Your ultimate guide to Giving Tuesday in Birmingham

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giving in Birmingham
Support local—it’s more important than ever. Photo via @katyukawa on Unsplash

Every year, we kick off the season of giving with Giving Tuesday, a day where people all over the globe support causes that matter to them. Birmingham has no shortage of outstanding nonprofit organizations who make our city better every single day. We’re making it easy for you to support local this Giving Tuesday—check it out.

What Exactly is Giving Tuesday?

Giving Tuesday
Photo via @clarktibbs on Unsplash

Giving Tuesday happens every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. According to its official website, it’s a day that encourages people to do good.

“Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world.”

Birmingham has certainly seen firsthand how much influence people and organizations can have on communities—and there’s no shortage of Birminghamians trying to do good.

Here at Bham Now, we love our local nonprofits. They do so much incredible work in our community, from supporting people in need to protecting our natural world and much, much more.

When 2020 hit hard, we wanted to make it easy for locals to pour back into the community that’s given us all so much. Check out our local nonprofit directory and get info on almost 150 organizations with all kinds of missions.

Although Giving Tuesday only comes around annually, we publish Birmingham nonprofit guides year-round. Want your favorite local nonprofit to be featured in one? Be sure to send them this form so they can sign up for free.

Support Arts and Culture

1. The Alabama Theatre

Alabama Theatre
Photo via The Alabama Theatre on Facebook

Built in 1927 by Paramount Studios, The Alabama Theatre stands as a living piece of history. They depend on events for income, but the COVID-19 pandemic has jeopardized the future of our historic venues.

The Alabama Theatre needs donations more than ever to make sure our Birmingham Landmarks survive this crisis.

2. The Alabama Symphony Orchestra

ASO
Photo via ASO on Facebook

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is a full-time orchestra, passionately pushing the boundaries of music through concert, education, and creativity.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

  • Red Mountain Theatre Co. | DONATE HERE
  • Birmingham Boys Choir | DONATE HERE
  • Birmingham Children’s Theatre | DONATE HERE

Support Locals with Special Needs

1. United Ability

United Ability
Photo via United Ability on Facebook

United Ability provides a wide variety of innovative services connecting people with disabilities to their communities and empowering individuals to live full and meaningful lives.

2. Mitchell’s Place

Mitchell's Place
Photo via Mitchell’s Place on Facebook

Mitchell’s Place specializes in improving the lives of children affected by autism and other developmental disabilities. They employ highly qualified and caring therapists, analysts and teachers to implement each child’s treatment and instruction.  

“Together, with dedicated parents and families, we are committed to unlocking each child’s potential with the aim of improving the quality of life for our clients and families.”

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support Education

1. Better Basics, Inc.

Literacy
Photo via Better Basics on Facebook

Better Basics provides literacy intervention and enrichment programs for students in Birmingham and Fairfield City Schools, and Talladega County Schools.

2. STREAM Innovations

STREAM
Photo via STREAM Innovations on Facebook

STREAM Innovations is committed to helping students to develop and explore their passion for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM) by providing exposure, experiences, and engagement with high expectations for their success.

3. I See Me, Inc.

literacy in Birmingham
Photo via I See Me, Inc.

The mission of I See Me, Inc. is to dismantle the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and mirrors their image.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support Animal Welfare

1. Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, Birmingham Zoo, The Birmingham Zoo, summer camp
Photo via the Birmingham Zoo

One of the state’s most popular attractions, the Birmingham Zoo, is an ever-evolving adventure. The Birmingham Zoo features animals from all over the world, with signage highlighting the Zoo’s amazing animal care, conservation initiatives, and Species Survival Plans.

2. Greater Birmingham Humane Society

GBHS
Photo via Greater Birmingham Humane Society on Facebook

Greater Birmingham Humane Society exists to promote the humane treatment of people and animals through education, advocacy and services.

Support Children in Need

1. Kid One Transport System, Inc.

Kid One
We love seeing smiles like this one! Photo via Kid One Transport on Facebook

In every community throughout Alabama, there is a great need for safe, reliable transportation for children and expectant mothers to their medical appointments. Kid One is the only nonprofit of its kind in the state and one of only a handful of nonprofit transportation providers targeting children in the US.

2. Make-A-Wish Alabama

Make-A-Wish Alabama
Photo via Make-A-Wish Alabama on Facebook

Make-A-Wish Alabama creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Although it’s a national organization, all operations take place at a grassroots level—and the Alabama chapter is headquartered right here in Birmingham.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support our Environment

1. Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Black Warrior River
Photo from the Black Warrior Riverkeeper Facebook page

Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries. They are dedicated to promoting clean water for the sake of public health, recreation and wildlife habitat throughout their patrol area, the Black Warrior River watershed. 

2. Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Spring Plant Sale
Photo via Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Facebook

As a Friend of the Gardens, you keep one of Birmingham’s most important and beloved cultural institutions growing—strengthening our community while enriching the lives of all who visit.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support Families of all Shapes and Sizes

1. Heart Gallery Alabama

Heart Gallery Alabama
Photo via Heart Gallery Alabama on Facebook

Heart Gallery Alabama is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding forever families for children in Alabama’s foster care system by raising awareness and educating the public.

2. King’s Home

King's Home
Photo via King’s Home on Facebook

For over 46 years King’s Home has been home to hundreds of youth, women & kids seeking refuge, hope, and help from domestic violence, neglect, abandonment, homelessness and other difficult and impoverished conditions and circumstances.

Support Health Services

1. Children’s of Alabama

Children's of Alabama
Photo via Children’s of Alabama on Facebook

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has been a place of healing and hope for Alabama’s most critically ill children. It’s the only medical center in the state dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children.

2. Children’s Harbor

Children's Harbor
Photo via Children’s Harbor on Facebook

Children’s Harbor provides children with serious illnesses and their families a place to be themselves, have fun and relax while also receiving no-cost services that make life a bit easier for the whole family.

3. AIDS Alabama

Birmingham, AIDS Alabama
Photo via AIDS Alabama

AIDS Alabama has been committed to helping people living with HIV/AIDS in Alabama for over 30 years. They focus on housing, policy and advocacy, supportive services, HIV prevention and education, as well as free and confidential HIV testing.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support Social Justice

1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

2019 Children's Crusade reenactment on May 10 2019
Photo via Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) stands as a national authority on the history of the Civil Rights Movement. BCRI reaches more than 150,000 individuals each year through their programs and services, and the Institute itself brings people from all over the country.

2. Greater Birmingham Ministries

GBM
Photo via Greater Birmingham Ministries on Facebook

Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) was founded in 1969 in response to urgent human and justice needs in the greater Birmingham area. GBM is a multi-faith, multi-racial organization that provides emergency services for people in need and engages the poor and the non-poor in systemic change efforts to build a strong, supportive, engaged community and pursue a more just society for all people.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Support Homeless Services

1. Jimmie Hale Mission

Jimmie Hale Mission
Photo via Jimmie Hale Mission

The Jimmie Hale Mission has been serving the Birmingham area since its humble beginning as a storefront chapel in 1944.

For more than 75 years the ministry has helped restore and transform thousands of lives by addressing homelessness and addiction through the love of Jesus Christ and the generosity of people in our community and across the great state of Alabama.

2. Firehouse Ministries

Firehouse Ministries
Photo via Firehouse Shelter on Facebook

The Firehouse Shelter now operates 6 facilities ranging from transitional housing, a Safe Haven for men with serious mental illnesses, permanent supportive housing, to affordable low-income permanent housing in various neighborhoods throughout the Birmingham metro area.

More Ways to Support

1. United Way of Central Alabama

United Way
Bham Now❤️’s United Way! Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

United Way operates with the idea that everyone deserves opportunities to have a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health. Their partners and initiatives make those opportunities a reality for residents of Central Alabama.

2. Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project

The Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project is installing signs at various locations around the Birmingham area and in surrounding cities where the 253-mile-long Birmingham Mineral Railroad ran during its century-long era so that people will become more aware of that part of this area’s history.

Bonus: don’t miss these!

Want more? Search our database here 👇

Focus
Found: 20, showing 10 per page

Focus Art/Culture
Address 2025 Kentucky Avenue, Suite D
City Birmingham
Notes We are a civic organization that teaches music education and singing to 160 boys from the metro area. Come and audition today!

Focus Education
Address 200 19th Street North
City Birmingham
Instagram @mcwanescience
Notes McWane Science Center’s mission is to “spark wonder and curiosity about our world though hands-on science.” We combine our unique assets to create unique, hands-on, science experiences.
Donation URL Support

Focus Education
Address 75 Bagby Drive
City Homewood
Donation URL Donate to MCAA!

Focus Environment
Address 2014 6th Avenue North, Suite 200
City Birmingham
Facebook @alabama.rivers
Instagram @alabamarivers
Notes Alabama Rivers Alliance is a statewide network of groups working to protect and restore all of Alabama’s water resources through building partnerships, empowering citizens, and advocating for sound water policy and its enforcement.

Focus Family Services
Address 400 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 402
City Birmingham
Instagram @makeawishalabama
Notes Make-A-Wish Alabama works in all 67 counties of Alabama to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 2012, more than 1,000 wishes have been granted thanks to the support of local donors, supporters and volunteers. A wish is not just a nice thing, but a necessary thing to help a child heal and have hope in the midst of a critical illness. Give hope today by donating or getting involved! Visit alabama.wish.org/donate to give today.

Focus Foster Care
Address 4911 Farrell Avenue
City Birmingham
Facebook @gracehouseorg
Instagram @gracehouseorg
Notes Since 1992, Grace House Ministries has provided stable, Christian homes to Alabama girls in foster care on our residential campus in Fairfield. Our campus includes 5 homes serving a total of 38 girls.

Focus Health Support Services
Address 700 Caldwell Trace
City Birmingham
Facebook @redcross
Instagram @americanredcross
Notes Volunteers needed for Disaster Action Team, Transportation Specialist, and Blood Donor Screener

Focus Health Support Services
Address 2151 highland ave #210
City Birmingham
Facebook @endalzbhamal
Instagram @endalzbhamal
Notes The Alzheimer's Association® is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our Vision: A world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia.™ Our Mission: The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

Focus Health Support Services
Address PO Box 531225
City Birmingham
Facebook @bcrfalabama
Instagram @bcrfalabama
Notes Our mission is to raise funding for and awareness of breast cancer research in Alabama.

Focus Health Support Services
Address 3600 8th Ave S, Suite 501
City Birmingham
Instagram @crisiscenterinc

What organizations are you supporting this Giving Tuesday? Tag us on social @BhamNow and let us know!

Beth Cunningham
Beth Cunningham

A Birmingham transplant who can usually be found hitting a new hiking trail or restaurant opening when she's not writing stories and snapping photos for Bham Now.

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