It's Giving Tuesday (That Receipt is Tax-Deductible, Probably)
The one day a year we try to atone for capitalism with $10 to a 501(c)(3) organization.
Today is Giving Tuesday. Hashtag trending.
It’s the annual moment we collectively remember that nonprofits exist. Right after panic-buying a $39 LED red-light face mask before THEY’RE ALL GONE on Cyber Monday, that may or may not be accelerating melanoma or transforming us back to hormonal teenagers with glow-in-the-dark cheekbones.
As someone who used to work in the nonprofit world (United Way shoutout), and who has donated time, money, and a few Canva PNGs held together by hope and bad fonts, I just want to say:
Give. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s weird.
Even if it’s a small package of TP your teenager was going to use on their crush’s house, but you swiped it and left it on the food pantry’s doorstep like an anonymous reverse TP vigilante.
One of the most radical things you can do as a human is remember you’re not the only one.
Also, donations make excellent passive-aggressive holiday gifts.
In lieu of a scented candle, we’ve donated to an organization that supports the radical belief that regugees are humans, with organs, feelings, and an cellphone bill. You’re welcome, Aunt Delores.
If I still worked at a nonprofit, I’d go all into the performative juggernaut that is today.
CLAIM YOUR GIVING HERO BADGE! POST IT TO YOUR STORIES. FRAME IT. TATTOO IT ON YOUR DELTOID.
But for real, Utahns are GENEROUS. And I’m NOT just talking about tithing.
Look, I know it was decades ago, but that just means these numbers would be bigger today. When I helped run United Way campaigns at local businesses, people gave $38.46 per paycheck just so they could hit $1,000 for the year.
Not just executives.
Joe working in a data analyst job for BCBS.
Every time, I felt that. In my feels. Warm. Fuzzy. Amazing. And that’s saying something, because I usually save my emotions for when someone asks what I do for a living and I have to explain what Linux is.
Then, United Way turned around and gave 100% of that money to carefully vetted local nonprofits, who went out and did the actual work. Real-life heroes. Capeless. Spider-bite free. Wearing lanyards and driving 14-year-old Subaru Outbacks.
Also, those nonprofits ran their own United Way campaigns, and their employees donated as well.
Look. Giving can be about money, but it doesn’t have to be.
Give a smile.
A hug (with consent).
A supportive text message that doesn’t include the words “circle back.”
A lunchbox note for your kid that wasn’t written by ChatGPT.
A treat for your dog, even though she most definitely did run up the street because she does NOT understand the word “come.”
And best of all…
Don’t give your attention to AI-generated chaos that’s “re-truthed” at 3:00 a.m. by a man with an emotionally complicated relationship with toilet handles.
This Giving Tuesday, let’s go all in on humanity. Give weird, small, meaningful kindness. Give others the benefit of the doubt.
Unless somebody brings up chemtrails. Then, run.
And if you need a sign?
Here it is.
From little ol’ me.
Give something. Even if it’s a meme. (Or even if it’s sharing this Substack because you love me. GRIN.)