Julie Wade

Tharros Place

Giving Tuesday – the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and an internationally recognized day to donate to charity – began with a simple idea from 92nd Street Y Director Henry Timms to shift from a season of consumerism to philanthropy. In 2012, he founded #GivingTuesday, which engages more than 10,000 partners in a global day of giving. In its first year, an estimated $10 million was donated to charity through online Giving Tuesday fundraisers. In 2022 – despite pandemic and economic concerns – those donations hit record highs of $3.1 billion, a 15 percent increase over 2021, with 35 million participating.

Without a doubt, the impact is nothing to sneeze at. Globally, it drives billions of dollars in the span of a month, with a vast amount of that giving coming in the last few days of December. And as the executive director of Tharros Place, a 12-bed residential home to address underlying trauma and cultivate a culture of courage for girls ages 12 to 17, I am genuinely grateful for the spotlight Giving Tuesday shines on local nonprofits.

But we can do better. Hear me out. While Giving Tuesday – and one-off holiday giving in general – often provide the entry point for first-time donors, it is more important and impactful to have donors who have a year-round giving mentality. While toy drives are great and may make the giver feel better in the moment, Barbies don’t create the transformative change that nonprofits are desperately seeking. There is a way, however, to truly make a difference with your dollars.

When considering where and how to donate, ask yourself the following questions: What is near and dear to your heart? Do you have a soft spot for animals? As a neighbor to Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field, do you see the issues veterans face firsthand? Have you been personally impacted by breast cancer and care deeply about the importance of research? There is at least one nonprofit for every cause and need. Let your passion fuel your donations.

How effective is the nonprofit at alleviating or addressing the issue? As a donor, have you done your research? If you have, you’re in the minority. Potential donors can search the IRS website to verify a nonprofit is active with public charity status.

In addition, be sure the charity you are considering giving to can demonstrate their impact with reliable measurements, such as metrics and financial reports. Such transparency only serves to increase donor confidence.

How cheap are the solutions?

I won’t lie. Running a 24-7 operation staffed by trained and licensed professionals is expensive. All of Tharros Place’s services are tailored for survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Trauma-informed care, transitional housing, restorative treatment, and customized success plans cost as much as $1,000 per day per resident. However, there are ways for donors to plug in regularly and consistently without breaking the bank. Monthly gifts of $50 could fund gas to transport Tharros Place residents to doctors’ appointments; $250 could ensure a fun outing; or $500 could purchase back-to-school supplies. Like your Hulu and Netflix subscriptions, you can set up a regular, automated monthly donation to your favorite nonprofit, ensuring you give every Tuesday, not just in December.

I understand that during the holidays many of us long for traditions, but sometimes we have to change the ways we’ve been doing things. This holiday season, make it your mission to seek out charities to volunteer with and donate to…not just for a season, but as part of your life. You won’t regret it.

Julie Wade is Executive Director of Tharros Place, a 501(c)(3) that takes its name from the Greek word for courage. In 2023, Tharros Place opened a 12-bed residential home to address underlying trauma and cultivate a culture of courage for girls ages 12 to 17.