On Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country give thanks for what we have. The next day, we rush to retail stores and spend more money than any other day of the year. That is, until Monday.
The nationwide spending spree has stretched past Black Friday into Cyber Monday as online retail giants like Amazon capitalize with price-cutting deals of their own. Each year, both Black Friday and Cyber Monday see bigger spending numbers than in years past.
But there’s another, lesser-known day that has also been growing. Each year, this day has seen larger numbers, too. But unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this day isn’t about deals. It’s about doing good for others.
#GivingTuesday is a counterweight to the massive shopping following Thanksgiving. After the Cyber Monday deals end, an increasingly larger group of Americans set their sights on charitable organizations, foundations and ministries that are actively working to improve lives in our country and around the world. Participants in #GivingTuesday range from environmental groups to clean water initiatives to affordable housing programs. #GivingTuesday is also the perfect time to support organizations who work in adoption.
Why Your Gift Matters
Most people don’t have a lot leftover to donate. Budgets are tight. If you are nodding along as you read the previous sentence, you may be thinking, “Since I don’t have much to give, my gift won’t matter.” However, that’s not the case. Every gift matters.
In 2017, more than $300 million was donated to charitable organizations are the world during #GivingTuesday. That’s a lot of money! Maybe even more impressive than the total — there were 2.5 million individual donations made, with a mean donation size of $120. Millions of people gave what they could afford to, and it turned into the most successful #GivingTuesday yet.
Giving a little can go a long way. Your support for adoption on #GivingTuesday can really make a difference.
Adoption Organizations to Support on #GivingTuesday
Where should that support go? There are plenty of options. Adoption is complex. There are different types of needs at different points in the process. There is work to be done that helps prospective birth mothers, adoptive families and children. And, there are hundreds of quality organizations serving these different people in all different areas of adoption.
While we can’t possibly recommend every good nonprofit for your #GivingTuesday donation, we can give you a few ideas to get started.
There are hundreds of organizations doing great work in adoption. Here are a few to consider on #GivingTuesday:
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: The Dave Thomas Foundation is a well-established and respect nonprofit organization that focuses on foster care adoption. The Foundation has many initiatives, but its primary focus is on giving funds and training to adoption agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
- Birthmom Buds: When most people think of giving charitably toward adoption, they think of adoptive families. It’s important, though, to not overlook the other side of adoption. A birth mother choosing adoption for her baby is making a brave decision. This is a difficult thing to do, and birth mothers need support, too. Birthmom Buds helps provide some of that support through counseling, online support and retreats.
- Family-to-Family Support Network: Healthcare for the prospective birth mom and the child is a vital part of a successful adoption. Family-to-Family Support Network educates healthcare professionals on how to offer unbiased information to pregnant women considering adoption.
- Show Hope: The costs associated with domestic and international adoption can range from $25,000–$50,000 or more. Many families desire to adopt but can’t handle the cost on their own. Show Hope is an organization that helps families by providing financial grants. Since being founded in 2003, they have helped more than 6,000 children come home to loving families through adoption.
- National Down Syndrome Adoption Network: There are many children who have Down syndrome waiting for families. The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network equips parents with the resources they need to make an adoption plan for these children. Their mission is to ensure that every child born with Down syndrome has the opportunity to grow up in a loving family.
- The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD): Children who come home through adoption sometimes experience the long-lasting effects of trauma stemming from potential neglect, abuse or abandonment. Helping children heal from these traumas can be difficult. The KPICD is at the forefront of neurological research into childhood traumas and practical training for both parents and professionals. The Institute equips caretakers with tools to help their children thrive.
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute: This nonpartisan institute advocates for children by informing legislators on Capitol Hill. Through its work, the Institute raises awareness of the needs of children who are waiting for families.
There are many other great organizations to donate to on #GivingTuesday. Regardless of where you give, the important thing is to take action on this nationwide day of charity.
