Giving Tuesday
Support California Youth Connection this Giving Tuesday
Empower Youth
1,200 children enter the foster care system every day. These children and youth may face many challenges as they navigate a complex system. At California Youth Connection (CYC) our goal is to empower youth with lived-experience to transform the foster care system through legislative and policy change. By making a gift to CYC this Giving Tuesday, you are investing in the next generation of young leaders as they change the systems that directly impact their lives.
Giving Tuesday 2025: Support Day at the Capitol
Your gift will contribute to one of our signature events, Day at the Capitol (DAC). California Youth Connection’s (CYC) annual DAC conference has resulted in the passage of dozens of new laws and policies that have profoundly improved the lives of children and youth in foster care.
During DAC, CYC members are trained on the legislative process and have the opportunity to meet with members of the legislature to discuss their ideas for improving the foster care and juvenile justice systems.
Help CYC send youth to Sacramento and ensure every voice is heard!
Giving Tuesday Social Media Action Kit
Join CYC’s movement on December 2, 2025. Giving Tuesday was created to encourage people to do good. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and funders, thousands of youth aged 14-24 with lived experience in foster care or juvenile justice systems have participated in CYC’s programs aimed at developing their leadership skills.
Together, we are creating an equitable and safe future for all youth. Take action on social media and share our campaign with your network.
How You Can Take Action
Show your support online on Giving Tuesday on December 2. Post our graphics and tag us @CalYouthConn.
Downloadable Graphics
See our ready to post graphics below from our Social Media Action Kit. Below the graphics, you will find sample captions.
Sample Captions
- This #GivingTuesday2025, let’s help youth impacted by the foster care and juvenile justice systems take their voices all the way to the California Capitol! Your donation to @CalYouthConn helps send youth to Day at the Capitol — where they meet lawmakers, build community, and advocate for change. Donate. Share. Empower.
- This #GivingTuesday, your gift = youth power in action. Support @CalYouthConn and help current & former foster youth travel to Sacramento for Day at the Capitol 2026! Every dollar raised helps fund travel, fun activities, and the chance for youth to meet California lawmakers and change the system. Let’s show up for youth voices. Donate today!
- When youth lead, systems change. This #GivingTuesday, join me in supporting @CalYouthConn’s Day at the Capitol, an event where youth with lived experience speak directly to California legislators about policies that directly impact their lives. Help #CaliforniaYouthConnection send youth to Sacramento and make sure every voice is heard!
- Big change starts with youth voices. This #GivingTuesday, support @CalYouthConn to help young advocates get to Day at the Capitol where they learn about the California legislative process and use their lived experience to make change happen. Every share + donation moves CYC closer to their $10,000 goal!
Download the official Giving Tuesday Social Media Action Kit
Ways to Support California Youth Connection on Giving Tuesday
Make a monetary donation: Your generous tax-deductible donation will support current and former juvenile justice and foster youth on their leadership journey.
Start a Facebook Fundraiser: Create a fundraiser on Facebook and Instagram for California Youth Connection. Click here.
Become a Volunteer Supporter: Volunteers are our allies! Support one of our 42 chapters in California. Learn more.
Share CYC with your network: Help us increase our reach! Share the important work CYC does with your online community. Tag us @CalYouthConn.
Giving Tuesday FAQs
Giving Tuesday is known as the “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” In 2024, 36.1 million people participated in Giving Tuesday, resulting in a record $3.6 billion given to nonprofit organizations.
This year, Giving Tuesday is on December 2, 2025. Giving Tuesday takes place annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States.
It is estimated that there are over 400,000 children and youth in the U.S. foster care system. Unfortunately, many youth exit the foster care system without guidance or the resources to thrive. CYC was established in 1988 by a group of 17 young people with experience in foster care. These youth knew firsthand that far too many youth were exiting care at 18 with no safe place to go and little, if any, chance of going to college or maintaining employment. Determined to change these outcomes for future generations of foster youth, they convened their peers to educate policy makers and advocate for the needs of youth in care. Since CYC’s founding over 35 years ago, it has become a nationwide model for youth-led advocacy and leadership development.
Since 1988, starting with a letter to the governor, our members (youth aged 14-24) have been discussing important issues that impact the lives of foster youth. Collectively prioritizing an annual focus, creating strategies, developing legislative language, testifying and educating policymakers, writing letters to the governor, and always keeping youth at the center has resulted in dozens of laws being passed.
Yes! California Youth Connection is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #94-3141616). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation.
Upon completing your donation on Givebutter you will receive a confirmation receipt for your donation to the email address you provide.
You will also receive a Donor Acknowledgement Letter.
Your donation can make a positive impact in the lives of foster youth. You can donate online through our third-party fundraising platform Givebutter.
You can also donate by check. Checks can be made payable to California Youth Connection and mailed to:
PO Box 10675
Oakland, CA 94610
Absolutely! You can donate at anytime to help improve the lives of foster youth. You can donate now, and make it a recurring gift.