Giving Tuesday 2025: Artists Who Give Back Through Art | iCanvas
Giving Tuesday is a reminder that art doesn’t just inspire, it creates change. This year, we’re celebrating the artists in the iCanvas community who use their creativity, compassion, and platforms to support meaningful causes around the world. From advocating for shelter animals to empowering veterans, protecting endangered species, uplifting global communities, and funding humanitarian work, these artists prove that art can be a powerful force for good.
Below, we’re spotlighting five artists whose passion extends far beyond the canvas. Explore their stories, discover the causes they champion, and see how every print can help amplify the impact they’re making in the world.
Sophie Gamand: Dog Portraits to Support Animal Rescue
Sophie Gamand is a photographer and artist whose work shines a compassionate spotlight on dogs in need. Through soft lighting, expressive portraits, and thoughtful compositions, she captures the emotional depth and individuality of shelter dogs, many of whom have spent years waiting for a home. Her art reimagines how we see rescue animals, replacing stigma with tenderness and giving overlooked dogs a chance to be truly seen.
Art That Advocates for Shelter Dogs in Need
Gamand’s mission goes far beyond the frame. Every project she creates raises awareness, supports nonprofit rescue organizations, and directly helps shelter dogs find loving homes. Her internationally recognized Pit Bull Flower Power series has inspired countless people to adopt, rethink breed stereotypes, and open their hearts to dogs who might otherwise be overlooked. Many of her canine models have been adopted after years in shelters, some waiting as long as eight years. Her community stories, along with messages from adopters worldwide, fuel her tireless advocacy and affirm the power of art to create real-world change.
Support Her Cause
Joel Sartore: Documenting Wildlife to Protect Endangered Species
Joel Sartore is a renowned National Geographic photographer whose work combines artistry, storytelling, and scientific urgency. For more than 30 years, he has traveled the world capturing striking, intimate portraits of animals – first in the wild and now primarily in human care. His signature photographic style removes distractions and emphasizes direct eye contact, giving each species a dignified presence while highlighting the individuality and fragility of life on Earth.
The National Geographic Photo Ark’s Mission to Inspire Global Conservation
Sartore’s most impactful endeavor is the National Geographic Photo Ark, a lifelong project dedicated to documenting every species living in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries around the world. To date, he has photographed more than 11,000 species, raising awareness for animals at risk of extinction and helping inspire global efforts to protect vulnerable habitats and ecosystems. With an estimated 20,000 species still in human care, he continues to travel farther and work tirelessly, hoping his images will motivate future generations to help save the planet.
Support His Cause
Estelle Grengs: Folk Art Rooted in Heart, Healing, and Humanity
Estelle Grengs is a folk artist whose work blends warmth, whimsy, and emotional storytelling. Her vibrant scenes, expressive characters, and uplifting color palettes reflect a deep appreciation for everyday joy and the resilience of the human spirit. As a military spouse for more than 30 years, her lived experiences have shaped both her creative voice and her passion for supporting others through art. Her pieces radiate comfort and hope, inviting viewers to pause, smile, and find a moment of peace.
Supporting Veteran Healing Through the Warrior Art Program
Beyond her artwork, Grengs is deeply committed to using creativity as a force for healing. She serves as an artist facilitator for the Warrior Art Program, sponsored by the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, a program dedicated to helping veterans cope with PTSD, trauma, and the emotional toll of military service. Hosting sessions in her own studio, she guides veterans through hands-on creative expression, offering them a safe and supportive outlet to process experiences, build community, and rediscover personal strength. This work is profoundly meaningful to her, both as an artist and as a longtime military spouse, and she is honored to play a role in bringing hope and resilience to veterans throughout Northwest Florida.
Support Her Cause
Modern Tropical: Bright, Contemporary Art That Supports Global Good
Modern Tropical is known for creating fresh, vibrant artwork inspired by color, nature, pattern, and modern design. Her pieces bring an instant sense of joy and visual harmony, blending tropical influences with minimalist shapes and bold palettes. Whether it’s a lush botanical, a soothing landscape, or a playful graphic composition, her work radiates warmth and positivity, making it a favorite for collectors looking to elevate their space with clean, contemporary style.
Supporting The Trevor Project, Oceana, and World Central Kitchen
Aligned with the uplifting spirit of her art, Modern Tropical donates a portion of her royalties to three impactful global nonprofits: The Trevor Project, which provides crisis support and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth; Oceana, a leading organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans; and World Central Kitchen, which delivers meals and emergency food relief to communities affected by disasters. Her contributions help fuel critical work in mental health support, environmental preservation, and humanitarian aid, extending the reach of her creativity far beyond the canvas and into communities around the world.
Support Her Cause
Susan Richey: Uplifting Animal & Nature Art That Gives Back Globally
Susan Richey is an artist and photographer whose joyful, heartwarming images celebrate the connection between animals, people, and the natural world. Through playful digital compositions and vibrant wildlife photography, she creates art designed to inspire kindness, optimism, and good deeds. Her two bodies of work, “A Dog’s Life” and “A Wild Life”, feature rescued pets, wildlife encounters, and nature scenes captured throughout her travels.
How the Good-Focused Programs Support Rescues, Wildlife, and Communities Worldwide
Richey’s creative mission is deeply intertwined with philanthropy. Through her Good-Focused Photo Program, she provides complimentary images to animal rescues, helping them boost adoption rates and strengthen fundraising efforts. Her Good-Focused Donation Program expands that impact even further, partnering with small but high-impact nonprofits around the world to support wildlife conservation, empower young mothers, provide education in rural communities, fund reusable sanitary pads for schoolgirls in Africa, and help families launch sustainable micro-businesses. All of this life-changing support is funded directly through the sale of her artwork, allowing her creativity to fuel real-world change for both animals and people.
