What is GivingTuesday and how can my charity take part?

GivingTuesday is the global day of giving on the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving: 1 December 2026. Here is how your charity can take part and where to start.

GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity held every year on the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving. In 2026 that is Tuesday 1 December. Any charity, foundation or association can take part: you do not need special permission, just a clear ask and one place where people can give.

What exactly is GivingTuesday?

The movement started in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y's Belfer Center in New York and has since become an independent non-profit. By its own account it works through regional hubs on six continents, Europe included. The idea is simple: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are about buying, GivingTuesday is about giving. That can mean money, but also time, goods or a kind word.

When is GivingTuesday 2026?

GivingTuesday's own website gives the 2026 date as 1 December. That matches the rule: Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November (26 November 2026), so the Tuesday after is 1 December. The Belgian and French GivingTuesday sites quote the same date. It sits in the first week of December, in the middle of year-end giving season.

Who can take part?

Anyone. Charities, but also schools, sports clubs, neighbourhood groups and companies. The Dutch charity watchdog CBF describes it as open to everyone: giving money or goods to recognised charities, volunteering, helping a neighbour or paying someone a compliment.

The official nonprofit toolkit says there is no registration for GivingTuesday and all organisations are welcome. In Belgium and France you can also list your organisation on the national site so people who look for GivingTuesday can find you.

Why should your organisation join in?

Four reasons: a ready-made occasion to ask, shared attention, a chance at new donors and a springboard into year-end.

  • A ready-made reason to ask. You do not have to invent an occasion. The day is a natural moment to show your work.
  • Shared attention. Many organisations talk about giving at the same time, so your followers are already in the mood.
  • A chance at new donors. People who give for the first time often stay in touch if you thank them well.
  • A springboard into year-end. What you build on 1 December helps the rest of December too.

How does your charity join in, in five steps?

Pick one goal, create one place to give, tell one story, ask others to share, and thank quickly with the result attached.

  1. Pick one concrete goal. "100 warm meals" beats "support our work".
  2. Create one place to give. One page, not five. On a phone it should take a minute.
  3. Tell one story. One person, one change, one photo you have permission to use.
  4. Ask others to share. Your own reach is small; your supporters' reach is much bigger.
  5. Thank quickly and show the result. That is what makes people give again next year.

For a fuller plan, see our article on planning a GivingTuesday campaign step by step.

What does a first time look like for a small charity?

Picture a small association running a neighbourhood kitchen. It picks 100 meals as its goal and sets three amounts with labels in the donation form. Two weeks ahead it shares one volunteer's story.

On the day it posts a few short messages and sends one email. Afterwards it thanks everyone and shows what the day achieved. That is modest, but it is enough, and a solid base to build on next year. (The example is invented.)

How does WeGlow help?

You do not need to build a separate website. With WeGlow.world you create a campaign page with a donation form where people choose a one-off or monthly gift, with your own amounts and a label per amount (for example "A warm meal"). The form asks for first name and email address and works on a phone.

Supporters can also start their own fundraiser page for your campaign, so friends ask friends. Glowie can draft a campaign for you; you review it and confirm before it goes live.

To keep supporters in the loop, WeGlow Mail sits inside your dashboard, with a block editor, a test email to yourself and scheduling for a date and time you choose. Mail is free up to 250 contacts in every plan, and with the Pro platform plan (€40 per month or €400 per year, excl. VAT) mailing is included up to 2,500 contacts. Always check current prices in your dashboard.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register to take part?

No. The official toolkit says there is no registration for GivingTuesday and all organisations are welcome. Registering on the Belgian or French national site is optional, but it does give you extra visibility.

Is GivingTuesday only about raising money?

No. You can also recruit volunteers, collect goods or organise a neighbourhood action.

Is it too late to join this year?

No. On 2 October 2026 there are still 60 days to 1 December, more than 8 weeks: enough for a small, well-prepared plan.

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Sources

All sources checked on 2 October 2026.

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