Remembrances of those who were lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on New York City’s World Trade Center towers. (Photo by Evan THOMAS on Unsplash)
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Friday, Sept. 11, is the 25th commemoration of the worst terrorist attacks in the United States. Many will gather on what is now known as Patriot Day to pay respects at the three attack sites or at more local events. You also can honor these heroes by donating to or volunteering with nonprofit groups on Sept. 11. Associated tax breaks might even save you enough so that you can give even more to your favorite causes.
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This Friday, Sept. 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in the United States. On that day in 2011, almost 3,000 people died in three separate strikes.
The world watched in horror, initially unsure of what was happening, as highjacked jetliners flew into, and then caused the collapse of, the two World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Another commandeered commercial flight plowed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital city.
Passengers and the crew of a fourth seized plane forced, believed headed for Washington, D.C., forced the craft to crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
New NYC moment of silence in 2026: This year, there will be a new moment of silent tribute at Ground Zero in New York, now a memorial and museum where the Twin Towers once stood.
For the past 24 years, the annual September 11 commemoration has included six moments of silence. Those observe the times when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck, when each tower fell, the Pentagon attack time, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
A seventh moment of silence will come at the conclusion of this 25th year of reading of the names of those who died at Ground Zero. It will honor those who lost their lives due to illnesses caused of exacerbated by exposure on Sept. 11, 2001, to the toxic ash and rubble of the World Trade Center.
Remembering by doing: Each 9-11, we collectively honor the memories of the first responders and civilian heroes we lost that day. Some places with connections to the attacks will hold their own memorial events. Most of us will watch on television or online some or all of the three official ceremonies.
Others, however, will do more than just remember those we lost and the impact that day’s events had on our nation. They will focus on moving forward in honor of those lost to the tragedies.
This volunteerism is an offshoot of the Congressional joint resolution in 2009 that designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day. While the date is not an official federal holiday, many organizations recognize it as a National Day of Service akin to such activities on the formal Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
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As the 9/11 Day of Service graphic from AmeriCorps above indicates, individuals volunteer on Sept. 11 to support programs not only in the affected cities, but across the country.
Unfortunately, AmeriCorps’ website is still undergoing renovations, so that national clearinghouse’s specific 9/11 Day search tool isn’t available to help you easily find opportunities to volunteer in your community on this year’s 25th anniversary. But you still can find general service programs and volunteer options.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of other national groups offer some suggestions. Here are a few.
911 Day, a California-based nonprofit, is seeking commitments to reach its goal of 1 million good deeds to mark this year’s commemoration day. Your pledge, per the group’s slogan to UN11TE for Good, can be simple and personal, such as make someone smile or bake something for a new neighbor or add a bit extra to a restaurant server’s tip. Or you can volunteer to help with a local community group or donate money to another not-for-profit that helps those in need. 911 Day will take your promise and add it to its U.S. map tracking the acts of kindness.
The nonprofit Carry the Load is focusing on G.E.H.A. (the Government Employees Health Association) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration to organize events at national cemeteries on 9/11. The online site has a search tool where you can find a cemetery near you that welcomes volunteers to help clean headstones and beautify grounds. Not only is it a tribute to 9-11 heroes, but the effort also recognizes all our military, veterans, first responders, and their families.
If you are looking for a more direct, hands-on experience, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has more on training that will let you support first responders and health care workers in your community. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs across the country train volunteers in basic disaster response skills that are specific to the catastrophic events that are most common in your geographic area. The training covers large-scale tragedies like 9/11, as well as disasters such as all types of destructive major storms.
When any type of emergency or disaster does happen, those who care for the injured too often find they run short of supplies. One of the most critical needs is blood. On Sept. 11, or any day, you can help by donating at your local American Red Cross office or blood bank.
Tax break for your cash donations: I know I’m late getting this item posted, but you don’t have to wait for special days to lend a hand. If you can’t participate in a specific Sept. 11 volunteer effort, most of these groups will gladly accept your help throughout the year.
They also welcome monetary donations to help them continue their work.
Financial gifts to organizations that are Internal Revenue Service approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit groups also could provide you with a tax deduction.
I know, you’re not giving to get a tax break, but taking it if you qualify doesn’t diminish your goodwill. Starting with 2026 gifts, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) makes some cash donations deductible to taxpayers who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing.
This above-the-line charitable deduction is worth up to $1,000 for individual taxpayers who claim the standard deduction, and up to $2,000 for married jointly filing couples who don’t itemize.
Taking the tax break doesn’t lessen the value of your gift. It might, in fact, mean more tax savings that you can put toward other charities that you support.
But no tax break for gifts of time: There is not, however, a similar tax benefit for time spent volunteering. Donated hours aren’t tax deductible.
Still, Uncle Sam believes volunteers should get some tax benefits. The Internal Revenue Code lets you deduct the value of in-kind donations you make as a volunteer.
This includes things such as the office supplies you bought when you spent the day helping organize your favorite nonprofit’s administrative and operational systems.
There also are the miles you drive your own car in volunteer service to a charity, like delivering meals to shut-ins or taking the community center’s job training folks to interviews.
While most tax-deductible miles are adjusted annually for inflation (or sometimes sooner), the amount for charitable driving is statutorily set and static at 14 cents. Yes, I agree, it’s not fair. Tell your members of Congress that you want them to change this.
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