How Can Canadian Nonprofits Participate in GivingTuesday Canada?

Do you participate in GivingTuesday Canada?

You’ve probably heard about GivingTuesday—it’s the first Tuesday after American Thanksgiving and is generally considered the start of the year-end fundraising season. But GivingTuesday is more than a single day, and it has a worldwide impact. In fact, over 80 countries have their own chapters—and that includes GivingTuesday Canada. 

If you’re involved with a Canadian charity you might be wondering how GivingTuesday impacts you. 

Since 2012, GivingTuesday Canada has become an avenue for Canadians to support their favorite charities by donating financially, volunteering, making in-kind gifts, and advocating for different causes. But what are the differences between GivingTuesday Canada and other GivingTuesday events? And how can you set yourself up for GivingTuesday success? 

What is GivingTuesday Canada?

GivingTuesday Canada is a branch of GivingTuesday, the global giving movement founded on the ideals of shared humanity and generosity.

GivingTuesday Canada was founded by GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org, two philanthropic powerhouses that spearhead all kinds of charitable actions.

Canada’s ranking in the World Giving Index has fallen drastically. In order to combat this, GIV3 was founded  to promote opportunities for Canadians to give back to their communities.

CanadaHelps.org is a free, all-in-one donation processing service that has helped more than 4 million Canadians donate over $3 billion to their favorite charities. During GivingTuesday, it offers free services to GivingTuesday Canada partners so they can raise money directly through the GivingTuesday.ca website.

In addition to their GivingTuesday efforts, GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org are known for sponsoring the Great Canadian Giving Challenge, an annual fundraising competition where each dollar raised gives a charity the chance to win $20,000.

When is GivingTuesday Canada?

GivingTuesday always falls on the Tuesday after American Thanksgiving—right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

GivingTuesday Canada explains, “We have two days that are good for the economy. Now we have a day that is good for the community, too.”

By shifting the focus from commercial spending to philanthropic spending, the day aims to help Canadians do good each holiday season.

Mark your calendars! This year, GivingTuesday falls on December 3, 2024.

How Can I Participate in GivingTuesday Canada?

Here are some simple steps to take as you prepare for GivingTuesday Canada:

• Encourage your constituents to give or volunteer.
• Become an official GivingTuesday partner or create your own independent campaign
• Get inspired by checking out other GivingTuesday campaigns
• Create a strategy using the GivingTuesday Canada toolkit
• Use social media to create a buzz around your involvement

Looking for More Resources? We’ve Got You Covered

Whether you’re in Canada or any other participating country, it’s important to spend some time planning your GivingTuesday campaign. We have resources that will help! Whether you’re looking for planning worksheets, email and social media templates, blog articles, webinars, or other learning tools, you can find everything you need in our GivingTuesday Resource Center.