In a mere 13 years, Giving Tuesday has evolved into a $4 billion charitable extravaganza.

More people also volunteered their time on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving this year, which fell on Dec. 2 and has become a major fundraising day for nonprofits. This year, 11.1 million people in the U.S. Volunteered, up from, 9.2 million last year.

Initiated in 2012 as a hashtag and a venture of the 92nd St Y located in New York, GivingTuesday has since evolved into an independent nonprofit. The organization calculates the total amount donated and the number of individuals who volunteer, drawing upon information from numerous sources such as donation platforms, payment processing services, and software utilized by charitable organizations.

Woodrow Rosenbaum, who serves as the chief data officer at GivingTuesday, suggested that the quantity of individuals contributing and the total sum of contributions might have seen an uptick this year, driven by a desire for community and linkage.

“Generosity is a really powerful way to get that,” Rosenbaum said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But I think mostly it’s just that when people see need, they want to do something about it and GivingTuesday is an opportunity to do that in a moment of celebration as opposed to crisis.”

Overall contributions saw a rise of 8.1% compared to the previous year, after accounting for inflation. GivingTuesday has also observed a growth in the typical contribution amount over the years, and Rosenbaum indicated that individuals might also be seeking additional ways to give.

“Volunteering is a way that you can add to your impact without it costing you money,” he said.

Individuals offering their time aren't exclusively associated with charitable organizations. They might contribute to mutual aid groups or provide assistance to relatives or those living nearby, he commented.

Rosenbaum stated that GivingTuesday excludes contributions from businesses or charitable organizations in their calculations, as their primary focus is on the regular kindness of individuals. Consequently, this omits the substantial donation from billionaires Michael and Susan Dell amounting to $6.25 billion, intended to motivate families to open new investment accounts established by The Trump administration.

President Donald Trump welcomed The Dells to the White House on Tuesday, commending their dedication “one of the most generous acts in the history of our country.”. The Dells intend to provide $250 to 25 million youngsters aged 10 and under, earmarked for investments in accounts to be established by the U.S. Department of Treasury in the upcoming year. The “ Trump accounts ” were a component of the administration's fiscal and expenditure measures enacted during the summer months.

A substantial amount of donations to charitable organizations occurs as the year concludes, with GivingTuesday informally launching what these organizations consider the donation period. A confluence of economic and political uncertainty has made it challenging to forecast donor generosity for the current year. Rosenbaum commented that the spirit of giving shown on GivingTuesday serves as a highly positive indicator for the remainder of the donation season.

“What we really hope is that nonprofits and community groups see this as an opportunity that we are in a moment of abundance and that people are ready and willing to help,” Rosenbaum said.

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The Associated Press's reporting on charitable giving and non-profit organizations is made possible by the AP's partnership with The Conversation US, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. This material is exclusively the responsibility of the AP.