Giving Tuesday was added to the calendar in 2012, as a global day of giving that falls annually after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. GIV3 and CanadaHelps are co-founders of Giving Tuesday in Canada. You’re probably already aware of making donations to charities through Canada Helps which offers a very convenient platform to link donors with registered Canadian charities. This registered charity’s goal of increasing the level of charitable giving has borne great success. However, are you familiar with GIV3 and the story behind it? I wasn’t so I turned once again to my research assistant, Google.
As GIV3’s website indicates, “GIV3 is a privately registered Canadian charity which does not solicit donations from Canadians but it encourages everyone to be more giving through volunteering and donating to registered charities of their choice. The GIV3 movement stands on three pillars: Giving, Inspiring others, and Volunteering. Its mission is to engage Canadian charities and the public in activities to encourage these pillars. Watch this 2-minute video to learn how one granny’s birthday gift started a movement and inspired a generation to care, connect, and contribute to their communities.
Retailers bombard shoppers with bargains available on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Similarly, as Giving Tuesday approaches, an increasing number of social agencies also request your contributions to support your neighbor. You have the pleas of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday all competing for your dollars. The first two designated days encourage shopping while the third option suggests donating to a charity of your choice. Giving Tuesday encourages a donation of time, resources and talents to address community needs.
Giving Tuesday has already proved increasingly successful since its inception in 2012. Canada Helps announced that more than $21.9 M was donated to charities on Giving Tuesday last year. However, this year the COVID Crisis is upping the need for generous donors. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, charities are facing increased demands for their services while finding their resources dwindling and their usual fundraising activities curtailed or cancelled.
You can make a much-needed difference. Celebrate Giving Tuesday. Contribute to a charity of your choice and be part of something big! -Sister Nancy Wales, csj