Giving Tuesday 2013 Is Happening Now

By Nathan Young on December 3, 2013

Giving Tuesday 2013 is here! This day is a movement to create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. The second annual Giving Tuesday is on December 3, 2013. In the same way that retail stores take part in Black Friday, they want the giving community to come together for Giving Tuesday. They ask that partners create and commit to a project for/on Giving Tuesday and then help spread the word to their networks.

Giving Tuesday started in 2012 with more than 2,500 recognized Giving Tuesday partners from all 50 states of the United States. The collective efforts of partners, donors, and advocates helped fuel a marked increase in charitable giving on Giving Tuesday. Over $10 million of online donations were processed on Giving Tuesday 2012. And over 50 million people spread the word about Giving Tuesday on social media. The organizers are also hoping to make the second iteration of Giving Tuesday as big an event in philanthropy as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are for shopping.

Giving Tuesday is also encouraging people to do the #UNSelfie. Giving Tuesday asks users to post a #UNselfie pic on social media — an image highlighting the cause they support. From celebrities to tweens, the social media movement is fully underway. Here are some examples.

Did you take your #unselfie yet? The #GivingTuesday #UNSelfie on Storify http://t.co/SytIiX6Q3I pic.twitter.com/6kRQHhY0oC

— Mel 🧡 (@melgood711) December 3, 2013

We support #nonprofit educational associations! #GivingTuesday #unselfie @NEAHP @CASEAdvance @ADRPtweets @AHPIntl pic.twitter.com/aEm22FT0qJ

— Honorcraft (@honorcraft) December 3, 2013

Snap an "Unselfie" and join in on a day of giving, not buying. http://t.co/wCnV2PcnMz pic.twitter.com/B1iUbMld9l

— Fast Co. Impact (@FastCoImpact) December 3, 2013

Everyone can participate in Giving Tuesday! This day is an initiative to start the giving season and they encourage everyone to be involved with it. Families and individuals are encouraged to be generous in whatever ways matter to them, whether that means volunteering at a local charity or donating to a favorite cause. This year, more than 6,000 charitable groups have bigger goals and started planning for this day months in advance.

Here in Alabama, I wrote a post featuring charities that could use your support on Giving Tuesday. View at: http://geekalabama.com/2012/11/27/giving-tuesday-in-alabama/

I hope you can give money or time to Giving Tuesday! To learn more about Giving Tuesday, go to: http://community.givingtuesday.org/News

Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday and on Twitter @GivingTues Follow them on Google + at: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GivingtuesdayOrg

You can also watch the first ever Giving Tuesday donatable Hangout-a-thon hosted by Google + and Mashable. The event happens until 8 pm Central tonight by watching the video below!