Giving Tuesday and Why it Matters More in 2025

​Pete Kimbis, Attorney and Managing Director of PKC LLC

​Giving Tuesday, now in its fourteenth year, has become a pivotal day for the health of the nonprofit sector. According to GivingTuesday.org, donors showed up in large numbers in 2024, with a reported $3.6 billion given, a 16% increase over 2023. This Giving Tuesday, on December 2, 2025, presents the Bethesda Business Community with a unique opportunity to invest in local stability and community through support of local businesses dedicated to social good.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nonprofit sector employs over 12.8 million people nationwide across more than 300,000 organizations, making up 9.9% of all private-sector jobs. Our geographically adjacent neighbor, Washington, D.C., where many Bethesda residents work, records the highest proportion of nonprofit jobs relative to total employment at 25%.

The sector is essential for a healthy and functioning society, providing vital services in areas such as housing, scientific advancement, food security, protection from violence, economic revitalization, and the preservation of species and habitats.

The nonprofit landscape in 2025 is challenging, marked by economic pressures that are forcing a painful but necessary restructuring across the sector. Unlike the private sector, where profits can be redirected or product lines adapted, nonprofits are governed by volunteer boards and cannot divest earnings to shareholders. They are currently entering an adapt or fail environment that mirrors fierce market competition.

This reality foreshadows mergers and a focused narrowing of services, forcing organizations to specialize in what they do best. For donors, this specialization may be perceived as a long-overdue shift towards increased efficiency and effectiveness.

However, it's essential to note that this shift toward specialization is not driven by consumer demand, but rather a survival mechanism. This evolution is within a sector that employs a large workforce, disproportionately represented by women compared to other industries, and delivers essential government-like functions.

Currently, Montgomery County nonprofits are reporting significant stressors, including a dramatic increase in demand for basic survival services due to the high cost of living, economic instability, and recent disruptions in the federal government. Many local nonprofits are struggling to meet the basic needs of an increasingly financially vulnerable population as they face reductions in government funding and the elimination of key agencies. These organizations often operate similarly to families living paycheck to paycheck.

As our region navigates ongoing economic shifts, supporting nonprofit organizations is not just a charitable act for business owners; it's a strategic investment in the workforce and financial health of Montgomery County.

Support from the local business community is meaningful and necessary. There are several ways for businesses to get involved: through corporate sponsorship, organizing team-building volunteer days, or making direct donations. For example, donations to Nourishing Bethesda, an organization selected by the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce as a community partner, help ensure that the 7,000+ neighbors it serves each month remain food secure and ready to contribute to our shared economy.
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And regardless of political or ideological affiliations, at the core of our community lies a shared desire for similar goals: healthy families, equality, opportunity, and prosperity. Giving Tuesday, on December 2, 2025, is a way to divest from the discord of politics and invest in something we can all agree on: helping those who need a hand or a safe place when they have nowhere else to turn. It feels good and helps ensure vital organizations continue their good work. On a personal note, I have often not appreciated the value of what I've had until it was gone. A gentle reminder that collectively, we have a lot to be thankful for, and that our local non-profits play a significant role in shaping this treasured community.

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