We all try to give back all year round, but Giving Tuesday (that's today!) marks a special opportunity to make sure we get a little extra generosity in to our favorite charities before the year's end.
And the best part is, whatever you donate today will be matched, dollar for dollar by so many organizations.
What an awesome way to give what you can, while making a difference that's twice as big!
These are only a (very!) few of the many worthwhile organizations that are doubling your charitable donations today — we'll add more as we hear about them, so leave us a comment about any orgs that you're passionate about.
Best Friends Animal Society: The no-kill shelter aims to raise $500,000 to help pets find their forever homes with a donation match until midnight.
CARE: Athleta will match in-store or online donations up to $50,000 today to this organization that provides education for women.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: This organization rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants (like Emoli and Maisha seen at the top of this post), and will have donations matched up to $250,000. There's been a heightened awareness lately about the welfare of elephants and their precarious situation due to trophy imports. This is an outstanding org to check out.
Defenders of Wildlife: The organization supporting polar bears, wolves, and other imperiled wildlife will receive matches up to $50,000.
Donors Choose: Especially with threats to the tax code allowing teachers to deduct the personal money they spend on their own classrooms, teachers are really in need for their schools right now. Donors Choose always has companies that generously match your donations -- everyone from PNC Bank to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF USA, to plenty of anonymous donors. (Bless you, anonymous donors!) Click over to see how to maximize your contribution and really do some good for kids throughout American public schools.
Feeding America: Tony Robbins (yes, that Tony Robbins) is matching every donation today in the org's 100 Million Meals Challenge.
Gary Sinise Foundation: Until midnight tonight, a donor will match all donations up to $250,000.
Khan Academy: Donations to this nonprofit that creates education resources for kids all over the planet will be matched all the way to December 31, beginning today.
Malala Fund: Spanx's Sara Blakely will match all donations to support girls' education with Malala's Fund until midnight.
National PTA Disaster Relief Fund: Mountain America Credit Union will match up to $5000 today.
Operation Smile: Every dollar will be matched for this organization that provides cleft surgeries for kids.
Oxfam America: An anonymous donor will match all gifts up to $125,000.
St. Baldrick's Foundation: The organization that supports research for childhood cancer will receive a $75,000 match if it raises that amount by the end of the day.
Women Thrive: If the global women's rights organization raises $20,000 by the end of day, it will receive an additional $20,000 match.
Your favorite nonprofit that's got a Facebook fundraiser: Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are matching up to $2 million in donations to nonprofits today (and Facebook is waiving its usual 5% fee on donations to nonprofits). That's huge! So get clicking now before funds run out.
Your favorite nonprofit with a contribution matched by your employer: This is a big day for all kinds of corporations to give back too, as you can tell. Just click to check and see if a company you work for will match your donation to the nonprofit of your choice. If it does, you can get all the instructions and forms you need right at this site.
Related: Donate heartfelt holiday cards to kids who need them the most
American Cancer Society: Every $1 donated will be matched by MasterCard up to $250,000. American Library Association: The organization aims to raise $50,000 with a donation match. American Red Cross: Lowe's will match all gifts up to $100,000 by midnight EST.Best Friends Animal Society: The no-kill shelter aims to raise $500,000 to help pets find their forever homes with a donation match until midnight.
CARE: Athleta will match in-store or online donations up to $50,000 today to this organization that provides education for women.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: This organization rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants (like Emoli and Maisha seen at the top of this post), and will have donations matched up to $250,000. There's been a heightened awareness lately about the welfare of elephants and their precarious situation due to trophy imports. This is an outstanding org to check out.
Defenders of Wildlife: The organization supporting polar bears, wolves, and other imperiled wildlife will receive matches up to $50,000.
Donors Choose: Especially with threats to the tax code allowing teachers to deduct the personal money they spend on their own classrooms, teachers are really in need for their schools right now. Donors Choose always has companies that generously match your donations -- everyone from PNC Bank to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF USA, to plenty of anonymous donors. (Bless you, anonymous donors!) Click over to see how to maximize your contribution and really do some good for kids throughout American public schools.
Feeding America: Tony Robbins (yes, that Tony Robbins) is matching every donation today in the org's 100 Million Meals Challenge.
Gary Sinise Foundation: Until midnight tonight, a donor will match all donations up to $250,000.
Khan Academy: Donations to this nonprofit that creates education resources for kids all over the planet will be matched all the way to December 31, beginning today.
Malala Fund: Spanx's Sara Blakely will match all donations to support girls' education with Malala's Fund until midnight.
National PTA Disaster Relief Fund: Mountain America Credit Union will match up to $5000 today.
Operation Smile: Every dollar will be matched for this organization that provides cleft surgeries for kids.
Oxfam America: An anonymous donor will match all gifts up to $125,000.
St. Baldrick's Foundation: The organization that supports research for childhood cancer will receive a $75,000 match if it raises that amount by the end of the day.
Women Thrive: If the global women's rights organization raises $20,000 by the end of day, it will receive an additional $20,000 match.
Your favorite nonprofit that's got a Facebook fundraiser: Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are matching up to $2 million in donations to nonprofits today (and Facebook is waiving its usual 5% fee on donations to nonprofits). That's huge! So get clicking now before funds run out.
Your favorite nonprofit with a contribution matched by your employer: This is a big day for all kinds of corporations to give back too, as you can tell. Just click to check and see if a company you work for will match your donation to the nonprofit of your choice. If it does, you can get all the instructions and forms you need right at this site.
