GivingTuesday2026 · Date · History · Messages
GivingTuesday organizer material places the observance on the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving; municipal proclamations also use “National Day of Giving” for Giving Tuesday.
About GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement observed on the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving.
It was created in 2012 at New York City’s 92nd Street Y and later became an independent nonprofit organization.
Why GivingTuesday matters
The movement encourages people and organizations to give, volunteer, collaborate and support their communities.
Its annual timing deliberately follows the major U.S. shopping period around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
History of GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 and incubated at the 92nd Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact.
The movement expanded internationally over subsequent years.
In 2019 GivingTuesday became an independent organization, separating the movement’s current stewardship from its original 92Y incubation.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
92nd Street Y / Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact
GivingTuesday’s official history says the movement was created in 2012 and incubated at 92Y’s Belfer Center.
92nd Street Y / Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact
The official history identifies 92Y as the institutional origin/incubator.
First documented observance
The official history identifies 2012 as the creation/launch year; an exact first-day date is not asserted beyond the annual Tuesday-after-Thanksgiving rule.
Became an independent organization after incubation at 92nd Street Y.
GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday
The movement became an independent organization in 2019 and maintains the current global campaign.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
National Day of Giving, Giving Tuesday
How to Observe GivingTuesday
Donate to a cause you trust.
Volunteer time or professional skills.
Support community organizations or mutual-aid efforts.
Share verified opportunities for generosity without pressuring others to give.
GivingTuesday Facts
GivingTuesday began in 2012.
It was created at 92nd Street Y in New York.
It occurs on the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving.
GivingTuesday became an independent organization in 2019.
The project is a global movement rather than a U.S. federal holiday.
GivingTuesday Messages
May GivingTuesday turn generosity into practical help for people and communities.
Wishing everyone a GivingTuesday filled with thoughtful, useful generosity.
Celebrating the people and organizations that strengthen communities through generosity.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
GivingTuesday — About (opens in a new tab)
GivingTuesday — official annual date guidance (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
Town of Shelburne — National Day of Giving / Giving Tuesday proclamation listing (opens in a new tab)
Municipal Government
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is GivingTuesday?
Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving (1 December in 2026) The documented recurrence rule is: Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving.
Does GivingTuesday fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is GivingTuesday an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Global / GivingTuesday generosity movement; “National Day of Giving” is a common civic alias. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes GivingTuesday?
The reviewed sources identify 92nd Street Y / Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as GivingTuesday.
Is GivingTuesday international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Global / GivingTuesday generosity movement; “National Day of Giving” is a common civic alias. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is GivingTuesday?
It is the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving.
Who created GivingTuesday?
GivingTuesday’s official history says it was created in 2012 and incubated at 92nd Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact.
Is GivingTuesday still run by 92nd Street Y?
No. The official history says GivingTuesday became an independent organization in 2019.