This year, to celebrate Giving Tuesday, Maps Credit Union will be giving $10,000 to local non-profits—and our members get to help us pick! Just nominate your favorite non-profit from Marion County, Polk County, or Wilsonville, and we will select 10 eligible non-profits at random from the pool to receive $1,000 each! Nominations must be submitted by December 12, 2025, and the winners will be announced on December 15, 2025.
What is Giving Tuesday?
Put simply, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to be charitable and generous—particularly with nonprofits and charitable causes. The initiative began in 2012 as a joint project between the United Nations Foundation and New York City’s 92nd Street Y (a.k.a., YMCA).
In the years since, the concept has amassed a large following and the hashtag #GivingTuesday has become a popular tool to inspire generosity among social media users. In 2019, Giving Tuesday became an independent organization with a goal “to create a more just and generous world, one where generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.”
When is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is always celebrated on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Since Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, that means giving Tuesday falls either on the last Tuesday of November or the first Tuesday of December. This year, it falls on December 2, 2025.
How Can I Participate in Giving Tuesday?
1. Nominate your favorite non-profit for our Giving Tuesday campaign!
We are giving $10,000 to non-profits in the communities where we have branches, and you can help us pick! Maps members can nominate their favorite 503(c)3 non-profit organization in Marion or Polk counties or Wilsonville (one non-profit organization nomination per Maps member). On December 12, we will select 10 eligible non-profits at random from the pool to receive $1,000 each! The winners will be announced on December 15.
2. Donate Blood
The American Red Cross has a critical need for blood donors of all blood types. Learn about the eligibility requirements and schedule an appointment or download the Blood Donor App to learn more.
3. Give nourishment
Volunteer at a local food pantry like Marion Polk Food Share. The organization—which feeds people in our community—runs on the time, talents, and resources of volunteers. They have a variety of volunteer opportunities including repacking food, gardening, delivering Meals on Wheels, and other ways to assist in the fight against hunger.
4. Make Your Own Donation to a Nonprofit
If you have funds to give, choose a nonprofit or community organization that aligns with your values. Love the theater? Become a one-time or monthly donor at Pentacle Theater (or just buy tickets to see a show). Want to help the homeless? Make a financial donation or give much-needed items to Northwest Human Services. Want to encourage literacy in kids? Make an endowment or donate money to SMART Reading. Their organization is funded almost entirely by private gifts from individuals, foundations, and businesses and every gift ensures that they can provide vital reading support to more than 11,000 of Oregon’s kids every year.
5. Pay it Forward
Look for simple ways to send kindness out into the universe. Want some examples? Send a gratitude email to a coworker. Offer to babysit for some new parents. Leave quarters at the laundromat. At the coffee shop? Instead of paying for the next person’s order (after all, they can already afford to pay, or they wouldn’t be there), give the baristas the biggest tip you can afford.
6. Distribute Essentials
Assemble kits of essential items to offer unhoused people or others in need. Keep them in your car to distribute or drop them off at a local shelter. Include a bottle of water and some non-perishable snacks as well as first aid supplies, menstrual supplies, lip balm, socks, warm gloves, and hand warmers.
7. Help Your Neighbors
Offer to rake the leaves or do other chores for an elderly neighbor. Surprise a new mom with a casserole or a couple of hours of babysitting time. Adopt a Street or start a community project—like a community garden, a park cleanup, a Little Free Library, or a piece of public art.
8. Help Animals
If you love animals, there are lots of ways to give them a little love for Giving Tuesday. For example, you could donate to the Oregon Humane Society, especially since donations made on Giving Tuesday are doubled up to $50,000! No cash to donate? Volunteer instead! You could also sponsor a pet, become a pet foster, or host a fundraiser. Love horses? Support the awe-inspiring work of an organization like HART (Horses Adaptive Riding & Therapy) by sponsoring or donating to cover farrier service, veterinary services, and other necessary care.
9. Help the Environment
Plant a tree. Give money to an environmental charity. Or, sign up for a local volunteer program or work party. Marion Resourcers, for example, helps reduce waste across Marion County through repair events, reuse programs, and hands-on volunteer opportunities that make sustainable living easier for everyone. In Polk County, the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District offers work parties focused on habitat restoration, native plants, and invasive-species removal—great for anyone who wants to get outside and support local ecosystems. Wilsonville residents can check out the city’s volunteer page for available park-maintenance slots—even simple things like trash cleanup or park upkeep help the local ecosystem.
💡 Tip: Want to give back in a way that has a lasting impact on the environment and your wallet? Make your #GivingTuesday a zero-waste day and educate yourself on how to reduce waste and energy consumption.
10. Give Thanks
Don’t have a lot of money or time to give? You can still do your part by offering gratitude and kindness to people at home, work, or out in the community. Send a thank you note to a healthcare professional who went the extra mile for you. Leave a basket of goodies and drinks for delivery and postal workers. Send a letter to someone who helped you or mentored you.
Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages us to give back in whatever ways we can. What’s more, you don’t need a lot of money (or time) to participate. Whether it’s offering a smile or a helping hand, raising money or organizing volunteers, we all have something we can contribute. So, this year for #GivingTuesday, think about your gifts and talents. Consider what you can offer—even if it is just words of encouragement and gratitude to those around you. AND, don’t forget to nominate your favorite non-profit for our Giving Tuesday campaign!