For many of us, Giving Tuesday, the annual pseudo-holiday, has become overwhelming. Held on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, it’s a time when countless charities and nonprofits now ask for donations. 

In 2024 alone, more than 36 million people gave about $3.6 billion on this single day — an average gift of $100 per person. Yet with so many organizations asking for money, it’s increasingly difficult to decide who’s worth supporting. Many people now consider sitting out Giving Tuesday altogether.

But my advice to Catholics is this: Lean into Giving Tuesday. You can shape the Church — and the culture — in a way that previous generations of Catholics couldn’t imagine.

I say this as someone who has spent more than 30 years actively building and supporting Catholic nonprofits. I’ve founded Catholic schools, helped some of the most recognizable Catholic organizations scale nationwide, and I currently run an Institute that trains Catholic leaders for a post-Christian world. Decades in this space have helped me realize that American Catholics are distinctly able to spread the Gospel through charitable giving.

As prosaic as it sounds, America’s tax structure has given rise to a Catholic infrastructure that is unparalleled in world history. Our laws make it exceptionally easy to establish foundations, charities and other nonprofits — groups that we as Catholics often call “lay apostolates” because they empower the laity to advance the Church’s mission. The charitable deduction also gives people a strong incentive to give to these groups, encouraging their rapid growth.

American culture is also very much defined by the belief that all of us have a role in solving problems in society. In the context of Catholicism, that ethos has long spurred the faithful to tackle challenges alongside priests and religious, instead of just waiting for the hierarchy. In other countries — especially in Europe — the default assumption is generally to let the institutional Church take the lead.

The result is a slew of lay apostolates that spread the truth in extraordinary ways. In every parish and on its online platforms, the Augustine Institute helps catechize people and strengthen their faith. In its 10,000-plus local councils, the Knights of Columbus rallies men to support the pro-life cause, the Special Olympics and countless other worthy causes. On hundreds of college campuses, FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) has missionaries who’ve helped a disproportionate number of future priests find their vocation.

These are just a few of the thousands of lay apostolates that help make American Catholicism vibrant. Giving Tuesday is a time for all of us to ask: How can we help reach even more people and do even more good in service to the Gospel?

To be clear, I’m not calling for donations to a specific Catholic nonprofit. Personally, there are dozens that I support, given their impact in the Church and on the culture. But there are surely hundreds more that I don’t know about, including some that are just getting off the ground. Giving Tuesday is an ideal time to find them and fund them.

Here’s my advice to Catholics who are deciding how — or whether — to give this year:

First, zero in on Catholic groups. There are many nonprofits outside the Church that do good work, but they’ll always have people willing to give to them. As Catholics, we should focus on the lay apostolates that are most effective at spreading the message of Christ and his Church.

Second, pray for guidance. Even if you limit your giving to Catholic groups, it can still be difficult to choose from so many deserving options. Ask our Lord and the saints to help you find the organizations that truly need your donation.

Third, give generously. In the same way that everyday Catholics gave everything they had to help build parishes 100 years ago, we need people to sacrifice to build the lay apostolates that are key to the Church’s mission in the 21st century. Your support can quite literally save souls, and when heaven is on the line, more is always better.

Giving Tuesday has secular origins, but it’s still a powerful opportunity for Catholics. Instead of taking a step back this year, take heart and take action. And remember the Lord’s promise in Scripture: that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

 

Tim Busch is cofounder of the Napa Institute, a Catholic lifestyle organization.