Ever since the fall of 2012, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving Day has been designated as Giving Tuesday. It is supposed to be a global day of philanthropy and doing good. I’m not entirely sure how this celebratory goodwill got started, but I believe it was probably for good motives. Generosity is a good thing and Mockingbird encourages those that feel enriched by the ministry to be generous if they are able. Any day of the week.
Once Giving Tuesday became such a widespread (almost) holiday, it made nonprofits feel compelled to do or say something in conjunction with it — whether they wanted to or not. It is expected of us here at Mbird to engage with you about giving today, but I really don’t want to. I’m the fundraising coordinator here, but Giving Tuesday is the kind of holiday I never get really excited about. The appeal for support is too contrived when I’d rather it be more fluid and relational.
Giving Tuesday has become a way for charities to place an expectation of generosity on donors based on a seemingly arbitrary calendar date. You know, like April 15th (tax day) — or for that matter December 25th (Christmas). When expectation mixes with gift giving, it easily feels like law. Moses could have fit Giving Tuesday into Leviticus 23, when he gives the Israelites a heavy obligation of giving. Couldn’t you hear Moses saying, “On the first Tuesday after your day of thanks, after the Black Friday, after the cyber Monday, thou must make an offering.”? Thankfully, Luther says in his commentary on Galatians; “You must send away Moses and his law. Send him to the confident, the proud, and the stubborn.”
Philanthropy should primarily happen in the context of relationships and Giving Tuesday is often a way of asking for support without the relational component. Along with our online tools, the day can create a lack of personal connection that can hurt fundraising. If you needed financial support right now, would you use a date on a calendar, contrived by people you don’t know to ask someone for help? “Hey Bob, it’s Giving Tuesday, and the people at corporate say we need your help.” Doesn’t that sound lame? If someone is calling you about money and needing it on a certain day they are probably a bill collector. Giving Tuesday sounds more like a debt than a gift, far too much obligation and far too little grace.
In Second Corinthians, Paul has some interesting things to say about giving. One tidbit that has always amazed me is when Paul has the gumption to tell the church to have their gift ready by the time he visits them. Paul solicits a gift from people he knows and who know him well. He might be sending a letter, but this isn’t an impersonal listserv appeal. Trust had been built over the years Paul called them his brothers and sisters. He was vulnerable enough to share his weakness with them. They have been directly impacted by his ministry. They could really help him and he is on good ground to ask them to support his work. Paul gives them the opportunity to spread good news as he did to them. His lone caveat is that they don’t do it begrudgingly.
We don’t want you to feel begrudged today, but cheerful. Giving Tuesday can easily make people feel resentful (it certainly does to me). If it does for you then feel free to take it off your calendar, put your wallet away, grab a refreshing drink, and think about “For God so loved the world that He gave.” That is the real gift. Advent and Good Friday are much better than Giving Tuesday.
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[…] How Not to Feel Guilty on Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday can easily make people feel resentful. If it does for you then feel free to take it off your calendar, put your wallet away, grab a refreshing drink, and think about “For God so loved the world that He gave.” That is the real gift. […]