The end of the year is filled with  the spirit of giving, with #GivingTuesday as the unofficial start to the giving season. This year, the impact of COVID-19 has created unprecedented need in our community. Local nonprofits are stepping up to meet West Michigan’s most pressing needs, but they need our support to meet the increased demands for their services and ensure their financial stability.

A global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration, Giving Tuesday is about ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things. In 2019, the #GivingTuesday movement drove over $500 million in online gifts to nonprofit or philanthropic organizations – an increase of almost 28 percent over 2018.

In Grand Rapids, nonprofits have come together to celebrate generosity under the #GRGives hashtag. Here are three ways you can participate in #GivingTuesday and make a difference this year:

1. SHARE THE LOVE
   Start by helping us spread the word across social media about how #GRgives on #GivingTuesday. Introduce your friends to the nonprofits you love – share a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post about the nonprofits you support and the work they are doing in our community. 
2. GET HANDS ON
   Writing cards of encouragement or thanking essential workers is a great activity that can involve and engage children, building a habit of gratitude and generosity
3. GIVE 
   The GRGives website, grgives.com, is a great way to learn about new-to-you nonprofits! There you’ll find a directory of local nonprofit organizations who are doing important work in West Michigan and could use your support. You can filter by their priorities within the directory. 

Support the Community Foundation on Giving Tuesday

If you’d like to give to a fund at the Community Foundation, you can make a donation here. The collective gifts of each of our partners is what allows the Community Foundation to continue to support the ever-changing needs of our community. For a full list of nonprofits participating in #GRGives and links to their individual donation pages, click here.