VU Foundation Invites to Celebrate Giving Tuesday and Reminds: The Roots of Education Are Not Just Bitter

Vilnius University (VU) Foundation, together with many other Lithuanian NGOs, invites the public to celebrate Giving Tuesday today. Internationally celebrated as a special Tuesday of the year, when millions of people around the world share their generosity, gather for common goals, volunteer, make a difference and strengthen their communities, is on 29 November this year.

"We've all heard the saying that the roots of education are bitter. I would add that not only are they bitter, but they also cost money. With this message, we invite the public to celebrate Giving Tuesday this year by donating to Lithuanian educational and research institutions, kindergartens, schools and universities. Quality education, a sustainable education system and ambitious research all require funding. At the VU Foundation, we believe that every euro spent on education and research will bring great returns for Lithuania," says Justinas Noreika, Director of the VU Foundation.

According to the official statistics portal, Lithuania's education and science sector raised EUR 7.8 million from legal sponsors last year alone. The budget of Vilnius University received more than EUR 0.5 million from natural and legal donors last year. Almost EUR 150,000 has been allocated to the VU Foundation's untouchable capital, which is invested and the returns earned are used to fund research talents.

"Although education and research have been a very difficult strategic priority for different parliaments and governments over the past 30 years, it has always been and will remain a priority for a critically thinking civil society. Where there is a lack of state leadership or funding today, the NGO sector, socially responsible businesses and a large community of private donors are stepping in to fill the gaps. Giving Tuesday is just about that for us," adds Noreika, Director of the VU Foundation.

In 2021, despite the ongoing pandemic and turbulent markets, Giving Tuesday broke all-time records, with over 35 million people and organisations in the US alone giving an estimated USD 2.7 billion in 24 hours. In addition to the usual high level of activity in the US, more than 80 other countries around the world celebrated the day last year. 50% of all participants made a monetary donation, while 30% and 28% donated goods and volunteered that day.

The decade-old philanthropic movement symbolically follows well-known commercial initiatives such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Philanthropy is playing an increasingly important role in society: compared to 2020, the amount of support raised through Giving Tuesday grew last year, while sales generated by commercial initiatives fell.

In Lithuania, Giving Tuesday has only been celebrated more actively since 2019. The philanthropic movement, which is gaining popularity in the country, unites Lithuanian NGOs and their donor communities every year.