Quick answer: In 2026, GivingTuesday and World AIDS Day both fall on Tuesday, December 1 (GivingTuesday; UNAIDS). It’s a chance to learn the facts about HIV, since about 1 in 8 people living with HIV in the U.S. don’t know their status (CDC), and to support the free, accurate health education that helps close that gap.
This year, two days that matter to us land on the same date. GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity. World AIDS Day, first observed on December 1, 1988, was the first international day for global health (UNAIDS). Together they ask two questions: What do you know? and What will you do about it?
We call it Get Informed, Give Informed.
Part 1: Get informed
HIV in the United States
- About 1.2 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV at the end of 2022, and about 87% knew their status. That means roughly 1 in 8 didn’t know (CDC HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report).
- There were about 31,800 new HIV infections in 2022, a 12% drop from 2018 (CDC). Progress is real, and it is uneven.
- The South accounted for 49% of new infections in 2022 (CDC).
HIV around the world
- 40.8 million people were living with HIV in 2024 (UNAIDS 2025 fact sheet).
- There were 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths that year.
- Women and girls made up 53% of all people living with HIV.
The 2026 World AIDS Day theme from UNAIDS is “Ending AIDS starts with access”: access to services, rights and resources (UNAIDS). Access starts with information.
Other STIs are part of the picture
The CDC counted more than 2.2 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 2024. That was down 9% from the year before, but still 13% higher than a decade ago. Congenital syphilis, passed to newborns during pregnancy, rose for the 12th straight year (CDC, provisional 2024 data). Read our plain-language explainer Why Are STI Rates Still So High?
Five facts worth sharing on December 1
- Testing is how you know. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine care (CDC).
- HIV is treatable. With effective treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives.
- Prevention options exist. Condoms, PrEP and regular testing all lower risk. A health care provider can help you decide what fits.
- Many STIs have no symptoms. You can’t tell by looking. Testing is the only way to know.
- Stigma keeps people from care. Judgment-free information helps people take the next step.
Want to know where to start? Our guide STI Testing: What It Is walks through the basics. Adults can also ask Dr Ed, our free AI health educator, private questions any time at drsexed.ai (ages 13+; under 13 with a parent’s consent; no sign-up).
Part 2: Give informed
Why GivingTuesday matters
GivingTuesday has grown into one of the biggest giving days of the year. Americans gave an estimated $4.0 billion on GivingTuesday 2025, up 13% from the year before (GivingTuesday; AP News). For a small nonprofit like ours, every gift on this day is a vote for the kind of world you want.
December matters for nonprofits in general: according to M+R Benchmarks 2026, nonprofits raised 37% of their online revenue in December (M+R Benchmarks). Gifts made early in the season, starting on GivingTuesday, help us plan the winter and spring lessons that schools and community groups request in January. They also help us budget for the year ahead, instead of scrambling. Whatever size your gift is, it tells students, parents and adults that accurate health information is worth protecting.
Give informed: questions to ask any charity
Before you give anywhere, ask:
- Is it a registered 501(c)(3)? Look for an EIN you can verify. Ours is 33-4612296.
- Is its information accurate? Look for cited, evidence-based content.
- Is it clear about what it does? Look for specific programs, not vague promises.
We encourage those questions, and we try to answer them openly on our About page and programs page.
What your gift supports
Your gift on December 1 helps keep these programs free to the people who use them:
- Classroom programs for grades 6–12, including our high school program Know Your Body, Know Your Rights, which covers STI and HIV prevention, consent and how to access care.
- Educator training so health teachers and counselors can answer questions accurately and without judgment.
- Parent workshops that help families start conversations early.
- Dr Ed, a free AI health educator for ages 13+ (under 13 with a parent’s consent) that answers questions privately, 24/7.
- Free guides in our resources library.
Give informed this GivingTuesday
On December 1, one gift does double duty: it honors World AIDS Day and powers free HIV and STI education for students, parents and adults. Give today and help keep accurate answers free for everyone who needs them.
Donate securely with Givebutter →
Prefer a different checkout? You can also give through Zeffy. Monthly gifts are welcome on either platform.
Dr Sex Ed (DR SEX ED AI UNIVERSITY INC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 33-4612296. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Make your gift go further
- Give monthly. Join our Circle of Champions with a recurring gift. Monthly support lets us plan lessons months ahead. Read why monthly giving matters.
- Give in someone’s honor. Dedicate your gift to a friend, a mentor or someone you’ve lost to AIDS.
- Share this page. Telling one friend why you gave is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Your December 1 checklist
- ☐ Learn one new fact about HIV (see above).
- ☐ Share it with #WorldAIDSDay.
- ☐ Make a gift, of any size, to a cause you trust.
- ☐ Share why you gave with #GivingTuesday.
- ☐ Book an HIV or STI test if it’s been a while, or remind someone you love to.
Frequently asked questions
When is GivingTuesday 2026?
GivingTuesday 2026 is Tuesday, December 1, the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving. It falls on the same day as World AIDS Day this year.
What is World AIDS Day?
World AIDS Day is held every December 1 to raise awareness of HIV, support people living with HIV and remember those who have died. It was first observed in 1988 and was the first international day for global health.
Why give to a sex education nonprofit on GivingTuesday?
Accurate, judgment-free education helps people understand testing, prevention and care. With about 1 in 8 people living with HIV in the U.S. unaware of their status, information remains one of the most important tools.
Is my donation to Dr Sex Ed tax-deductible?
Dr Sex Ed (DR SEX ED AI UNIVERSITY INC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 33-4612296. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor about your situation.
Can I give in honor of someone?
Yes. You can dedicate your gift to a friend, family member, or someone whose memory you want to honor.
Who should get tested for HIV?
The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once, and that people with ongoing risk get tested more often. A health care provider can advise you.
Sources
- GivingTuesday. Participate. https://www.givingtuesday.org/participate/
- UNAIDS. World AIDS Day. https://www.unaids.org/en/World_AIDS_Day ; World AIDS Day 2026. https://www.unaids.org/en/2026-world-aids-day
- CDC. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report: Estimated HIV Incidence and Prevalence, 2018–2022. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/156513
- CDC. Fast Facts: HIV in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
- UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics fact sheet, 2025. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2025/UNAIDS_FactSheet
- CDC. STI Surveillance 2024 (Provisional). https://www.cdc.gov/sti-statistics/annual/index.html
- CDC. Getting Tested for STIs. https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/
- GivingTuesday. 2025 results. https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/2025-results/ ; AP News. https://apnews.com/article/givingtuesday-2025-c4d03202aad69ab962eeed43acac5863
- M+R Benchmarks 2026. https://mrbenchmarks.com/fundraising/