Dear Friends,

2014 was a watershed moment for this big day — the year #GivingTuesday officially moved from campaign to national holiday status: blessing received from The White House; high-fived by a whole line of celebrities and stars, from Hugh Jackman to Yo-Yo Ma to Ellen Degeneres; and championed by no less than 68 countries around the world. To YouGiveGoods too, this new tradition was important to honor.

We decided to hold a site-wide #GIVE10 event. For two days, on #GivingTuesday, and the day after, we offered to the public a gift code that granted an additional 10% cash donation on top of any donation of $50 or more to any charity drive hosted with us.

The results were inspiring! Together, for the two-day event, we raised nearly $20K for charity: in soup kitchen basics, pets supplies, toys and more – pounds of profound impact.

Charities all across the country received support, encompassing animal shelters, food pantries, homeless shelters, and other organizations that tirelessly work to support our greater community: City Harvest, Toys for Tots NYC, Food Bank for New York City, Ronald McDonald’s House, and Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, to name a few.

Team captains of all stripes rallied to their causes: whether from companies like Morgan Stanley, Northrop Grumman, KPMG, and Fidelity with missions of philanthropy; from the sports team Philadelphia Eagles with their championing of healthy food for their community’s needy; from schools with civic-minded students ranging across the country, from New Jersey to Texas; or local community organizations and businesses, seeking to support their very own.

We owe much to the many generous partners who joined us in spreading the #GivingTuesday message. And of course, only with the help of many supporters — family, friends, and other givers — was it possible for participating drives to take flight.

At YouGiveGoods, we see ourselves not as solo drivers, but as facilitators: a means to connect supporter and charity, in partnerships that nourish the community we all serve. Our mission is to unite shopping, charity, and transparent giving in a daily practice. With our service, we allow supporters to shop for charity, personally picking out tangible goods, whether it’s blankets to keep the homeless warm; or school supplies to foster the education of a child in poverty.

We are happy to share our #GivingTuesday 2014 recap with you, to show how great change can come when we all work towards a cause; and how today's world makes it easier than ever for us to join in the same mission.

For #GivingTuesday 2015 then, we expect social media and technology to play an ever-larger role in spreading the movement. What started in 2012 as a U.S.-specific movement with $13 million raised for charity, has grown in 2014, to over 50 countries around the world, with $45 million given back to communities everywhere.

A holiday like #GivingTuesday is a jumpstart of inspiration at the end of the year, to remind us always of our original mission, and to continue into the New Year with open arms and hearts. This is YouGiveGoods' second year in celebration, and we are grateful to be part of the conversation. Next year, 2015, will only be more incredible.

Thank you again for your inspiration.

Lisa Tomasi

President & CEO, YouGiveGoods