GivingTuesday 2026 Is Dec. 1: New $1,000 Deduction Without Itemizing and How to Check a Charity

GivingTuesday 2026 falls on Tuesday, Dec. 1, according to GivingTuesday, and a new rule from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) applies to it: beginning with tax year 2026, people who do not itemize may deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts to eligible charities. From Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, the day is 37 days away. This story explains the deduction, lists the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) steps for checking a charity, and offers a one-page printable checklist.

When is GivingTuesday 2026?

GivingTuesday lists “GivingTuesday – Dec 1, 2026” on its About page. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and GivingTuesday is the Tuesday after it. Mark both on the November 2026 printable calendar and the December 2026 printable calendar. Our Thanksgiving 2026 planner covers the days before it, and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 story covers the shopping days in between.

Date	Day
Thu., Nov. 26, 2026	Thanksgiving
Tue., Dec. 1, 2026	GivingTuesday

GivingTuesday says it was created in 2012 “as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good,” and that it was born and incubated at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. For scale, the GivingTuesday Data Commons estimated that 38.1 million people took part in GivingTuesday 2025 and that $4.0 billion was donated in the United States alone. Those are 2025 estimates from a press release dated Dec. 3, 2025; 2026 results are not yet available.

What is the new deduction for people who do not itemize?

The IRS page “Working Families Tax Cuts” says that beginning with tax year 2026, individuals who do not itemize may deduct up to $1,000 of cash contributions made to eligible charitable organizations, and up to $2,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. The page was last reviewed Oct. 22, 2026. A cash gift made on GivingTuesday 2026 falls in tax year 2026, so it can count. Whether it does for you depends on your own return, so check with a tax professional.

Gift	Counts toward the new deduction?	IRS wording
Cash to an eligible charity	Yes, up to the limit	“Available only for cash contributions made to eligible charitable organizations”
Clothing, stock or other property	No	“Noncash contributions … do not qualify”
Donor-advised funds and supporting organizations	No	“Certain contributions … do not qualify”
Prior-year carryovers	No	“Prior-year carryovers do not qualify”

How do I check a charity before giving?

The FTC’s guidance on donating safely gives these steps.

1. Look up the charity in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. The FTC says it tells you whether your donation would be tax deductible.
2. Research the mission and programs. The FTC says that if you cannot find detailed information about them, be suspicious.
3. Confirm registration. The FTC says most states require a charity or its fundraiser to register to ask for donations, and it advises confirming the group is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt organization.
4. Do not let anyone rush you. The FTC says that is something scammers do.
5. Do not trust caller ID alone. The FTC says scammers can change it to make a call look like it comes from a local area code.

An FTC consumer alert dated Aug. 27, 2026 adds that scammers might impersonate well-known charities, hoping the familiar name will draw a donation. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What is the safest way to pay?

The FTC says to donate by credit card or check, calling it the safest way to donate. If a charity does not accept checks or credit cards, the FTC says it is likely a scam. It also lists a charity that says the only way to pay is with cryptocurrency, or by wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram, as a warning sign.

What goes on the GivingTuesday printable?

The checklist groups the steps above into four blocks: before you give, how to pay, for your taxes and key dates. Its tax rows are to-dos: give cash, keep your receipts and ask a tax professional what you need. The December 2026 important dates story lists the other dates in the month.

Not confirmed in this story: 2026 GivingTuesday results, which come after the day, and any rule about receipts or tax forms, which this story leaves to the IRS and your tax professional.