s involvement, and is well advanced in its target of getting more than 1000 groups on board. 

Groups are set to propel #GivingTuesdayAUS as a social media trend while boosting their own coffers, adding to their volunteer base, and generating new ways to help their favourite cause. 

And with just seven weeks to go, the campaign is picking up steam, with more than 100 officially registered, and hundreds more taking advantage of free webinars and campaign materials. #Giving Tuesday’s global leaders recommend a six-week campaign for those getting on board, so it is crunch time for community groups.  

At the big end of town, big businesses are finalising their #GivingTuesday support.  And Knitted Knockers are among hundreds of grassroots groups gearing up for their campaigns. The national organisation knits free prosthetic breasts for cancer survivors with the help of volunteer knitters across Australia.  

They’ve joined Groomed to Go, Microlend Australia and Women’s Federation for World Peace Australia, Lifeline, St Vincent de Paul, OzHarvest, Second Bite, Fitted for Work, McAuley Community Services for Women, and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, who are getting their campaigns underway.  

Not surprisingly, research, health and disability organisations feature prominently. There’s the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation, Kidney Health Australia, Cancer Wellness Support, Burnet Institute, Charlies Foundation for Research, Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Alkira, Ability Centre, Autism Adivsory & Support Services and Prada-Willi Syndrome Australia.  

Others getting involved include many local councils from Brimbank to Yarra Ranges, businesses like Work Logic and NZ’s FrankAdvice, and a huge variety of religious charities and support groups. 

It’s a campaign that has gotten the thumbs up from Australia’s leading fundraisers. 

Fundraising Institute of Australia CEO Katherine Raskob said the #GivingTuesday movement was set to provide a shot in the arm for Australia’s 600,000 not-for-profits and charities, partly due to the ease of joining the movement. 

“We believe this global day of giving is compelling and will inspire public generosity at an important time of year,” Raskkob said. 

Our Community executive director Kathy Richardson said #GivingTuesday had raised $1.8 billion and millions of volunteer hours in just seven years across the globe but continued to grow rapidly, and to boost the amount raised for causes overall. 

“Research shows GivingTuesday does more than just move donations from one day of the year to another – it brings in money that wouldn’t otherwise have been donated,” Richardson said. “Since it began in the United States seven years ago, GivingTuesday has reached more than 50 countries. In 2019, China, Germany and Somalia will join in and Australia is gearing up for its biggest ever involvement.” 

Richardson said GivingTuesday is now truly a global celebration of generosity: a dedicated day of the year when people donate their time, goods, or dollars, or the power of their voice to charities, causes and community groups.” 

“No one owns this movement and organisations across the world have used the day to experiment with new ideas. We’re expecting to see that here too,” he said. “The aim of the GivingTuesday movement is to spread generosity and make giving go viral. We want to inspire Australians – who are renowned for stepping up to help each other out – to join in. We want them to want to post on social media (#GivingTuesdayAUS) and talk to their friends, families and colleagues about the causes that they care about enough to give to.“