Blog: Giving Tuesday – Calling on Edmontonians 

Giving Tuesday is a day to share and support local non-profits. Consider donating to Edmonton Social Planning Council Today!

By Ankur Subedi, ESPC Volunteer

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that empowers individuals and organizations to transform their communities and the world; the movement carried on and has expanded over the world, encouraging hundreds of millions of people to donate, collaborate, and celebrate kindness (Giving Tuesday, n.d.). It is practiced in over 80 countries with their own chapters, including Canada, and falls on November 29 this year (Giving Tuesday, n.d.). 

GivingTuesday Canada is a part of the worldwide giving movement and it aims to start the giving and volunteering season of the holidays (Chatterton, 2021). It was established in 2013 in Canada by GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org, two philanthropic organizations that drive a variety of humanitarian initiatives (Chatterton, 2021). As Canada’s rating has plummeted dramatically in the Global Giving Index, GIV3 was formed to encourage opportunities for Canadians to give back to their communities (Chatterton, 2021). In addition, CanadaHelps.org is an all-inclusive, free donation processing service that has assisted more than 2 million Canadians in raising more than $1 billion, and it provides its services to GivingTuesday Canada partners so that they can raise funds directly through the GivingTuesday.ca website (Chatterton, 2021). 

Giving Tuesday is a day full of opportunities for Non-profit organizations because many members of the public now know what it is and usually even set money aside each year to donate on that day; it is the ideal opportunity for non-profits to promote their missions, ask for donations, and win over new supporters (Kindful, 2021). Due to the varying degrees of resources that non-profit organizations have, their involvement may occasionally be as straightforward as sending an email newsletter or sharing a single social media post (Kindful, 2021). Because Giving Tuesday usually falls on a day in late November or early December, most non-profits utilize the day to launch end-of-year giving campaigns in the hopes of benefiting from tax-deductible gifts and the generosity of those looking to make a positive difference over the holiday season (Kindful, 2021). 

As Giving Tuesday is approaching soon, Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC), a registered non-profit in Edmonton, particularly known for its research work in the areas of low-income and poverty, aims to take on bigger projects and make a greater impact in the community (ESPC, n.d.). ESPC is dedicated to encouraging the adoption of equitable social policy, supporting the work of other organizations that are striving to improve the lives of Edmontonians, and educating the public regarding the social issues that impact them daily (ESPC, n.d.). Your donations will help ESPC with research work and bolster your voice, our community’s voice, and the ones who have been deprived of the opportunities to make their voices heard.  

Please do consider giving to Edmonton Social Planning Council this holiday season and help us make a bigger difference in the community. 

Ankur Subedi is a Registered Social Worker (RSW), currently advancing her education in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the University of Calgary. Having completed the Social Work Diploma from Norquest College, Ankur comes with a diverse background in community involvement. Ankur is passionate about working in social services and working with vulnerable populations to help them achieve their best possible levels of mental, social, and physical well-being.

References 

1. Chatterton, C. (2021, August 4). How Can Canadian Nonprofits Participate in GivingTuesday Canada? Neon One. Retrieved from https://neonone.com/resources/blog/givingtuesday-canada-charities/ 

2. Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC). (n.d.). Welcome. Retrieved from https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/ 

3. GivingTuesday. (n.d.). The world’s largest generosity movement. Retrieved from https://www.givingtuesday.ca/ 

4. Kindful. (2021, November 3). What is giving Tuesday all about & when is it? – nonprofit glossary. Retrieved from https://kindful.com/nonprofit-glossary/giving-tuesday/