Givingtuesday initiative highlights need for donations
The global initiative Giving Tuesday usually occurs in November.
Following closely on the heels of Black Friday, the day encourages people to shift their focus from spending to giving to help non-profit organizations in need.
With many of those organizations struggling, the day of generosity was bumped up to Tuesday, highlighting the importance of giving back even during the toughest of times.
Many shared their good deeds on social media, using the hashtag #Givingtuesdaynow, as Canada joined five other countries in sharing the giving spirit.
“This year, we’re in a different time and a different world,” said Lys Hugessen, vice-president of Partnerships and Givingtuesday Canada. “We decided to create a second Giving Tuesday that would inspire people to not only give, because people have been giving very generously already in the past six weeks, but also to think of our global community and try to get ourselves inspired by (the global health crisis) that’s bringing us together.”
On Tuesday, the Alberta government pledged $2 million to match donations to COVID-19 response efforts by eight Alberta-based charities, including the United Way Alberta Capital Region, United Way Calgary and Area, United Way Central Alberta, Calgary Foundation, Edmonton Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta, Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta, and Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta.
Wayne Steer, director of fund development for Fresh Start Recovery Centre, which helps men recover from addiction, said COVID -19 has dramatically affected the organization. Steer, who is the Calgary lead for #Givingtuesdaynow, said the organization is in need of cash donations to ensure the programs continue when COVID-19 has settled.
“Kindness is the glue that holds community and humanity together,” Steer said.
The Calgary Foundation distributes grants and funding to various registered charities in the city and region. The organization has started a Pandemic Recovery Program, a three-phase program addressing urgent organizational needs during COVID-19. So far, it has made $2 million in grants, which is to be distributed to more than 300 organizations.
“Charitable giving has gone down as individuals are also rightfully concerned for their own economic standing right now,” said Jason Bates, vice-president of grants and community initiatives at the foundation.
Bates also said spring is when many organizations hold fundraising drives, all of which have been cancelled by the pandemic.
“Organizations rely on those events to pay for their operations for the rest of the year,” he said.
But there is reason to believe many will step up during the pandemic. Benevity Inc. released a COVID-19 relief report on Tuesday titled Leading with Purpose in Extraordinary Times, in which data was examined from more than 500 purpose-driven companies between March 1 and April 30. It highlights how businesses are activating their people and communities during the global crisis.
The report highlights that businesses have been quick to respond despite economic uncertainty and a looming recession. More than 500 companies and 450,000 employees drove $640 million in donations, 786,000 volunteer hours, 53,000 small acts of goodness and 8,648 corporate grants to support 79,000 global causes in eight weeks.
Also, the types of causes being supported has shifted, with donations showing significant increases in human services, food security, public safety and community improvement and employment.
“It is heartening to see when we have a challenge that humanity steps up, said Bryan de Lottinville, Benevity Inc., founder and CEO. “When companies are recognizing a larger sense of purpose than just the pursuit of profit, it’s really powerful to see what can be accomplished."