Giving Tuesday 2018: 10 NYC Non-Profits to Support

Following the festivities of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a philanthropic initiative focused on channeling the holiday spirit to a good cause. On November 27, Giving Tuesday is a time for all people to consider giving back to their community through charitable donations.

Now in its seventh year, Giving Tuesday has raised $300,000,000 for various charities, with over 250,000,000 gifts from over 150 countries.

November 27th is also #NYGivesDay, a combined effort by the New York Council of Nonprofits and United Way New York, to drive support of local charities throughout the NY metro area.

All organizations and foundations listed below are NYXT partners, and certified non-profit organizations, classified 501(c)3 by the IRS.

Please note, NYXT.nyc has no financial connections to any of the following non-profits. We just think they are great, and you should too!

1. American Federation for Suicide Prevention

The AFSP is a voluntary health organization dedicated to creating a nationwide community for those affected by, or at risk for suicide. The AFSP uses charitable donations to fund scientific research, educate the public and advocate for public policies regarding mental health and suicide prevention, and support survivors of suicide loss.

Learn how your donations can support the American Federation for Suicide Prevention 

2. Art Start

Over 20 years, Art Start has created arts workshops for New York’s underserved youth, inside homeless shelters, incarceration alternative programs, and partnering youth agencies. Art Start provides emotional support and nurturing for youth in crisis through student-centered arts education and guidance from mentor-instructors.

To donate, or learn more about Art Start, check

3. CancerCare

In addition to being the month for Giving Tuesday and #NYGives day, November is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

CancerCare provides support for people struggling a cancer diagnosis, offering counseling and support, educational workshops, and financial planning and assistance. CancerCare programs have helped 195,000 people navigate the challenges that cancer presents, emotional, financial and practical.

To make a donation to support CancerCare, check

4. Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is a non-profit founded to close the gender gap in technology, growing to become a nationwide movement that has reached 90,000 girls in all 50 states.

Contributions to Girls Who Code helps to educate girls to pursue STEM opportunities, including expanding the reach of the program, training volunteers and teachers for clubs and summer programs, and develop new programs to close the gender gap in technology.

To donate, or join the Girls Who Code movement, check

5. Institute of Play

Institute of Play was created to change education, using the principles of game design to create an innovative and accessible approach to transforming learning, both in environment and delivery.

The Institute of Play was founded in 2007 by a group of game designers, and now works to create innovative school designs, game-based curriculum and learning tools, educator programs, workshops and corporate training.

To support the Institute of Play, check

6. National Alliance on Mental Illness NYC

NAMI NYC is an organization that supports individuals and families affected by mental illness with education, support and advocacy. Educational programs include free presentations from NAMI, which can be held at your organization and at your convenience.

They also offer classes and support groups for caregivers, family and friends, and veteran’s programs for people affected by mental illness. NAMI supports advocacy for its members, advocating for individuals and working to persuade representatives to support programs and services to assist with mental illness support and education.

To make a donation, please click 

7. NY Restoration Project

Founded in 1995 by Bette Midler, the New York Restoration Project is a non-profit dedicated to the creation of beautiful parks and public spaces throughout the New York Metro Area. The NYRP is the lead private partner of MillionTreesNYC, and owns 52 community gardens across the city.

Donate to the New York Restoration Project

8. The Doe Fund

The Doe Fund sponsors practical programs focused on breaking the cycles of homelessness, addiction, and criminal recidivism. By providing a way for homeless and formerly incarcerated men to get back to work, and find a new start, the Doe Fund uses 82 cents of every dollar donated to directly fund programs to help people help themselves.

To make a donation, click

9. Urban Arts Partnership

The Urban Arts Partnership implements arts education programs for public school students both in- and out-of-school, to create a love of the arts in students, and connect them with artistic mentors, technology innovators and more.

The UAP has not only cultivated artistic tendencies in students, it has proven success in improved academic results, graduation rates, community engagement and social-emotional skills.

To make a donation in support of the Urban Arts Partnership, click

10. Wildlife Conservation Society

The WCS is the organizing arm of the Bronx, Central Park, Brooklyn and Queens Zoos, as well as the New York Aquarium at Coney Island. It also takes action to conserve wild spaces worldwide, with the goal of conservation in 16 priority regions comprising more than half of the biodiversity for the entire world.

You can support the Wildlife Conservation Society by purchasing a membership, providing access to all of the WCS properties in New York; or by making a one-time or recurring deduction

The end-of-year holiday season is a good time to give thanks for all we have, and to help those less fortunate. Whether you’re interested in advocating for the mentally ill, helping to make a greener New York, helping to prevent suicide or support arts education or STEM learning programs, connect with a to make a donation to a good cause on Giving Tuesday 2018.