While no one likes a good sale more than I do, the buying focus of Black Friday and Cyber Monday has never appealed to me very much. 

Instead, the philosophy behind Giving Tuesday is much closer to my heart. Started in 2012, #GivingTuesday extends the season and spirit of Thanksgiving into the Tuesday following the holiday by encouraging people to donate to a charitable cause.

Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have partnered again this year to match up to $2 million today in #GivingTuesday donations. And while my heart is uplifted at the thought of many nonprofit organizations benefitting year-round from just 24 hours of worldwide generosity, I do want to remind that – just like the Thanksgiving holiday itself – Giving Tuesday isn’t really about money at all. There are plenty of ways to give back in your community that don’t cost a dime.

I’m grateful that I don’t have to look any further than our own Solver community to see this giving spirit in action through our “Technology with Heart” principle. If you or your organization is looking for ways to give back today – or throughout the year – I humbly offer these lessons some of our Solvers learned through their work with the Businessolver Foundation:

Take a leap of faith. Truly selfless giving tends to make us a little uncomfortable, and I’d suspect that repelling 300+ feet might do that – just like it did for our Foundation director Brooke Knight when she repelled down a building in support of the Special Olympics. So, if you’re a little nervous or hesitant – or, like Brooke, flat-out terrified – to step out in public support of a cause you hold dear, chances are it’s a good one!

Don’t be afraid to look a little silly. I’ve long ago buried my leg warmers from the ‘80s, but I’d break them out again in a heartbeat for a cause I believe in, just like our Solvers did in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Central Iowa for the organization’s 80s-themed gala and silent auction to support children and families in need.

Even if you don’t quite know what you’re doing, just roll up your sleeves and join in. As you likely know by now, Businessolver builds technology – not houses. However, when our friends at Habitat for Humanity asked for our help to build homes, our coders became carpenters to get the job done. Sometimes, you recognize the need first and acquire the knowledge to meet it along the way. During Giving Tuesday, or any other day of the year, sometimes the best way to donate is to simply raise your hand and say, “I’ll help.”