Giving Tuesday: A Global Day of Generosity — and a Local Call to Action for Pine Ridge
Every year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, millions of people around the world come together to celebrate Giving Tuesday — a global movement built around one simple idea: that generosity has the power to transform communities.
Created in 2012 as a response to the consumer frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday began as a day to give back — through donations, volunteering, or acts of kindness. In just over a decade, it has grown into one of the largest philanthropic movements in the world, uniting nonprofits, businesses, and individuals in 80+ countries under a shared belief that we are stronger when we give together.
What Giving Tuesday Means to Us at Red Cloud Renewable
At Red Cloud Renewable (RCR), Giving Tuesday isn’t just about donations — it’s about solidarity, sustainability, and sovereignty.
As a Native-owned and operated nonprofit based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, every dollar raised helps us empower tribal members through hands-on solar training, sustainable homebuilding, and critical energy efficiency work for families in need. It’s how we ensure that the light of opportunity — quite literally — stays on in our communities.
This year, Giving Tuesday holds even more weight for us. Like many Native-led organizations, we’ve been directly impacted by recent cuts in federal funding. These funds help us sustain our solar workforce development programs, pay local staff, and provide life-changing training opportunities to tribal members across Indian Country. Without that funding, our ability to grow — and even maintain — these programs depends on community support.
Our Impact: What We’ve Built Together So Far
Thanks to incredible donors, partners, and volunteers, Red Cloud Renewable has already made powerful progress:
⚡ Over 670 kilowatts of solar power have been installed across the Pine Ridge Reservation — powering homes, community buildings, and schools while cutting energy costs and reducing emissions.
👷♀️ More than 50 Native students have completed our solar training programs this year alone, gaining industry certifications and stepping into meaningful, sustainable careers.
🏠 30 homes have been weatherized and retrofitted, helping families stay warm through South Dakota’s harsh winters while saving on energy bills.
These numbers represent more than just stats — they represent hope, empowerment, and a growing Native workforce that’s shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Our Goal for 2026: Double the Impact
We’re setting our sights high for the coming year. With your support this Giving Tuesday, we aim to:
Install another 100 kilowatts of solar on the Pine Ridge Reservation — bringing us closer to true energy sovereignty.
Train and certify even more Native solar students, surpassing this year’s record of over 50 graduates.
Sustain all three of our key programs — Solar Education, Sustainable Building, and Energy Sovereignty — despite the loss of federal funding.
Your donation directly fuels Native opportunity. It keeps our programs running, our students learning, and our communities thriving.
How You Can Help This Giving Tuesday
Every contribution — big or small — makes a measurable difference.
Here’s how you can take action today:
Donate directly by clicking here.
Text “RCR” to 26989 to give instantly
Share our story on social media and invite your friends to join the movement
Use hashtags #GivingTuesday #RedCloudRenewable #OneDonationThreeImpacts
Together, we can prove that community-powered change is stronger than any funding cut.
Closing Message
This Giving Tuesday, when the world comes together to give, we invite you to stand with us — not just in generosity, but in resilience.
At Red Cloud Renewable, we believe in lighting the path toward a future where Native people build and power their own communities. With your help, we can make that vision a reality for generations to come.
Join us this Giving Tuesday and spark change that lasts all year long.
