Giving Tuesday: Simsbury Nonprofits That Could Use Your Help

SIMSBURY, CT — There’s no single way to show generosity on Giving Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Dec. 2, this year, but several nonprofits in Simsbury are counting on end-of-the-year donations and support.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday all focus on consumerism, while the idea behind GivingTuesday is to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers, and add momentum to their causes.

Here are five nonprofits in the Simsbury area that depend on community support (donations should be made directly to each of the nonprofits below):

• Simsbury A Better Chance (ABC) — Simsbury ABC supports academically talented young men of color from underserved communities. Since 1973, the program has provided these motivated minority youth with educational opportunities, allowing them to attend Simsbury High School for four years. The students live at the ABC House on Hopmeadow Street with two resident directors and an academic advisor. Learn more at simsburyabetterchance.org.

• Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) — FRWA is a citizen-based, non-profit organization founded in 1953 to address critical water quality issues. Their mission is to preserve, protect, and restore the Farmington River and its watershed through research, education and advocacy. FRWA collaborates with various stakeholders, including government entities, businesses, and communities across 33 municipalities, to address water quality, allocation, habitat restoration, recreation, and environmental protection in the Farmington River region. Learn more at frwa.org.

• Simsbury Historical Society — The Simsbury Historical Society, founded in 1911, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Simsbury and the surrounding region. They manage a collection of more than a dozen historical structures, regional artifacts, and significant period collections. Through their archives and special events, they provide opportunities for research and education, allowing both the general public and professionals to explore and appreciate Simsbury's rich history and heritage. Learn more at simsburyhistory.org.

• Theatre Guild of Simsbury (TGS) — The Theatre Guild of Simsbury, established in 1972, aims to enrich the Farmington Valley community by producing affordable, quality theater productions. They support arts education through scholarships and provide creative outlets for community involvement. With annual musicals, plays, and staged readings, they raise funds through advertising, ticket sales, and donations to sustain their productions and award scholarships to graduating high school seniors excelling in the performing arts. Learn more at theatreguildsimsbury.org.

• Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company — Founded in 1944, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing top-notch fire and emergency services by responding to various incidents, including fires, water rescues, and high-angle rescues, with a focus on training, technology adoption, and community safety. They also engage young adults through their Junior Firefighters Program to ensure a strong and capable firefighting force. Learn more at simsburyfire.org.

Since 2012, nonprofits, community and grassroots groups, and mutual aid networks worldwide have used the #GivingTuesday hashtag to encourage fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes, according to the nonprofit of the same name behind the movement.

Local nonprofits remain heavily dependent on donor support. Charitable contributions increased 2.9 percent from June 2024 to June 2025, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Report analysis.

Notably, although total dollars raised have increased, year-to-date performance among supersize donors has been softer than in 2024, making small contributions more important than ever.

In the United States, Giving Tuesday is led by hundreds of communities, networks, and coalitions.

The Giving Tuesday movement encourages “radical generosity,” the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering, according to the movement’s website.

Giving Tuesday was created in New York City in 2012 with a simple goal: to encourage people to do good. Over the past nine years, the idea has grown into the global movement it is today.

Last year, Giving Tuesday participants raised a record-breaking $3.6 billion from 36.1 million participants, bringing the total raised on the day since 2012 to $18.5 billion.