GivingTuesday: The Nonprofits That Matter to Our Community

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical giving. Created in 2012 as a simple idea, a day that encourages people to do good, it has since grown into a worldwide moment of giving, kindness, and community impact. Falling right after the consumer-driven rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday invites us to pause and give in meaningful, intentional ways that balance consumerism.

To celebrate the day, I tapped people in my community and asked them to share the nonprofits they support and what those organizations do along with who they support. These are leaders, entrepreneurs, creators, and neighbours who believe in putting purpose behind their dollars and volunteer time and making a difference close to home.

So if you took advantage of Black Friday deals this year, I hope you’ll also take advantage of the opportunity GivingTuesday offers: a chance to support the organizations building stronger, kinder, more connected communities. Many nonprofits secure matching partners for this day so your dollars go even further.

Below is a roundup of the causes that mean something to the people in my world, along with links if you’d like to support them too.

The Causes Local Businesses Care About

Jenn Wint, Founder of WINT Communications (me!)

Nonprofit of choice: Dress for Success Vancouver
Dress for Success Vancouver empowers women and gender-diverse individuals into financial independence and personal success through meaningful employment. They provide a full schedule of free programs, from pre-employment and dressing services, to career development, mentorship and leadership training.

Learn more: https://dfsvancouver.ca

Kate Bouchard, Founder + Principal, Armature Collective

Nonprofit of Choice: The Looking Glass Foundation
The innovative programs and services offered by Looking Glass have a profound, positive impact on individuals affected by eating disorders in this province, no matter where they are in their recovery journey.

Learn more: www.lookingglassbc.com

Whitney Larson, Co-founder Ripple of Change Magazine

Nonprofit of Choice: AIRS Program
The Artist in Residence Studio program, or AIRS, is an artist-led charity for providing equitable access to high-quality and socially relevant visual arts education for children in public elementary schools through long-term artist residencies through the Vancouver School Board.

Learn more: https://airsprogram.org/  

Jeff Wint Sr. Account Manager, Recycling Alternative 

Nonprofit of Choice: Mission Possible
Mission Possible transforms lives through meaningful work. It’s a nonprofit not only supporting people in moving up the working continuum and building skills, but also literally cleaning up the downtown eastside.

Learn more: https://www.mission-possible.ca/

Nonprofit of Choice: Ocean Legacy
The Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF) is a Canadian based non-profit organization with the goal to end ocean plastic waste. They work on remote beach clean ups, and work towards clean coasts, recycled plastics, and informed communities.

Learn more: https://oceanlegacy.ca

Nonprofit of Choice: Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation Canada is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, beaches, and waves, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

Learn More: https://surfrider.ca

Penny Greening, Founder & Executive Director, Reframe Voices Society

Nonprofit of Choice: Reframe Voices Society
As a concerned mother who observed unhealthy patterns in the adolescent community while wearing my market research hat, I’ve publicly shared my own experiences with secretive eating disorders to advocate for today’s adolescents by founding Reframe Voices. I’m on a mission to end hospital waitlists for adolescent treatment, confront mental health biases, break the silence that prevents kids from seeking help, and provide public health education that empowers parents.

Learn more: www.reframevoices.ca/help-a-family

Amanda Sayfy, Executive Director, Dress for Success Vancouver

Nonprofit of Choice: Big Sisters
Big Sisters enables life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential in youth. They provide direct service to young people, who through no fault of their own, may be facing adversity.

Learn more: https://www.bigsisters.bc.ca

Koryn Heisler, Owner of This World’s Ours Centre

Nonprofit of Choice: Spectrum Mothers Support Society
I love this charity because they support new moms in challenging situations by putting caregivers into their homes which helps them build their village to better support their children.

Learn more: https://www.spectrummothers.ca/how-to-help/donate

Brittany Hopkins, Writer, Playground Talk Newsletter

Nonprofit of Choice: The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
DEWC spreads cheer to marginalized women, children and seniors throughout the holiday season. As an individual, I like to donate gifts specifically for women from the organization’s wish list because everyone deserves to feel special at the holidays, no matter their age or current circumstances. Organizations can also make a larger impact by hosting gift drives, providing meals or essentials, or making financial contributions.

Learn more: https://dewc.ca/ 

Nikki Lajeunesse, Event Management Specialist, Nikki Loves Events

Nonprofit of choice: Worth Association
WORTH Association is a non-profit society working to advance equity across the visitor economy. They champion self-identifying women and gender diverse people working in recreation, tourism, and hospitality through mentorship, leadership development, advocacy, and community connection.

Learn more: https://www.worthassociation.com

Nonprofit of choice: QMUNITY
QMUNITY is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. They provide a safer space for LGBTQ2SAI+ people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included.

Learn more: www.qmunity.ca

Janette Shearer, Communications Manager + InTraining Coordinator SportMedBC

Nonprofit of Choice: SportMedBC
SportMedBC promotes awareness and leadership in sport medicine, sport science, sport training and health promotion through events, clinics and through its SportMed Directory of sport medical and paramedical practitioners.

Learn more: sportmedbc.com

Natasha Irvine, Chief Communications Officer at Mothers Matter Canada

Nonprofit of Choice: Mothers Matter Canada
Mothers Matter Canada is a virtual, national consortium of organizations dedicated to serving socially isolated and low economic status mothers and their families. Their foundational program, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), has grown to 25 sites across Canada since 2000, each of which helps 35 – 100 families each year.

Become a GEM: https://www.mothersmatter.ca/gem

Madeleine Shaw, Founder, everyware designs and author, The Greater Good: Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World

Nonprofit of Choice: Fire & Flower
A local charity that delivers empowering nature-based programs for girls and gender-diverse youth as they navigate the vital transition of adolescence.

Link to donate: https://fireandflowergirls.org/donate

Jack Shaw, co-founder of Laykaus

Nonprofit of Choice: SeaLegacy
SeaLegacy has a powerful history as a major force in the ocean conservation space, driving change through key initiatives, projects, and global campaigns.

Learn more: https://sealegacy.org/ 

Small Businesses and Individuals Have Big Impact 

GivingTuesday is a reminder that small contributions add up in big ways. Whether it’s supporting women entering the workforce, feeding families, funding arts programs, rescuing animals, caring for seniors, or protecting our environment. Donating money or goods, giving time, sharing messages, amplifying good work and supporting non profits fuels their mission. Thank you to everyone who shared their nonprofit of choice. And thank you for reading, donating, sharing, and amplifying the work that matters. Together, on GivingTuesday or any day of the week, our collective can make a real difference.