Giving Tuesday 2023: Reaching New Heights Thanks to our Donors

Mon. Dec. 4, 2023

This November 28th marked the fourth installment of Giving Tuesday on our campus. For a day that has always given us plenty to celebrate, I’m proud to announce that 2023 was our most successful Giving Tuesday to date, with 31 donors giving an incredible $13,963 to 11 different funds throughout the day. 

Part of what makes Giving Tuesday so unique is the fact that every year, the Foundation becomes part of a worldwide movement. Charities from over 80 countries take part in this special day of fundraising, with 47 organizations choosing to participate in Canada alone. Last year, a total of $50.5 million was raised around the world in support of participating organizations (https://www.givingtuesday.ca/about).

Giving Tuesday is also unique in its briefness. Instead of a months-long campaign requiring many hours of planning, Giving Tuesday flips the script by condensing and concentrating our efforts as fundraisers into a 24-hour time frame. Since our first Giving Tuesday back in 2019, each of these single-day campaigns have brought in a steady stream of generous gifts from donors looking to help provide funding for the awards that matter most to them. 

With lots of people around the world buying gifts for family and friends in preparation for the holiday season, Giving Tuesday succeeds in helping us provide those in need with the gift of hope. Each and every one of our donors who participated in this campaign helps give a deserving student the opportunity to complete their studies and forge a better future for themselves and their families. According to research conducted by the University's Economics Department, each UWinnipeg graduate will make on average $30,000 more per-year than someone with only a High School diploma—so no matter how big or small, your gift has a tremendous effect on those who count on your kindness.

Adding to the success of this day-long fundraising sprint is the freedom our donors have when giving. You can choose to support a priority area, or support an award you have a close connection to. Your generosity is then combined with donations from other participants, effectively maximizing each contribution and its impact on our students. 

For such a recent tradition, it may also come as a surprise to know that over the last four years, Giving Tuesday has helped generate an impressive $28,419 in donations to our campus. To those who took the time to give, I’d like to thank you for helping us reach this new record and for helping keep the spirit of philanthropy on our campus alive and well. Your gifts last Tuesday are part of a charitable microcosm that provides the Foundation with the means to support our students, programs and campus, while also allowing us to stay connected with the charitable initiatives that shape our world as fundraisers.

In service,

Javier