13 Ways to Give Locally on Giving Tuesday

For those of us already feeling overwhelmed by the consumerist spirit of the holidays, #GivingTuesday can be a soothing antidote to Cyber Monday and Black Friday shenanigans. Every year, to celebrate this global charitable event, Austinites come together to give back to the community, by donating to the causes and organizations that we hold dear.

This year, #GivingTuesday is on December 3rd, and I Live Here I Give Here will again serve as the campaign leader in Central Texas. You can join in on the mass generosity by giving to your favorite nonprofit and sharing how you give back to the community by using the #ILiveHereIGiveHere and #GivingTuesday hashtags.

Need some gift-giving inspiration? Here are just a few of the awesome organizations participating this year:

CASA of Travis County

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) gives a voice to children in our community who’ve been abused or neglected, by empowering and educating volunteers who ensure each child’s needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system. This year, for #GivingTuesday, your gift to children will be doubled – a local family foundation is matching all donations.\

Meals on Wheels Central Texas 

Meals on Wheels provides home-delivered, nutritious meals for seniors and other homebound clients in the Austin area. Donate on #GivingTuesday, and the first $20,000 will be matched – your donation will directly nourish and enrich the lives of the homebound and others in need. 

Hill Country Conservancy

Help ensure all Texans have access to nature by donating to Hill Country Conservancy, which is the only professional conservation organization working to preserve open space in the Barton Springs Aquifer region. On #GivingTuesday, you can make a recurring gift to protect the Hill Country that we Austinites love so dearly. 

Caritas of Austin

Help your neighbors experiencing homelessness by donating to Caritas of Austin, a nonprofit that works to provide people with access to healthy groceries, jobs that provide a reliable living wage, a safe home, educational opportunities and more. You can either become a monthly donor or make a one-time donation this #GivingTuesday.

Water to Thrive 

Water to Thrive is a local nonprofit that works to bring clean, safe water to those who need it in rural Africa. Help them achieve their goal of bringing clean water to 1,000 people on #GivingTuesday.

Austin Diaper Bank

In Central Texas, one in three families struggle to afford enough diapers each month – which is why Austin Diaper Bank is dedicated to strengthening and empowering families by providing a steady supply of diapers and wipes to families all over Austin and Central Texas. On #GivingTuesday, a gift of $50 buys 320 diapers.

The SAFE Alliance

The SAFE Alliance is a merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace, both long-standing service agencies in Austin that serve the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. SAFE has 20 wishes for #GivingTuesday this year, to help fund their wide range of services, including violence prevention programs, community education classes, legal services, and more.

Art From the Streets

Art From the Streets is a free and open art studio that serves Austin’s homeless community – your #GivingTuesday donation will support their Open Studio Program and provide supplies and storage space.

Austin Pets Alive!

Consider helping Austin’s pets, by donating to Austin Pets Alive! Since 2008, APA! has saved over 60,000 dogs and cats from being killed at Central Texas shelters. This year, a generous donor has offered to match every dollar given from today through #GivingTuesday.

KUTX

Support local public radio by donating to KUTX on #GivingTuesday – KUTX relies on the support of the community to air and produce all the local, national, and international programs you love to listen to while you’re stuck in traffic on I-35.

Austin Bat Cave

Austin Bat Cave is working to raise $75,000 before December 31st to support young writers in our community – your #GivingTuesday donation will go directly towards this goal. ABC connects young writers and learners with a community of adult volunteers who provide free after-school tutoring, creative writing workshops and more. 

Explore Austin

Help Explore Austin fund their long-term mentoring and outdoor adventure programs to empower youth from low-income communities – $25 supports one full Saturday Challenge for one Explorer, $100 sponsors four Saturday Challenges, $1000 provides an entire year of adventure curriculum for one Explorer, and the list goes on.

DOUGHvember

Home Slice Pizza is bringing back their popular DOUGHvember series this year – throughout the month through #GivingTuesday, a percentage of their sales will go towards supporting different local nonprofit partners, like the Austin Parks Foundation and Carrying Hope. 

Check out a full list of local organizations participating in #GivingTuesday.