By Saiqa Anne Qureshi, Staff Writer, FWSF MarCom Committee
With November comes Thanksgiving, and the growth of “Giving Tuesday,” normally the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, held in the US on the 4th Thursday of November, and the 15th of November, National Philanthropy Day.
Giving Tuesday, more formally known as the National Day of Giving, started in 2012, and reminds us to give to those in need. It is a celebration of generosity and to give and support those in need. That includes donations of money, items, volunteering of time and encouragement of others to do the same. It also includes supporting local social good organizations and community works, supporting local and neighborhood causes, as well as national needs. It has also increased in size and scope from its inception, and the Giving Tuesday network is now global.
National Philanthropy Day was established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, inspired by the philanthropist Douglas Freeman, and honors those who provide support via charitable donations, to celebrate the impact of giving and those who make a difference.
In the United States, approximately 70% of giving comes directly from individuals, and they give to a range of causes, the major targeted areas being religious causes, education and health and human services. Historically, November and December, have been the peak months for individual charitable donation, and most Americans anticipate giving in the last two months of the year. In 2024, 62% of Americans make donations in November and December, with 15% giving exclusively in those months, and 71% give some kind of charity during the year.
There can be tax advantages to giving to charity. To take advantage of this you must itemize your tax deduction, when donating to a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and you can donate cash up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). You can also donate non-cash items, such as clothing, furniture, and vehicles, at fair value, and this is limited to 30% of your AGI. While you cannot deduct your time for volunteer work, you can deduct out of pocket expenses related to volunteer services. There are other giving strategies including “bunching” donations in one tax year, and the donation of appreciating assets (stocks, bonds, real estate), and more sophisticated tools such a donor advised funds (DAFs) and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).
SOURCES
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-day-of-giving-tuesday-after-thanksgiving
https://www.givingtuesday.org/
https://cfgrundycounty.com/remember-november-is-a-month-for-giving/
https://afpglobal.org/NPDLove
https://cafamerica.org/blog/the-spirit-of-giving-why-the-holiday-season-is-crucial-for-charitable-donations/
https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/charitable-tax-strategies/charitable-contributions.html
From Connections Newsletter (Food for Thought): November 2025
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