III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 323 

Supporting the designation of December 1, 2015, as ‘‘#GivingTuesday’’ and 

supporting strong incentives for all people of the United States to give 

generously. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 1, 2015 

Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. THUNE, Ms. STABENOW, and Mr. ROBERTS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Finance 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of December 1, 2015, as 

‘‘#GivingTuesday’’ and supporting strong incentives for 

all people of the United States to give generously. 

Whereas the Tuesday after Thanksgiving begins the holiday 

giving season with a global day dedicated to charitable 

giving, known as ‘‘#GivingTuesday’’; 

Whereas, December 1, 2015, is the fourth annual 

#GivingTuesday; 

Whereas since the inception of #GivingTuesday in 2012, 

#GivingTuesday has become a worldwide movement that 

celebrates the power of giving in all forms; 

Whereas in 2012, #GivingTuesday brought together more 

than 2,500 organizations in all 50 States and continues 


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•SRES 323 IS 

to gain momentum with more than 35,000 partners in 

the United States and around the world; 

Whereas online donations have increased 470 percent since 

the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in 2011; 

Whereas #GivingTuesday, along with other community giving 

days, highlights the charitable community in the United 

States, which comprises approximately 1,500,000 nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, and religious congregations that are dedicated to improving lives 

and strengthening communities; 

Whereas nonprofit organizations are key partners with Federal, State, and local governments in the delivery of key 

programs and services, including— 

(1) child learning and nutrition; 

(2) emergency disaster response; 

(3) services for victims; and 

(4) job training and placement programs; 

Whereas communities are lifted up by the exposure of all 

community members to the cultural, educational, and 

civic opportunities provided by nonprofit organizations; 

Whereas the values of volunteerism and generosity toward the 

common good has led to over 60 percent of people in the 

United States, including 84 percent of millennials, making financial contributions to support the work of nonprofit organizations; 

Whereas virtually every person in the United States benefits 

from the work of the charitable community, which— 

(1) employs over 13,700,000 workers, or 10 percent 

of the workforce of the United States; and 

(2) engages an additional 63,000,000 volunteers; 


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•SRES 323 IS 

Whereas in 2014, individuals, foundations, and businesses 

gave over $335,000,000,000 to support charitable causes 

and it has been estimated that, with no deduction for 

charitable gifts, annual individual giving would drop by 

25 to 36 percent; 

Whereas other effective charitable giving incentives in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to individual retirement account contributions, food donations, and conservation easement donations expired on January 1, 

2015, the fifth time in recent years; 

Whereas the United States is a great country with a strong 

philanthropic tradition that should be continued and carried on; and 

Whereas all political parties can agree on charitable giving, 

which transcends differences of ideology and unites people across boundaries: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that the United States needs a 

3 strong and vibrant charitable and philanthropic sec4 tor to enable communities to meet local needs; 

5 (2) supports the designation of December 1, 

6 2015, as ‘‘#GivingTuesday’’— 

7 (A) to encourage charitable giving; 

8 (B) to effect positive change; and 

9 (C) to promote causes dedicated to 

10 progress, prosperity, and a better world; and 


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•SRES 323 IS 

1 (3) supports strong incentives for all people of 

2 the United States to give generously to charitable 

3 organizations by— 

4 (A) protecting the existing charitable dona5 tion tax deduction; and 

6 (B) continuing incentives that encourage 

7 philanthropy, volunteering, and innovation. 

Æ 


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