Katherina ‘Kat’ Rosqueta(opens in a new tab) and Iris Leon(opens in a new tab) of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy(opens in a new tab) (CHIP) at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) spoke with Penn Today about the history of Giving Tuesday.
Now just 11 years old, the day was originally conceived in response to Black Friday as a tonic to consumerism, says Rosqueta. While CHIP encourages giving throughout the year, the day is “an opportunity to think about generosity and giving,” she says.
“It’s helpful to have a day where we reflect on and, if we’re moved, to act on our desire to help the world and be generous,” Rosqueta says. “Think of the moment in time that we’re in right now, where we’ve got real divisions in society.” Giving Tuesday, she says, “is a moment to think about how you can make the world a better place.”
Rosqueta is founding executive director and Leon is director of operations and strategic initiatives of CHIP, a trusted source of knowledge and education to help donors around the world do more good. Founded in 2006 as a collaboration between Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice and alumni of the Wharton School, it is the premier university-based center focused on philanthropy for social impact.
