Coined the annual “Day of Giving,” #GivingTuesday started in 2012 as a way to help others through the gift of your time, donations, goods or your voice. Taking place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is also a good opportunity to give back to the after school community.
Fueled by social media and collaboration, #GivingTuesday has grown as a major catalyst for charitable giving. Last year, $177 million was donated to nonprofits, a 44 percent increase from $116 million in 2015. According to their website, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, in which more charitable donations are made than any other time of the year.
With that in mind, we’ve listed five after school organizations that deserve your time and money on #GivingTuesday. These organizations are committed to helping children learn, explore and grow outside of the classroom and have proven their ability to make a positive impact in children’s lives.
With your help, they can continue their mission and more children can enjoy the benefits of high-quality after school programming. Learn more about the organizations below and how your donations can help:
WINGS for Kids: Located in South Carolina, Charlotte and Atlanta, WINGS weaves a comprehensive social and emotional learning curriculum into a fresh and fun after school program - all at no cost for parents. The program’s mission is to equip at-risk children with the social and emotional skills to succeed in school, stay in school and thrive in life. WINGS has received various awards and accolades for their work and business practices, including a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Any donations will help them sustain their work as they rely entirely on contributions from individuals, foundations and public funding.
National Summer Learning Association: Every summer, millions of low-income youth lose 2-3 months in reading and math skills, known as summer learning loss. This creates an “opportunity gap” that contributes to gaps in achievement, employment and college and career success between low- and high-income youth. The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) aims to combat summer learning loss and close the gap by keeping children learning, fed and safe during the summer. In addition, the organization provides research and policy briefs, program resources and support services like planning tools, summer meals and trainings. Any donations will help NSLA expand high-quality summer learning opportunities for youth in high-poverty communities.
After School Alliance: As the leading voice for after school, After School Alliance is committed to ensuring that all children have access to affordable, quality after school programs. Accompanied by evidence-based research, the organization has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of after school programs and advocate for more after school investments. Most recently, After school Alliance rallied to increase funding for after school programs amidst proposed budget cuts, which resulted in a $100 million increase in 21st CCLC funding. By donating just $10 to After School Alliance, you can help ensure four more children have access to a high-quality after school program.
Before The Bullying: Grounded in the latest research on social-emotional development, Before The Bullying is a positive skills program that promotes acceptance, friendship, teamwork, empathy and responsibility through music, video and the performing arts. With more than one out of every five students being bullied, resources like Before The Bullying are crucial to combatting bullying in and out of school. Through their community sponsorship program, you can donate a Before The Bullying kit to a classroom, after school program or community organization. To donate, contact [email protected].
ExpandED Schools: By sixth grade, low-income children miss out on 6,000 hours of crucial learning time compared to their middle-class peers. ExpandED Schools aims to close this learning gap by adding 2.5 hours to the school day, engaging the community and enhancing learning with hands-on enrichment activities. Since 1998, ExpandED Schools has worked to expand learning opportunities for more than 1,000,000 students in New York City and beyond. Your donation could provide a year of expanded learning for four students, purchase an engineering set for a robotics club or simply support their mission to reimagine the school day for all children.
Alternatively, find a local after school program or organization that’s making a positive impact in your community. Contact the program leader and find out the best way to give back. While monetary donations are great, donating your time or specific resources and supplies the program needs can be just as valuable.
Are you looking to raise money for your program? Visit the #GivingTuesday website and download their complete toolkit to plan your own fundraising campaign. It includes all the resources you need to get started, like campaign ideas, social media tips, campaign timeline and more. If you’re not able to participate this year, save this resource and get a head start on next year’s #GivingTuesday campaign.
