This Giving Tuesday, the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) invites you to join the movement to end energy poverty. For over 30 years, SELF has delivered solar powered solutions to communities who need it most. From landlocked African countries to remote island nations, SELF works around the world to electrify homes, health clinics, schools, and more. In doing so, we offer immediate relief to rural and marginalized communities, and provide essential tools for lasting change. In a year of climate despair, energy crisis, and conflict, your gift funds a brighter tomorrow for the planet and its people. 

What you need to know about Giving Tuesday: 

What is Giving Tuesday? 

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a day to mobilize generosity around the holiday season. In the decade since it began, hundreds of millions of people have taken part by donating to organizations who are doing good within and beyond their communities. 

When is Giving Tuesday? 

Giving Tuesday takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on November 29, and while it was designed as a singular day to inspire global action, donating before or after is just as impactful. 

Why does Giving Tuesday matter? 

Just as we gather and give thanks for what we have, it’s equally important to acknowledge what so many still lack. Giving Tuesday offers a time of collective recognition and action, inspiring all of us to be part of something bigger. 

The timing is also convenient for taking advantage of incentives provided by the US government for supporting charitable work. Donations are tax-deductible, so there can be financial benefits to giving before the tax year ends. 

How to get involved in Giving Tuesday 

There are several ways to get involved in Giving Tuesday. The first and most common is donating to registered nonprofits. You can make a one-time donation to SELF, or even commit to a monthly donation, which is an excellent way to keep giving beyond the holiday season. We also accept cryptocurrency, securities, and planned giving. 

If you’re not sure what to get someone for a holiday gift, consider donating to SELF on their behalf. It’s quick and easy for you, and they can know that their gift is making a difference. You can also ask your employer to make a corporate donation if they’re looking to give back this holiday season.  

If you want to contribute in a non-monetary way, we encourage you to tell your friends and family about SELF and spread the word on social media.  

Maximizing your donation’s impact 

We understand and appreciate the sacrifices donors make to give to solar energy projects. That’s why we work to make every dollar go further. We do this in a couple of ways: 

1. By giving to SELF, you’re simultaneously helping the environment through clean energy initiatives, and you’re helping people through new and expanded energy access. 
   
   
2. SELF works to ensure immediate and long-term benefits. We do this by using energy as a catalyst. For example, by bringing solar power to a community, we enable the pumping and purification of water. This eliminates waterborne illness and provides irrigation for growing crops. The result is better health and nutrition, and a new source of revenue as families can sell excess produce at markets. Parents then have funds to send their children to school, pay for healthcare, or reinvest in the local economy. This is the ripple effect of energy access. All it needs to get started is you.  

This Giving Tuesday, give the gift of solar power. You can fund a new beginning for rural communities and protect the planet for future generations. 

Click here to visit our donation page.

---