The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known to many as Giving Tuesday in the United States.
On Giving Tuesday, many nonprofits encourage donors to open their wallets and give big in the spirit of the season. Each year since its inception in 2012, Giving Tuesday has inspired millions of people to participate by giving their funds or their time to their favorite causes. While we have countless registered 501(c)(3) organizations worthy of extra love right here in the South Sound and across the region, we picked 100 orgs and put them into this giving guide for your consideration. Happy giving!
All photos courtesy of their respective organizations unless otherwise stated
Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue
A lifelong calling for rescuing animals led Sharon Bond and Jacklyn Glover to start rescuing alpacas in 2007. While there are several animal-rescue organizations, there are few dedicated to these fluffy ruminants. In addition to caring for alpacas, the volunteer-run and private donation-fueled nonprofit’s mission is to provide education about alpacas and offer adoption services. Tenino
Alpha Supported Living Services
BOTHELL
Arc of Washington State
OLYMPIA
Assistance League of the Eastside
REDMOND
Babies of Homelessness
BOTHELL AND BELLEVUE
Bellevue LifeSpring
BELLEVUE
Ben’s Fund
BELLEVUE
Big Brothers Big Sisters
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Pizza Klatch
“Klatch” is a Yiddish word for an informal social gathering, especially one for community conversation. In the case of this Thurston County nonprofit, these klatches are held at local middle and high schools to empower area LGBTQIA teens to learn self-advocacy, community building, and resource allocation. Through queer and ally mentors, students have a safe, welcoming space within their schools where they can be free of harassment or discrimination — and eat pizza. Olympia
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
SEATTLE
Birthday Dreams
RENTON
Bloodworks NW
SEATTLE
Books of Joy
REDMOND
Boys & Girls Clubs
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Burned Children Recovery Foundation
EVERETT
Cheer Tacoma
TACOMA
Children’s Home Society of Washington
AUBURN
Quixote Communities
Looking to help homeless veterans and other unhoused individuals? Olympia-based Quixote Communities is an organization that builds and maintains tiny house villages as a permanent solution for the unhoused in the region. The micro-footprint homes are 144 square feet with energy-efficient designs. Currently, Quixote’s offerings include Quixote Village in Olympia and the newly opened Orting Veterans’ Village in Orting. Another Veterans’ Village is currently in development in Shelton. Olympia
Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW
CLE ELUM
Citizens for a Healthy Bay
TACOMA
Compass Health
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Concern for Animals
OLYMPIA
Days for Girls International
MOUNT VERNON
Destination Imagination Washington
REDMOND
Dry Tikes Wet Wipes
OLYMPIA
Duwamish Tribal Services
SEATTLE
Rainier Athletes
Now more than ever, kids need positive role models who care. In fact, 30 percent of Bellevue School District students report that they don’t have a relationship with a caring adult. That’s where Rainier Athletes takes over. Not only does Rainier unite a student’s teachers, family, and coaches through one mentor that stays with the student through graduation, it also fully sponsors that student’s sports, activities, and camps throughout his or her schooling. Bellevue
EastHUB
BELLEVUE
Eastside Baby Corner
BELLEVUE
Eastside Pathways
BELLEVUE
Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank
TACOMA
Encompass
NORTH BEND
FareStart
SEATTLE
Fine Dine Front Lines
KENMORE
Freedom Education Project Puget Sound
SEATTLE
Reading with Rover
Therapy dogs aren’t just for visiting hospitals and helping people with disabilities. In fact, Kirkland-based Reading with Rover shows what a calming effect therapy dogs can have on children who are learning to read or college students with looming tests. The community-based literacy program enters area schools, bookstores, libraries, and universities with trained furry friends to ease anxiety and provide a calming presence. As it turns out, dogs love to listen, and they never judge a reader. Kirkland
Friendly Water for the World
OLYMPIA
Gashora Girls Academy
MEDINA
Girl Scouts of Western Washington
SEATTLE
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
TACOMA
Habitat for Humanity
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Helping Hand House
PUYALLUP
Homage
LYNNWOOD
Home Court NW
WOODINVILLE
Ruby Room
When you look good, you feel good. However, it can be difficult for youths in financial need, especially those in foster care, to afford to feel confident in their personal style. Ruby Room in Renton empowers Washington youths by channeling the strength of personal style as a tool for building confidence. Ruby Room joined forces with F-Factor and in, 2020, started offering a variety of fashion-driven workshops, personal styling services, formal clothing selection programs, a bespoke annual fashion show, and more. Renton
Homeward Pet Adoption Center
WOODINVILLE
Hopelink
BELLEVUE
Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank
ISSAQUAH
JBLM Santa’s Castle
TACOMA
Jubilee Reach
BELLEVUE
Junior League of Tacoma
TACOMA
KidsQuest Children’s Museum
BELLEVUE
Kindering Center
BELLEVUE
Seattle T2P2
T2P2 might sound like a new droid from the Star Wars universe, but it’s actually an acronym for Towers of Tampons & Pyramids of Pads. The org is so named for the sheer magnitude of its menstruation- product supply, of which it has distributed more than 100,000 to more than 5,000 young menstruators since its inception. After all, these products are seen as “luxury items” and subjected to a pink tax, costing young adults in the Puget Sound region approximately $13.25 per month. Many of T2P2’s donations go to area shelters and other programs for unhoused youths. Seattle
LifeWire
BELLEVUE
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
REDMOND
Making a Difference Foundation
TACOMA
Medical Teams International
SEATTLE
Minority Veterans of America
SEATTLE
Mona Foundation
BELLEVUE
Musicworks NW
BELLEVUE
NAMI Eastside
REDMOND
The Trail Youth
After meeting homeless youths living on the Rainier Trail in 2014, Tonya Guinn, Kristen Zuray, and Wendy Laxton started feeding them with coffee and donuts. They soon realized these teens, as well as others, needed a safe and welcoming place. In 2018, the women founded Trail Youth Coffee Home, a nonprofit coffee shop with special hours, events, and free drinks for youths. All proceeds support programs such as mentorship, barista training, and leadership development. North Bend
North Beach Paws
HOQUIAM
Nourish Pierce County
TACOMA
One Day’s Wages
SEATTLE
Overlake Medical Center Foundation
BELLEVUE
Pasado’s Safe Haven
SULTAN
PAWS
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
PFLAG Bellevue Eastside
BELLEVUE
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (The Zoo Society)
TACOMA
2nd Cycle
2nd Cycle in Tacoma gives bicycles — and cyclists — new life. In 2008, Noah Struthers and fellow cyclists founded 2nd Cycle with the mission to encourage bike riding and see it as a tool of personal and community empowerment. For 14 years, 2nd Cycle has worked to provide equitable access to sustainable transportation to all people through its recycle reuse e orts, full-service bike shop, and a variety of programs for adults and youth. Tacoma
Rainbow Center
TACOMA
Razor Clam Society
OLYMPIA
Rebuilding Together
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Rescue:Freedom
KIRKLAND
Rooster Haus Rescue
FALL CITY
Seattle Children’s Foundation
SEATTLE
Seattle Humane
BELLEVUE
Seattle Persian and Himalayan Rescue
SEATTLE
Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation
MAPLE VALLEY
Special Olympics
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Step By Step
PUYALLUP
Summit Assistance Dogs
ANACORTES
Sunny Sky’s Animal Rescue
PUYALLUP
Tahoma Audubon Society
UNIVERSITY PLACE
The Borgen Project
TACOMA
The Boys Next Door Adult Family Home
PUYALLUP
The Coffee Oasis
BREMERTON
The Hope Heart Institute
BELLEVUE
The Sophia Way
BELLEVUE
Thunder Mountain Farms Equine Rescue
ENUMCLAW
Toy Rescue Mission
TACOMA
United Way
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Washington Women in Need
KIRKLAND
Way Back Inn
RENTON
Wolf Haven International
TENINO
World Relief Seattle
SEATTLE
Youth Eastside Services
BELLEVUE
