Randy Royster
President and CEO
Albuquerque Community Foundation

As we finish off the last of the leftovers, as we make our lists and check them twice, our thoughts turn to gifts great and small. But this year, let’s focus on both giving thanks and giving with thankfulness. Tuesday, December 1, the world will come together in the spirit of generosity for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. The idea is to create a new tradition, one that bolsters the nonprofit community and builds a network of givers, cheerleaders and supporters.

#GivingTuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It was designed to help kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.  

Last year, more than 27,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday.  Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours and activities that bring about real change in communities. We invite all of New Mexico to join the movement and to get out and give this December 1. 

Why make charitable giving a part of the season? For starters, nonprofits in New Mexico have great and lasting value. Nonprofits employ nearly 50,000 workers in the state. Nonprofits generate more jobs in New Mexico than such important employment sectors as the oil and gas industry, construction, manufacturing and financial activities, according to a report based on 2012 labor data by the state Department of Workforce Solutions.  

Nonprofits in this community have brought in millions of dollars from outside the state to fund their endeavors, new jobs and opportunities, as well as thousands of unpaid workers investing into their own neighborhoods and neighbors. Almost half the nonprofit jobs in New Mexico are in the health care field, where untold lives are changed and saved, largely because of charitable giving and supportive partnerships.

But far beyond the reach of these basic stats and figures is the reality that New Mexico nonprofits are moving the needle on significant issues in our state, including poverty, hunger, homelessness, education, health, economic growth, the environment and others. It has become increasingly obvious that we need to take a multidisciplinary approach to solving problems, which means collaboration between charitable organizations, the private sector, government and the citizenry. No one segment of the population can solve any puzzle, but we believe we can get there if we work together.

So we encourage giving. We want more New Mexicans to see the value and future and compounding impact of supporting nonprofits. In this season of giving, let’s give New Mexico hope, jobs, opportunity and support. Let’s support the arts, the economy, and the many organizations serving the most vulnerable in our state. Find the nonprofit that fits your passion, then let’s give together on #GivingTuesday.

To learn more about #GivingTuesday or to find valuable resources to help increase the impact of your giving, visit givingtuesday.org.

*Albuquerque Journal, Dec. 10, 2014