Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity that encourages donations, volunteering and raising awareness of nonprofits worldwide.
This year, Giving Tuesday lands on December 3rd and your donation to United Way of Calgary and Area’s Community Impact Fund can make a real difference in addressing our most pressing challenges.
So many organizations will be asking for your help on Giving Tuesday, but giving to United Way is the best way to make a local impact in Calgary and area. Whether you’re new to United Way or a long-time donor, your hands can create hope for thousands of Calgarians this year and years to come. One small gesture can create positive impact, spreading hope throughout our community.
Here are ten reasons why your support for United Way matters more than ever on Giving Tuesday:
1. Support More Than 130 Local Agencies
Your donation to the Community Impact Fund provides stable funding to more than 130 local agencies, ensuring critical services are available when Calgarians need them most.
2. Impact More Than 223,000 Lives
In 2023, more than 223,000 Calgarians benefited from the Community Impact Fund. Hope is in your hands to ensure we can reach even more people in need.
3. Your act of kindness can ignite a ripple of hope across our community
The flexibility of the Community Impact Fund allows United Way to quickly direct resources where they’re most needed, whether for emerging situations or ongoing support. For example, the Fund supports WINS (Women in Need Society) and its Community Resource Hubs, which provided basic needs support to more than 25,000 individuals in 2023, offering essentials like household items, food hampers, transit tickets and phone bill assistance. It also fuels Action Table Calgary, which aims to provide coordinated support within 48 hours for individuals facing poverty, domestic violence or mental health crises.
Programs like All In for Youth (AIFY) also benefit from the Community Impact Fund. AIFY helped more than 13,000 students in the past decade including students like Lubna.
4. Help Individuals and Communities not just Survive but Thrive!
Poverty is no longer an issue confined to specific neighbourhoods or demographics. Today, it could be your neighbour, co-worker or the family down the street who is struggling. The economic challenges of recent years have shown us that anyone can find themselves in need, often unexpectedly.
- 1 in 4 Calgarians can’t meet their basic financial needs
- More than 1 in 10 Calgarians rely on community-based food programs
- 160,000+ children in Alberta live in poverty
5. Create Local, Long-Term Solutions
United Way doesn’t just address immediate needs— we invest in upstream, long-term solutions, tackling systemic issues to build a stronger, more resilient community.
Examples of this kind of future-focused collaboration include:
- The Enough for All Strategy:
Enough for All is stewarded by Vibrant Communities Calgary and funded by United Way and The City of Calgary to reduce poverty in our city. The strategy seeks to create financial empowerment, optimize incomes, increase financial assets and reduce debt while preserving integrity and dignity.
- Community Hubs:
United Way and The City of Calgary have partnered since 2017 to offer the Community Hubs Initiative in five key Calgary neighbourhoods, providing resources for financial empowerment, tax filing and basic needs.
6. Build Mental Health Supports for All
Poverty, social isolation, stigma and a lack of easily accessible services hold people back from getting the help they need. United Way invests in programs and initiatives like the Calgary Counselling Centre to reduce barriers and increase access to mental health support for everyone in Calgary and area. Our work focuses on mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to ensure those impacted by mental health issues access the supports they need before the issues become deep-rooted and more challenging to treat.
7. Meet Growing Demand in Calgary
Charitable services are experiencing unprecedented demand. With your help, we can bridge the gap between rising needs and stretched resources, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.
8. Double Your Impact with Donation Matching
This Giving Tuesday, local champions will match new donations and increases to existing contributions dollar-for-dollar. That means your gift goes twice as far. There are several matching opportunities for new and returning donors alike, so don’t miss your opportunity to maximize your impact.
9. Join a Global Movement while doing Local Good
100% of your donation stays in Calgary, but by donating, you join a global effort to make the world a better place, starting right here at home. Helping us is as easy as sharing one of our social media posts or donating to the Community Impact Fund. Your support can help Calgarians access basic needs, reduce loneliness, foster meaningful relationships and encourage belonging in our communities.
10. Extend a Helping Hand, Drive Change
Together, we can accomplish great things. Our combined efforts lead to impactful results that benefit everyone. When you put your trust in our hands, we help Calgarians when and where they need it the most, addressing short-term needs and creating long-term solutions.
Ready to Make a Difference?
This Giving Tuesday, be the change Calgary needs. Whether you’re donating for the first time or renewing your support, every dollar counts. You can spark change and inspire hope.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Spread the Word
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Share your “why” for supporting Giving Tuesday by using our downloadable social graphics or our 2024 Giving Tuesday guide.
Don’t forget our hashtags: #GivingTuesday #HopeIsInYourHandsYYC #UnitedWeCan
Donate Now to the Community Impact Fund
It’s easy. A few clicks and you’re supporting better lives for everyone.