Why Giving Tuesday Matters More Than Ever

Every time our communities face hardship, a storm, a shutdown, or a family crisis,  the first people we turn to are nonprofits. When food runs short, when violence breaks out, when a young person needs mentoring or a mother needs a safe place to land, it’s community organizations that answer the call.

They don’t wait for policy. They don’t wait for permission. They show up.

And yet, once the crisis passes, we often forget them. The same nonprofits that hold our neighborhoods together during hard times are left to hold themselves together with limited resources, small teams, and big expectations.

That’s why this Giving Tuesday, I want us all to pause and reflect on what these organizations truly mean to our lives.

The Glue That Holds Us Together

Nonprofits are not extras in our economy; they’re essential infrastructure. They are the reason children have after-school programs, elders receive meals, families stay housed, and neighbors find healing. They are the glue that binds our counties and cities together when things are falling apart.

But here’s the truth most people never see: while nonprofits deliver frontline impact, they’re also expected to operate like businesses,  manage finances, meet compliance standards, run marketing, HR, and data systems, often with little or no back-office support. They’re building miracles without the machinery.

At Erin Hutt Consulting, we see this every day. Grassroots leaders pour their entire hearts into service while juggling administrative chaos behind the scenes. They deserve more than applause; they deserve investment in systems, training, and sustainable infrastructure that lets them focus on their mission, not just their survival.

A Call to Remember

If a nonprofit ever helped you or someone you love, let this Giving Tuesday be your moment to give back.Donate to the organization that fed your family, mentored your child, or cared for your neighbor.And if you’re not sure where to start, I can connect you to one whose mission aligns with your heart.

For Stakeholders Ready to Lead Change

This message isn’t just for individuals,  it’s for funders, policymakers, and corporate partners, too. If we want real change, we must reimagine the nonprofit landscape: fund the infrastructure, not just the programs; invest in the people doing the work; and create pathways for ongoing training and operational support.

Because every day, nonprofits give more than they have, to make sure our communities never have less.

This Giving Tuesday, let’s return the favor.

Download the Grassroots Giving Tuesday Toolkit