Giving Tuesday is just the beginning.

First appearing on the scene in 2012, this international day of giving to charity amid the shopping hype has become the kickoff to the year-end giving season for many nonprofits.

In a discussion on WHBY’s Fresh Take with host Josh Ducklow Tuesday, Community Foundation President/CEO Curt Detjen said Giving Tuesday provides a balance between buying for family and friends on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, and giving to the community.   Listen to the full 17-minute interview.

“We try to encourage donors to give generously, to get involved, both from a volunteerism and board service standpoint, and also financially. Time, talent and treasure is the way you need to look at it,” Detjen said. He encouraged talking about what you care about as a family and then giving generously to those causes.“We live in a wonderful community that has a strong economy, but there are people in need,” he said.

In choosing which charities to support, Detjen offered these three tips:

• Understand the nonprofit organization and its mission.
• Learn how they use the money you will contribute.
• Do your homework checking out the information available on nonprofits.

The Community Foundation serves as a partner in giving with its donors, helping them to create a giving plan for today and generations to come, assuring that nonprofits they may want to support are in good standing.

Tammy Williams, Vice President Communications and Marketing, offered this 50-30-20 formula for giving:

• Set aside 50% of your charitable budget to causes you care about passionately.
• Set aside 30% to obligations, such as sponsorships requested by friends.
• Set aside 20% to unexpected requests.

The Community Foundation’s staff can help you work on a giving plan and choose the best ways to further the causes most important to you, for Giving Tuesday or any day of the year. Learn more about our charitable funds at www.cffoxvalley.org/startafund or give to support the Community Foundation in pursuing its mission of helping people make a difference in the lives of others with a gift to Friends of the Foundation or other charitable funds at www.cffoxvalley.org/makeagift.

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