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Donate your dollars or time right in your own backyard!
We may have had a far longer history of the shopping sales phenomenon known as Black Friday, but the newer additions of a Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday are much more recent.
Giving Tuesday got its start in 2012, with a simple goal of encouraging others “to do good.” The nonprofit which now coordinates and promotes such efforts, GivingTuesday.org said that the concept was really “born and incubated” in New York City. The agency credits a 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact with the idea that now issue used to inspire a global movement.
Designated as the Tuesday after Thanksgiving Thursday each year, the date will fall on Tuesday, Dec. 3. While the world is full of plenty of worthy organizations, one University of Chicago Booth School of Business study said donors are often encouraged to give when they can see the result of their dollars improving the local community. Great Nonprofits said that the money even grows when it is donated locally.
“For every $1 donated, the public receives about $3 in benefits,” said a 2021 study on the organization’s website. “Charitable giving has a ripple effect that impacts local economies in communities across the United States.”
If you’re hoping to give a bit back to a charity near and dear to your heart, why not find one that fits the bill in your own back yard? Here are some nonprofits that are a part of your local community.
Dedicated to preserving the history of Lower Gwynedd, Whitpain, and Ambler communities, the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is always a great choice to give dollars back to the local area. Housed in the Whitpain 1895 Public School in Whitpain Township, offers speakers series events, preservation of important landmarks and historical sites, and tours of community features.
A name that is likely familiar to the community already, the Ambler Main Street organization is another nonprofit right in the heart of our town. While you’ve likely taken part in the organization’s parades, farmers’ markets, First Fridays, Art & Music Festival, and so much more, you may not be aware that it is a nonprofit, too! Aimed at promoting the social, cultural, and business operations in Downtown Ambler, this group is comprised of volunteers, community members, and business owners with connection to the Borough of Ambler.
Based in Lower Gwynedd Township, this foundation has a mission to support other Philadelphia organizations that help those struggling daily with racial and economic injustices. With a variety of direct services, capacity building, and mission-related investments, the PKFF even maintains a Nonprofit Resource Guide, which may help you even futher in choosing where to donate your dollars.
Created in 2018 to provide relief to community members who need it most, the UDCEF provides township residents who face immediate and critical needs, such as food, shelter, medical care, or clothing, which often occurs after devastating incidents within the township, such as a fire or tornado. The organization works in conjunction with community partners, such as the Upper Dublin Police, Fort Washington Fire Company, Family Promise Montco Pa., Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard, UD Helping Hands, and the Upper Dublin School District (all of which are wonderful area selections for your donations on their own, too). These agencies are working the front lines of such challenges, and often can recommend UDCEF services where they’re needed most.
Located at 100 Cedar Grove Road in Conshohocken, this Whitemarsh nonprofit brings the arts to surrounding communities. Since its establishment in 1964, its goal to offer workshops, educational sessions, and the promotion of the arts has continued through the years. From financial donations, to volunteering opportunities, a tax-deductible donation to the Art Center can go a long way in teaching all ages more about the arts.
This list is in no way intended to be the only nonprofits in the local area, but instead is aimed to give you some ideas on how you can become involved in Giving Tuesday right in your own backyard.
