#GivingTuesday: the global generosity movement the world needs right now
Daphne, aged 3, from Ballyfermot, spreading the Giving Tuesday message at Heuston Station
Given that it falls just after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you'd be forgiven for thinking #GivingTuesday stood little chance of catching on.
But 11 years after its creation at a cultural and community centre in New York, this “global generosity movement” has spread to no fewer than seventy countries across the world where it is harnessed to “unleash the power of people and organisations to transform their communities”.
In 2020, Ireland was invited to join the campaign where the Charities Institute Ireland became its chief custodian.
“#GivingTuesday reflects the values of the sector that we represent,” says Áine Myler, CEO of Charities Institute Ireland.
“Charities receive a lot from Irish people by way of donating and giving, not just in terms of donations and money but also time. We really give a lot into the voluntary sector in sports and community-based activity, and we just feel that #GivingTuesday is a combining theme of all of that effort. It’s also a global event that helps elevate the message of giving and community. It’s about building awareness around that message.”
Irish people are amongst the most generous people in the world. Just recently GoFundMe announced Ireland as the most generous donor on its portal for the fourth year in a row while the latest Charities Regulatory Authorities report showed that 76,000 people are serving as trustees in charities and a whopping 650,000 people who volunteer in the sector.
While many of us are keen to give to our local charities and communities, we are not so keen on telling others about it. #GivingTuesday wants to change that.
“What we are trying to do is build awareness that everybody can show either their willingness to give or the fact that they do give,” says Áine.
“It’s a chance for individuals, companies and clubs to demonstrate what they do or have done to support their communities or charities.”
“Ireland is unique in that we are only one degree of separation away from each other,” she says.
“We have a real sense of community but it needs to be protected and valued. And we see #GivingTuesday as a fantastic way to harness that. So whether it’s going out there through your social media platforms or through your company's Corporate Social Responsibility programs, there’s no other day of the year that you get to demonstrate it under a global banner.”
In essence, as well as an excuse to give something, #GivingTuesday offers a chance to be proud of the fact that you're a giver and, dare we Irish say it, boast about your generosity… just a little. While we may view it somewhat suspiciously as something of an exercise in vanity, the hope is that it encourages others to engage in the act of giving - a classic case of monkey see, monkey do.
Besides, giving is good for you. When it comes to the benefits of giving to versus receiving from others, it seems religion, inspirational leadership, and the psychological sciences all align. That’s according to Dr Damien Lowry, Chartered member and 2024 President-Elect of the Psychological Society of Ireland.
“Let me start by putting an anchor in the bible,” says Damien, “not because I’m a biblical scholar but rather because it’s a chapter and verse that’s frequently cited at this time of year, Christmas. The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 20, Verse 35 states that “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. It’s not surprising then, to find Buddhist leaders such as the Dalai Lama highlight the limited amount of happiness we can derive from material things. Instead, he links happiness to the happiness of those around us. He goes further by saying we are better served, psychologically and spiritually, by focusing on the needs of others rather than our own needs, which implies giving to others will benefit us. It mirrors Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
While we shouldn’t necessarily take the words of holy men and wise men as gospel, science, in this case, seems to back them up.
“Study after study tends to demonstrate that choosing to give something to someone tends to promote a greater sense of happiness than buying something for yourself,” says Damien.
“The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial but are believed to include the involvement of brain pathways related to social connection, bonding, safety and pleasure. We are a social species, ultimately, and therefore pro-social practices that benefit cohesion at this level, are likely to confer an individual benefit in order for these behaviours to be reinforced and repeated.”
While many charities have special events planned for #GivingTuesday (see below), Áine is keen to encourage everyone and anyone to contribute in whatever small way they can and, most importantly, to let people know through their social media channels.
“Because this is very much driven across social media, it’s getting through to lots of young people,” she says.
“Most young people are very generous but sometimes they give in a very personalised way. On Tuesday we want them to shout about their generosity from the rooftops.”
Hygiene Hub is calling on the public to #SpreadKindness this #GivingTuesday as part of their Festive Campaign by donating toiletry gift sets as well as essential hygiene products this winter.
The charity aims to provide hygiene and personal care products to those who need them.
Supporters can contribute to the #SpreadKindness Campaign this Giving Tuesday by making donations at designated drop-off points listed on Hygiene Hub’s website, offering financial support through Hygiene Hub’s iDonate page, or by hosting a Hygiene Drive in their school, college, or workplace and collecting donations.
- For more information on donations, interested parties can contact info@hygienehub.ie or visit Hygiene Hub’s website and Instagram page: @hygienehubire
On this #GivingTuesday, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is asking you to take a paws at home or at work and share a cuppa to support their pups in training, Scully and Kate.
You can of course donate here or you can simply help to spread the word by taking pictures of yourselves and your furry friends and posting them on social media with messages of hope and encouragement to their dogs in training the hashtags #ChangingLives #GivingTuesday #Cups&Pups.
- Your support will help Irish Guide Dogs train more dogs like Scully and Kate who will one day become a Guide Dog to someone who is vision impaired or an Assistance Dog to a child with autism.
For its first #GivingTuesday campaign, Arthritis Ireland is highlighting the stories of inspiring fundraisers whose contributions have made a difference to the lives of those living with arthritis. Peter O’Rourke is one such individual. Peter’s mother, Mary, lived with rheumatoid arthritis for more than 15 years and sadly passed away in January 2022.
- Inspired by National Arthritis Week, the O’Rourke family decided to complete the Great Limerick Run in 2022 and 2023 and raised more than €11,500 to support vital research efforts that will improve the lives of people living with rheumatoid arthritis in Ireland.
