Giving Tuesday – which is today – falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is a designated day of giving to charity. The United Nations Foundation is given credit as one of the originators of Giving Tuesday, which was first held in 2012 and was created as a global day of giving back.

In Illinois, Donors Forum is coordinating this initiative, and it has a bold goal: $12 million raised by Illinois nonprofits from 100,000 individual donors – in one day.

More than 600 nonprofits in the state have signed up with Donors Forum to take part in Giving Tuesday. You can visit its website, https://donorsforum.org, to find a charity you would like to donate to.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be on that list in order to donate. Maybe there a local nonprofit that has provided a service that benefited you, and you’re now in a position to give back. Or maybe you want to start a new tradition of giving to those in need each holiday season. Giving Tuesday can be the day you annually bestow that gift.