【Watch Mound Daughter】

After the frenzy of Black Friday and Watch Mound Daughterthe deal-bingeing of Cyber Monday, the annual event known as Giving Tuesday is a day-long opportunity to put your dollars not toward a new gadget or gift, but toward a cause that's near and dear to your heart.

Founded in 2012 by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y in New York, Giving Tuesday is a nonpartisan online initiative (#GivingTuesday) designed to celebrate and encourage philanthropy.

This particular Giving Tuesday comes at the end of a year in which everyday philanthropy felt like an urgent, important part of declaring your political and social values.

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Whether people decided to donate to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU at critical moments — and they did so in record numbers — or opted to support nonprofit organizations aiding disaster survivors, 2017 has provided potential donors with countless opportunities to think twice about how to make a difference.

Indeed, charitable giving is up by 2.2 percent compared to last year, according to Rachel Hutchisson, VP of corporate citizenship and philanthropy of the social good software company Blackbaud. That might seem like a small increase, but Americans gave $390 billion to nonprofit organizations in 2016.

"There's no reason why we wouldn’t see the same trends," Hutchinson says of the final days of 2017. In other words, there's nothing in the data collected so far this year to indicate donors are feeling any fatigue.

Last year, Giving Tuesday brought in a record $168 million for participating organizations, and Hutchinson expects this year's event to reflect the American public's increased generosity and willingness to talk about their giving.

"The conversation has gotten bigger and louder," she says.

If that's not a conversation you've joined yet, here are five great reasons to reconsider that in 2017.

1. You'll join a global movement.

While Giving Tuesday started in the United States, countries and nonprofit organizations around the world have embraced the event. Last year, Giving Tuesday activities took place in 98 countries.

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"It's emerged as a truly global day of giving," says Jessica Schneider, director of strategy and collaboration at the 92Y's Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact.

The efforts in each country look different depending on local and regional needs.

2. Anyone can participate with a simple gesture.

While the focus of Giving Tuesday is often on providing financial support to important causes, the campaign stresses that there are multiple ways individuals can participate. That includes using the hashtag to talk about giving, contacting local nonprofits to offer your time or resources, and learning about how to maximize the impact of a monetary gift.

"The best thing about Giving Tuesday is that it is so open," Schneider says. "The hope is that it really emboldens everyone to feel like they're part of the philanthropic community."

3. You can show civic pride.

No matter your politics, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to demonstrate pride in your local community. It's also a chance to tune out partisan rancor for even a few hours and focus on the positive message of helping others.

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One school in New York City, for example, will spend time assembling backpacks with school supplies for children affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The Houston Public Library is fundraising for a new "Mobile Express" to reach communities where the libraries shuttered in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

"Giving is a universal element — it’s a thing that unites everyone," says Schneider.

4. You can still make a big difference for disaster survivors.

If you're worried the time has passed to support aid organizations that deliver disaster relief, Schneider says now is actually an opportune moment to make a donation.

While media coverage of disasters like Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria, and the Northern California wildfires has waned, local organizations probably have a much better idea of where resources are most needed and are in the process of implementing an action plan.

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"There's a lot of anecdotal information that makes me think there’s going to be a lot of giving to disaster relief," says Schneider.

5. You might convince other people to give.

Schneider says that talking about charitable giving with friends and family, or in public and social media, may help persuade those listening to make their own contributions to a cause they admire.

So consider Giving Tuesday a chance to help start or continue a chain reaction that just might make the world a better place. If eye-popping deals can get your attention for even just a few minutes, then so can that inspiring prospect.