Giving Tuesday: 5 Basking Ridge Nonprofits That Could Use Your Help

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — There’s no single way to show generosity on Giving Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Dec. 2, this year, but several nonprofits in Basking Ridge 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.

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.

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

1. God’s Co-op Food Pantry — The food pantry, a 501c non-profit organization, was founded in 2011 by 10 women from the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Its mission is to feed hungry neighbors in Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, and Peapack-Gladstone. Since 2011, the number of individuals and families served has grown from 50 to more than 200. Learn more at brpc.org/mission/gods-co-op-pantry.
2. Holiday Hope — Based in Basking Ridge, the 501(c)(3), non-profit, is a non-denominational organization dedicated to providing children with the love, care, and joy that comprises the spirit of the holidays. Learn more at holidayhopechildren.org.
3. Mr. Local History Project — Based in the Somerset Hills area, this volunteer organization creates educational programs that showcase New Jersey’s history. Their outreach programs include a Local History Ambassador project with local elementary schools in addition to a free, quarterly digital magazine. Learn more at mrlocalhistory.org.
4. Greater Somerset County YMCA — With a variety of programs, activities and athletics, the Greater Somerset County YMCA in Basking Ridge is working to promote health and well-being for a stronger community. Programs and events at the YMCA include group exercise classes, family movie nights and a summer camp. Learn more at gscymca.org.
5. Bernards Township Education Foundation — A community-driven nonprofit dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for students in Bernards Township. It recently achieved the official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit status and is officially open for donations and sponsorship opportunities. Learn more at bernardstef.org.

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.