BlackFriday … #Cyber Monday … #GivingTuesday
This year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales hit an all-time high, smashing records just set a year ago. After all that rampant consumerism, one might wonder what it will take to adjust to the holiday season that is supposed to represent wholesomeness and charity.
That's where #GivingTuesday comes in. Created in 2012, the social movement has succeeded in uniting non-profit and other civic organizations around the world with businesses and individuals seeking to give back and make the world a better place. In 2016, the campaign's fifth year, #GivingTuesday donors worldwide contributed $168 million, a whopping 44 percent increase over 2015 numbers.
Last year, 33 percent more non-profit organizations were beneficiaries of #GivingTuesday generosity from just one year earlier. Among these were an increased number of drum corps that have appealed to their fans to help out as the corps are starting recruitment efforts for the following season.
While the public is most aware of drum corps during the competitive season, the real competition for many corps is the fight to stay viable during the time of year when budgets are rolling over to the next fiscal year. #GivingTuesday is a godsend for these organizations that have major expenses year-round.
#GivingTuesday also provides an opportunity for organizations to reach out and encourage supporters to donate valuable resources of time and talent during the off-season, as for the needs of drum corps, there is no off-season.
Reference this list of DCI World and Open Class corps websites and social media accounts to inquire how you can support your favorite groups this holiday season and throughout the entire year.
Here's how many of those groups are marking #GivingTuesday in 2017: