- National Nonprofit Day is celebrated every year on August 17th to recognize nonprofits and the people who make their work possible.
- Nonprofits can use the day to showcase their impact, recognize employees and volunteers, and thank their supporters.
- Donors can participate in many ways, including donating, volunteering, fundraising, advocating, and spreading awareness.
- Giving is evolving, with assets such as cryptocurrency, stocks, and donor-advised funds creating more ways for people to support nonprofits.
Behind every nonprofit mission are people working to make a difference. From providing food and clean water to funding medical research, protecting animals, educating students, and responding to disasters, nonprofits help strengthen communities every day.
On August 17th, National Nonprofit Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate that impact and recognize the employees, volunteers, donors, and supporters who make it possible.
What is National Nonprofit Day?
National Nonprofit Day is an annual U.S. observance held on August 17th that recognizes nonprofit organizations and the people who support their missions. It is an opportunity to celebrate nonprofit impact, recognize staff and volunteers, thank donors, and encourage more people to support charitable causes.
National Nonprofit Day was founded by Sherita J. Herring and became an annual National Day Calendar observance in 2017.
The date also has historical significance. On August 17th, 1894, the Tariff Act of 1894 became law and included exemptions for certain charitable organizations from the federal corporate income tax created by the act.
Today, the observance has a much broader purpose. It is a celebration of nonprofits and the communities that help them create change.
When is National Nonprofit Day?
National Nonprofit Day takes place on August 17th every year. The date gives nonprofits a recurring opportunity to recognize their communities, communicate their impact, and encourage supporters to become more involved with the causes they care about.
August is also a useful time for nonprofits to reconnect with supporters before fall campaigns, Giving Tuesday, and year-end fundraising.
That does not mean every organization needs to launch a fundraising campaign. National Nonprofit Day can simply be an opportunity to tell a great story, thank supporters, or remind people why your mission matters.
How can nonprofits celebrate National Nonprofit Day?
Nonprofits can celebrate National Nonprofit Day by sharing impact stories, recognizing employees and volunteers, thanking donors, and giving supporters a clear way to get involved. The strongest National Nonprofit Day messages focus on the people and outcomes behind the mission.
Share your impact
Choose one story, program, or result that shows what your organization accomplishes. Help supporters understand what their contributions make possible.
Celebrate your people
Highlight the employees, volunteers, donors, and community partners who make your work possible. National Nonprofit Day is a natural opportunity to put them in the spotlight.
Thank your supporters
Not every message needs to include an ask. A genuine thank-you can strengthen relationships with the people who already believe in your mission.
Give people a next step
Invite supporters to donate, volunteer, advocate, start a fundraiser, or share your work with someone else.
How is the way people support nonprofits changing?
Donors increasingly hold wealth in assets beyond cash, including cryptocurrency, stocks, and donor-advised funds. Giving people more ways to donate can help nonprofits remove barriers and make it easier for supporters to contribute using the assets they already own.
According to The Giving Block’s 2026 Annual Report on Crypto Philanthropy & Digital Fundraising Innovation, more than $100 million in cryptocurrency was donated through The Giving Block in 2025, with an average crypto gift of $11,019.
Those donations supported missions across the nonprofit sector. Education received 21% of crypto donation volume through The Giving Block in 2025, followed by Health & Medicine at 16%, Food & Water at 13%, Children & Youth at 12%, and Animals at 7%.
The takeaway is not that every National Nonprofit Day campaign needs to focus on crypto. It is that nonprofits can make it easier for people to support their missions in the way that works best for them.
How can donors support nonprofits on National Nonprofit Day?
Donors can celebrate National Nonprofit Day by making a donation, volunteering, fundraising, advocating, or sharing a nonprofit’s work. Supporters who own assets such as cryptocurrency or stocks can also explore whether donating those assets makes sense for their charitable goals.
Start with a cause you care about and find out what the organization needs.
For one person, that might mean making a $25 donation. For another, it could mean volunteering once a month, introducing the nonprofit to a potential donor, or making a larger gift.
There is no single right way to participate. What matters is turning support into action.
Celebrate National Nonprofit Day by supporting a cause you care about
National Nonprofit Day is ultimately about the people working every day to create positive change and the supporters who help make that work possible.
This August 17th, take a moment to find an organization working on an issue that matters to you. Whether you give crypto, stock, cash, or simply your time, your support can help nonprofits continue doing what they do best.
Explore nonprofits making an impact
Explore nonprofit organizations across causes including education, health, humanitarian aid, animal welfare, environmental protection, and more.
Already part of a nonprofit? Learn how your organization can accept crypto, stock, and donor-advised fund donations.
