5 Santa Monica Nonprofits To Support This Holiday Season

SANTA MONICA, CA — If you’re like many of your Santa Monica neighbors, you may spend a good part of the holiday season with your credit card in hand buying gifts for family and friends. Coming up soon is a chance to give back to the local community.

Giving Tuesday, which in 2024 falls on Dec. 3, is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofit and community groups. Since 2012, nonprofits worldwide have used the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.

Maintaining funding is a constant challenge for many nonprofits that fill gaps and meet other needs in the Santa Monica area.

Here are five local nonprofits to consider getting behind on Giving Tuesday:

Big Sunday

The Hollywood-based nonprofit says it organizes over 2,000 ways for the volunteer-minded to get involved annually — from clothing drives to school-supply giveaways to beautification projects and lemonade stands. Learn more and donate.

Santa Monica Education Foundation

The organization raises money to support arts and academic programs in Santa Monica public schools, supplementing their budgets. Learn more and donate.

The Trevor Project

Based in West Hollywood, the organization works nationwide on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth. It operates a hotline where youth in crisis can call in for support and provides advocacy, education and other support. Learn more and donate.

Westside Food Bank

The Santa Monica-based organization says it provides food to 153,000 people in need through over 60 member agencies. Learn more and donate.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

One in four people in Los Angeles County experiences food insecurity and the organization says it aims to help by distributing food to 900,000 people monthly through a network of some 600 partner agencies. Learn more and donate.