The Power of Small Acts, Ahead of Giving Tuesday

November 14th, 2025

In a time when charitable giving can feel overwhelming or impersonal, Share Omaha has spent years making generosity simple, accessible, and deeply meaningful. As Giving Tuesday approaches on December 2nd, the organization is kicking off its early giving campaign starting November 18th, inviting the community to build on a tradition that has already generated more than $22.5 million for local causes.

For the past three years, Share Omaha has been guided by Executive Director Teresa Mardensen, whose decades of experience in public relations and community engagement have helped strengthen the platform’s reach. Today, Share Omaha connects people with more than 500 nonprofits across a five-county region. At the core of its mission is a belief that resonates strongly in challenging times: even the smallest acts of generosity can create ripples of positive change.

“The thing that is consistent,” Mardensen says, “is that even the smallest acts of generosity build into a big, positive change for our community. Even the smallest dollar amount can impact people… it really does just take a little bit.”

Share Omaha embraces what Mardensen calls “time, treasure, and talent” three equally valuable ways to give. Volunteers can browse up to 500 opportunities at any moment, organized by cause, from arts and education to housing and food access. Donors can contribute cash or fulfill wishlist items, giving them a clear view of exactly what their $10 or $100 will accomplish. For those with professional expertise, offering specialized skills can be just as impactful.

Mardensen shares a few examples:
“A hundred-dollar donation will empower the Omaha Chamber Music Society to repair a student instrument. Even a ten-dollar donation will empower the Omaha Symphonic Chorus to purchase one piece of music for one singer. That one gesture can create a ripple effect.”

This year’s Giving Tuesday effort spans two weeks, beginning November 18th and running through December 2nd. Throughout the campaign, Share Omaha will host daily $500 drawings for nonprofits, highlighting how medium-sized contributions can create immediate improvements in different sectors. While the platform operates year-round, Giving Tuesday has become a powerful moment for community connection and collective action.

“The beauty of the platform,” Mardensen says, “is that it’s 24-7-365. Any time of the year, you can see what dollars can do, what volunteering can do. Even one volunteer hour valued at $34.79, is a small act that builds into big change.”

For Omaha’s arts community, these contributions are essential. They help sustain musicians, actors, galleries, youth programs, and creative nonprofits the people and places that give the city its cultural heartbeat. Last year, nearly a quarter of Giving Tuesday donors were new to the platform, a sign that generosity in the metro continues to grow.

Early giving begins November 18th at ShareOmaha.org, with Giving Tuesday following on December 2nd. The platform remains open year-round for anyone ready to share their time, treasure, or talent with the community.