Giving Tuesday 2026: Support CARE’s humanitarian work

Giving Tuesday is a single day focused on giving back. It takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, following Black Friday and Cyber Monday. People can take part by donating, volunteering, fundraising, or sharing information about a charity, nonprofit organization, or cause they support.

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 and has grown into a global event involving individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, community groups, and more.

You can give on Tuesday, December 1, 2026 itself, or give before the date — either way, your contributions help! Some organizations, including CARE, run Giving Tuesday campaigns for several days or weeks and offer limited-time donation matching as part of their fundraising plan. Many campaigns include a short fundraising window with matching funds from a foundation, a corporate partner, or individual donors, so the same gift can unlock more support for families.

Participating in Giving Tuesday is easy, and a simple plan helps you choose the right charity. Simply choose an organization or cause, review how it uses funds, and donate.

You can take part by:

• Making a one-time donation
• Signing up to give monthly
• Participating in donation matching
• Asking whether your employer will match your gift
• Raising money for an organization
• Volunteering your time
• Sharing information about organizations and causes with others

To donate to CARE, use our official Giving Tuesday donation page. Just choose an amount to give, and enter your payment information to start your gift. You’ll receive a confirmation after your donation is complete.

A donation match means that a person, company, or foundation has agreed to give additional money based on the donations an organization receives during a campaign.

For example, a donor might agree to match eligible donations dollar for dollar, helping a charity raise more funds. For Giving Tuesday 2026, CARE will have a 5x match. That means that your $50 donation would be matched by an additional $250, unlocking $300 for CARE’s humanitarian relief work.

Matches usually have rules. They may only apply during a specific period, like the weeks around Giving Tuesday, and the matching donor may set a maximum total amount. The donation page will explain whether a donation match is currently active, which gifts qualify, and how the matched funds will be used. Monthly gifts are not included in donation matches.

Millions of families around the world are experiencing conflict, hunger, extreme weather, and displacement.

During emergencies, CARE can help provide:

• Food and clean water
• Cash assistance
• Shelter supplies
• Health and nutrition services
• Hygiene supplies
• Support for people forced to leave their homes

CARE also works with communities after the immediate emergency has passed. These long-term programs can include helping people rebuild their businesses, restore their crops, access health services, and prepare for future disasters.

Women and girls often face the greatest risks during crises, including increased hunger, targeted violence, and barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services. CARE works to ensure their needs, priorities, and leadership are a central part of all of our responses.

When you donate through CARE’s Giving Tuesday page, your gift is “unrestricted,” which means it isn’t assigned to one specific place, project, or crisis.

Instead, CARE can use flexible donations where the needs are greatest. This might include major emergencies, crises that don’t make it to the headlines, or proven relief programs that need additional support.

Depending on current needs, flexible contributions could help CARE and our partners:

• Deliver food, water, and essential supplies
• Support maternal and community health services
• Help families recover after conflict or disaster
• Strengthen food security and prepare for climate threats
• Help women start or grow their businesses
• Support savings groups, training programs, and other tactics for improving income
• Work with communities to prepare for future emergencies

Some donation pages and fundraising campaigns support specific emergencies or programs. When that’s the case, the page will explain how the donated funds will be used.

CARE responds to emergencies around the world through its own country teams and in partnership with local organizations. More than 96% of CARE staff are from the communities they serve, and working with local partners means assistance is able to reach people more quickly, better reflect the priorities of the community, and create stronger impact.

Local staff and partners talk with the communities about what they need, how support should be delivered, and how to engage local leaders. They may distribute supplies, provide cash assistance, connect people with health services, or help communities prepare for changing weather conditions.

The exact response always depends on the crisis. In one place, families might need access to clean water and temporary shelter. In another, cash assistance may help people buy food or medicine from local businesses. Somewhere else, communities might benefit from programs that help them implement regenerative agricultural practices or improve the services provided by clinics and healthcare staff.

CARE also works with communities after immediate emergencies have passed, connecting short-term relief to longer-term recovery. That can include helping people to restart businesses, restore crops, access health services, prepare for future disasters, and more. Our programs are designed to help communities recover, grow, and thrive.

CARE pays particular attention to the needs of women and girls, who can face greater risks during emergencies and are often excluded from decision-making processes. We prioritize partnerships with local, women-led organizations so their priorities help shape our programming.

1. Look for a donation match:
   Check CARE’s Giving Tuesday donation page to see whether gift matching is available and whether the campaign is still active. The page will explain when the match period ends and whether there is a maximum amount.For Giving Tuesday 2026, CARE will have a 5x match. That means that your $50 donation would be matched by an additional $250, unlocking $300 for CARE’s humanitarian relief work.
2. Check whether your employer matches donations:
   Some employers match donations made by their employees, which can double contributions. Ask your human resources team or review your workplace benefits to see if your gift to CARE qualifies. Employee matching can be one of the best ways to raise the impact of your Giving Tuesday contributions, especially when employees submit the match request right after donating.
3. Consider giving monthly:
   A monthly donation ensures that CARE has a steady source of funding throughout the year and supports ongoing humanitarian work. This helps our global teams respond when emergencies happen and continue longer-term work wherever possible, increasing impact.

Donations made to CARE USA are always tax-deductible in the United States to the extent allowed by law. After you donate, CARE will send you a confirmation that you can keep for your tax records. Your individual tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional for personalized advice.

If you want to decide which humanitarian organizations you should donate to on Giving Tuesday, use a trusted evaluator like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to review a nonprofit’s rating, financial transparency, and track record for relief work.

See CARE’s Charity Navigator rating.

See CARE’s Charity Watch rating.