Dec. 1 is Giving Tuesday — a day meant to promote charitable giving during the holiday shopping season. And Arizona nonprofits say it’s especially important this year.

With the economic slump caused by the pandemic, food banks, homeless services, and other charitable organizations have seen upticks in demand. But at the same time, 2020 has been disastrous for nonprofit budgets, said Kristen Merrifield, CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits.

“Nonprofits overnight had to cancel all of their fundraising events that happen here in Arizona in the spring that they rely on for fundraising through the end of the year,” Merrifield said. 

In addition to canceled events, COVID-19 health precautions meant many nonprofits could no longer work with volunteers. 

“When we surveyed about 500 nonprofits this summer, there were about 1,700 employees that had been reportedly laid off or furloughed, but the loss of volunteers was about 37,000," Merrifield said. 

Since nonprofits often depend on increased donations during the holiday season, Merrifield said this will be a critical few weeks for many nonprofits’ survival.

"We're very hopeful that this end-of-year giving season will once again show a great outpouring of support," Merrifield said, "because I think we're in the eye of the storm." 

For those looking to make a charitable donation this Giving Tuesday, Merrifield recommends searching the directory of nonprofits at AZGives.org.