Do you feel it in the air—a warm blanket of gratitude swaddling you as a majestic twinkle makes everything a bit more special this time of year? No matter what you celebrate, the holiday season is meant to be shared, so let’s celebrate Giving Tuesday this year by extending a helping hand to loved ones, neighbors, and strangers in need.
According to the organization’s website, “Giving Tuesday is now an independent nonprofit and global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity,” but it began in 2012 as a seed of an idea to encourage people and organizations worldwide to use their voices and resources to support and lift others up.
Because 2020 was such a difficult year for many financially, emotionally, and physically, we compiled a list of nonprofit organizations within the PhotoShelter community and cause-based brands that need your support to do the necessary and important work to uplift and provide safe, life-saving or life-affirming resources to communities in need.
Join us in celebrating the missions and values of these organizations by sharing their work with your network, signing up to volunteer with a cause that resonates with you and/or providing a monetary donation if that’s within your means. Every contribution is valuable and we thank you for your support!
Nonprofits to Support
The Grameen Foundation is an organization committed to abolishing poverty worldwide because they believe that impoverished folks “have more than enough will to overcome poverty and hunger. What they lack is a way.” They empower the poor, especially women, to become entrepreneurs that serve their communities by providing information, tools, and resources to build scalable, sustainable businesses, farm operations, and more. Click here to donate individually or provide a corporate contribution.
Reading is Fundamental is a powerful statement to found an organization on, but the statistical harsh truth of the literacy crisis in America makes the cause even more compelling. According to the organization’s website, “25 million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently.” If you believe that the youth of today will be our future leaders then we need to collectively address this crisis head-on. Reading is Fundamental is leading the charge nationally by spreading awareness, creating programs, and rallying resources Their new campaign Until Every Child Reads speaks directly to their core values and mission and this Giving Tuesday they’re triple-matching donations! Give back today and triple your impact.
The National Down Syndrome Society is an organization that supports and advocates for equal opportunities for Down syndrome community members. Through event programming, policy and advocacy work and engaging communities across different regions and business sectors, the NDSS commits to its vision of enhancing their quality of life, by helping people with Down syndrome to realize their life aspirations. Currently, they’re 23% of the way to their $10,000 goal and with your help they can get there sooner! Since this Giving Tuesday falls on the last day of National Family Caregiver Month, they’ve branded their action CareGiving Tuesday. Donate in honor of a caregiver or on behalf of someone you know today.
Riseboro Community Partnership began as a Brooklyn-based organization serving seniors in Bushwick over 40 years ago. By purposefully partnering with fellow nonprofits, community organizers and government officials, RCP has since expanded to support a multitude of New York neighborhood communities and demographics. What is Riseboro’s vision for a future New York for all? “Our homeless will be housed. Seniors will age with dignity and joy. Students of all ages will achieve their full potential. Healthy living will replace healthcare as the path to disease prevention. Diversity will be celebrated and equity demanded. Opportunity and wealth will be fairly distributed,” and as a New York-based company, we wish to see this future realized sooner rather than later. Support this holistic community nonprofit to make New York City not just an accessible and safe city, but a diverse one that anyone can thrive within.
The Jed Foundation is an organization that was founded in 2000 by a family who previously lost a son to suicide. Their aim is to help high school and college-aged students navigate the emotional challenges and academic pressures that come with young adulthood by providing a programming framework for schools to teach suicide prevention and resources for students to access mental health support at school. Donate to The Jed Foundation today and generous donors will not only match your donation, but they’ll double your contribution.
Staff Suggestions
This year we asked PhotoShelter employees to share a few words about cause-based organizations and social-good driven brands they support. Here they are in their own words…
Eden Seiferheld, PhotoShelter’s Office Manager and Executive Assistant
“Queer Candle Co is my favorite candle seller and they donate 10% of monthly sales to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project 
The candles are also bomb! Bushwick Ayuda Mutua is a local mutual aid organization in Brooklyn that has helped distribute food and goods throughout the neighborhood. They’re so kind and are doing great work to help a neighborhood in need. NYC Friendly Fridges are a collection of outdoor, public food pantries scattered throughout Greater NYC that rely on community food donations and venmo donations to provide free food for anyone who needs it. Last year I dropped off some of the multiple pandemic birthday cakes that I was sent! Lastly, Brooklyn WIC Centers provide support to women and their children up to age 5 and are always looking for clothing and childcare donations. Another group of incredibly kind individuals that genuinely care about the people they’re helping.”
Damari McBride, PhotoShelter Tech Support Specialist
“Photographers Without Borders is an amazing organization that truly has a gift for change. A diverse, ethically literate community of storytellers (photographers and filmmakers) uniting to support their frontlines community partners (NGOs, community-led initiatives, and change makers in the areas of social and environmental justice) where it’s needed most. PWB completes this through photo assignments, Storytelling School, and much more. When you support PWB you have the option to choose where you would like to assist. You can support storytelling scholarships, community based storyteller, purchase a print, or donate to their general fund. The Smart Project: The Smart Project prepares students for college and career readiness by giving them the tools needed to succeed as multimedia artists. Through the program, students will create portfolio pieces and gain confidence in their ability to succeed. When you donate to The Smart Project you are supporting the next generation of artists. Giving Dallas-based youth a chance to bask in their creativity. Inpathy is ushering in new era of social media that inspires transparency, aims to normalize and regulate moods, and recreate the human experience. When you donate to Inpathy you are supporting the building of their platform that will provide an option of social media to be uniquely human.”
Yoav Guttman, PhotoShelter’s Director of Revenue Marketing
Two organizations I want to highlight are actually clients of PhotoShelter’s: The “Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) works around the world to protect refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of who they are, including ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities,” specifically focusing its efforts with Afghan refugees this year. Donate to this incredible organization that has been defending immigrant freedoms since 1881. Also, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) fights to protect our rights, including defending reproductive freedom, voting rights, immigrants protections, civil rights, and many more!” By donating to the ACLU you help protect every American citizen’s civil liberties, especially when they’re being challenged.
Dan Miller, PhotoShelter Customer Success Manager
“The Book Fairies collect books to provide to those in need, matching with libraries, schools, teachers, and organizations that otherwise would not have the means to obtain books. I love this mission, and the joy that these books bring to the kids is incredible!”
Andrew Fingerman, PhotoShelter CEO“Here’s one that crossed my radar recently, Vital Impacts. Vital Impacts has gathered together dozens of world class photographers who are selling their incredible prints to raise money for important causes that are impacting the world. There are so many longtime friends of PhotoShelter in this group and they need your support at this time of year. This organization was founded by Ami Vitale and the visual journalist Eileen Mignoni. This women-led non-profit provides financial assistance and amplifies the narrative of community-oriented organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving human and wildlife habitats.”
For more information on nonprofits and causes you can support, check out these 12 Inspiring Nonprofits to Support and Follow Right Now.
