Irish and Irish American charities and causes to support for #GivingTuesdayGetty Images
Kick off the holiday season by giving back to an Irish cause, on #GivingTuesday, a day devoted to supporting charities.
November 28 is #GivingTuesday, the growing global movement that asks people to support different charities at the beginning of the holiday season.
While there’s no shortage of Irish charities and causes to support, here are a few of our favorite ones.
Ireland’s largest aid and humanitarian agency is celebrating 50 years of operations in 2018. Concern Worldwide's mission focuses on health, hunger, and humanitarian response to emergencies in the world’s poorest countries.
Founded in 2006 by Senator Joan Freeman, Pieta provides free counseling and services to those struggling with self-harm and suicide. Their annual fundraiser Darkness into Light has become a worldwide event. In New York City, the charity operates as Solace House.
In 2013, Kevin Bell died tragically in an accident in New York. Since then, his family has crafted a trust that aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body (bodies) of loved one(s) who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.
Established in 1976, The Ireland Funds promote and support peace, culture, education, and community development throughout the island of Ireland, and Irish-related causes around the world.
Based in New York City, the Irish Arts Center is dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century, building community with artists and audiences of all backgrounds, forging and strengthening cross-cultural partnerships, and preserving the evolving stories and traditions of Irish culture for generations to come.
Established in 1979, Co-operation Ireland is an all-island peace-building charity based in Ireland that works to encourage and promote interaction, dialogue, and practical collaboration within Northern Ireland and between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
UNICEF Ireland is one of 33 independent, non-profit National Committees around the world that fully support UNICEF’s mission to advance the rights and well-being of children and youth. UNICEF Ireland’s role is to raise funds for UNICEF and advocate for the survival and well-being of every child, including through child rights education, in Ireland.
Through the work of its volunteers in Ireland, the Irish Red Cross is involved on a daily basis in many aspects of local and regional community life. Through its national network, the Irish Red Cross seeks to be “Always There” for those in need. The Irish Red Cross is also a member of the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network.
The Irish Wildlife Trust) aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it.
What causes are you supporting for #GivingTuesday? Share in the comments!
* Originally published in 2018. Updated in November 2023.