In the midst of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping frenzies that surround the holiday season, Giving Tuesday stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of the nonmaterial community aspect of the season. This year, the day dedicated to making donations to nonprofit organizations will be celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, encouraging individuals to step away from the whirlwind of shopping and materialism to focus on giving back. As a public equity investment firm focused on empowering clients to invest with their values, we love the opportunity to support not for profit organizations dedicated to social justice work.
Raising Awareness and Building Community
Giving Tuesday helps to foster a sense of shared responsibility. At Nia, we have a tradition of making donations as a community. We put that in action by harnessing the power of our staff to help us identify those organizations on the frontlines doing important work. Each Nia staff member and advisor receives $1,000 to donate to nonprofits working on a cause that is personally important to them. Grants range from organizations addressing complex issues like racial discrimination, supporting Indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ rights, gender inequity, and access to healthcare, to clean air and water. We gather together to share the organizations we have each chosen, as an opportunity to learn more about important nonprofit groups as well as about our passions outside of work.
Here are just a few of our staff picks for 2024 and why our staff support these worthy organizations:
and “I chose to support the National Network of Abortion Funds because I believe all women should have access to comprehensive, quality healthcare regardless of personal circumstances or political stances. The current restrictions in Texas have created dangerous situations for women facing medical emergencies. My donation aims to provide resources for women to safely access necessary medical care and make informed decisions about their health. While views on abortion differ, we can agree that no woman should face life-threatening risks due to lack of access to healthcare. This support helps ensure women have options to receive proper medical treatment and consultation, which is critical for their wellbeing and that of their families.”
—Nicole Dodson, Communications and Operations Manager
Navajo Water Project and Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen Band
“I chose to support two organizations that focus on the rights of Indigenous peoples: the Navajo in California and the Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen of Oklahoma. It's important to protect Indigenous sovereignty and protect access to resources to combat environmental racism.”
—Paloma Mate-Kodjo, Communications and Operations Associate
“I chose to donate to The Trevor Project because I truly believe in the positive impact they have on the queer community. Their crisis prevention resources, like the Trevor Lifeline, and educational tools, such as the Trevor Survival Kit, are vital for guiding LGBTQ+ youth through tough times, and I want to help expand this support to those who need it most.”
—Samantha Brown, Compliance and Operations Associate
“Florida is one of the places in the country where women have lost reproductive and other rights. Training women to run for office and judgeships, teaching girls how to advocate for their rights, and helping all to grow into their leadership and power is a way to make the lives of women in the state better.”
—Holly Lichtenfeld, Chief Marketing Officer and Sustainability Advisor
Other Staff Picks
Based in Brentwood, CA, Hijas del Campo is responding to the needs of migrant essential workers through a holistic approach that covers the areas of Education, Health, Food & Housing. They help enroll people into CARES, a healthcare program for uninsured adults ages 26-49 who do not qualify for Medi-Cal or other public health insurance programs because of their immigration status. The Despensa Program provides food bags to 400+ farmworker families on a monthly basis.
15/10 is based in Charleston, WV and is committed to making shelter dogs with medical needs much more adoptable. The Foundation fills a void in the animal welfare world by sponsoring dogs with behavioral or medical issues unlikely to ever make it out of the shelter, making it more likely these pets will find their forever home.
The GASP mission is to enhance the health and wellbeing of Alabamians by reducing air pollution, advancing environmental justice, and promoting climate solutions through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
Huntsville Bail Fund is dedicated to addressing the disproportionate harm of pretrial detention on marginalized communities in North Alabama. Their mission is to promote solutions that reduce jail populations and improve community safety. Huntsville Bail Fund helps our neighbors secure their freedom by providing direct aid and advocacy to arrested individuals and their families.
Since 2000, The Mosaic Project has provided over 68,000 children and 22,500 adults with immersive, experiential education programs in equity, empathy, and effective communication across differences. WATCH NOW PROGRAMS. Programs. Outdoor Project. The Mosaic Project teaches people, from elementary school students to adults in the workplace, the skills they need to build the peaceful communities they envision.
Movement Voter Project is a one-stop shop for strategically investing in local organizations that win elections and transform policy. MVP supports year-round, on-the-ground organizing groups with a focus on youth, voters of color, immigrant voters, LGBTQ+ voters, and others who bear the brunt of injustice in the United States. Year-round local organizing wins pivotal elections, builds power that lasts, and fuels policy change — and if you want to fund local organizing, MVP makes it easy.
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. Through the practices of rematriation, cultural revitalization, and land restoration, Sogorea Te’ calls on Native and non-native peoples to heal and transform the legacies of colonization, genocide, and patriarchy and to do the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us to do.
United Women of Color is based in Huntsville, AL and provides opportunities for advancement and equity through educational programs, civic engagement, and the provision of community resources to fill gaps of need specific to our area.
A Call for a More Just Future
For Nia staff, Giving Tuesday is about taking a stand against the prevailing culture of consumerism that often obscures the pressing needs of marginalized communities. This day offers a chance to redefine what it means to celebrate in community this time of year. Social justice work requires us to look beyond our immediate desires and focus on the long-term well-being of all people. This day provides an opportunity to show up and to create a future where justice and equity are not just ideals, they are realities.
Giving Tuesday is more than just a day of giving; it’s a vital moment for social justice nonprofits to gather support. We hope we’ve inspired you to make Giving Tuesday part of your holiday routine. As we reflect on the power of collective giving, it’s clear that this day holds significant potential to transform lives and advance equity for all.
Important Disclosure
The views presented here are those of Nia Impact Capital (“Nia”) and these views may be subject to change. All information is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, yet Nia does not certify the accuracy or completeness of this information.