Help Canada become the first country in the world to enact a government-recognized National Philanthropy Day. We are very close to having legislation passed in the Senate. It will be introduced for 3rd reading on April 28th, but we need YOUR HELP to ensure that it is passed!

Please call or email your Senator in support of S-204, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day.

You can find the list of Senators here.

When you reach your Senator's office, please use the following talking points:

• Say that you are calling from the Senator's province. Please tell them your hometown.
• Mention that you are calling from [insert your organization's name], an organization that provides [insert services provided by your organization] services to [insert number of people served by your organization, if known] people .
• Ask your Senator to support bill S-204 that would create the world's very first government-recognized National Philanthropy Day (also known as NPD).
• Explain that NPD is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November. The purpose of this day is to:
  • To increase public awareness of NPD as a time to say "thank you" to those who give throughout the year.
  • To focus public attention on major accomplishments made possible through philanthropic contributions.
  • To honor key local individuals and corporations for their philanthropic endeavors.
  • To recognize local fundraisers, thanking them for their time, talent, and dedication.
• A government-recognized NPD is needed now more than ever. In 2006, the number of donors shrunk by 1.4 percent to 5.8 million, according to new research by Statistics Canada.
• Yet, the demand for charities and the vital programs and services that they provide is exponentially growing. In essence, charities are being asked to do more with less. And if the charitable sector cannot meet the needs of the Canadian public, the federal government will bear the burden of filling the gap.
• Note that philanthropy is a broad concept that covers all ethnicities, cultures and walks of life. It is a misconception that only the very wealthy are philanthropists. In fact, children and the impoverished have proven time and again that they can be leaders in philanthropy.
• Also, explain that philanthropy represents giving on a variety of levels—the giving of money, the giving of one's time and the giving of one's talents. In that sense, philanthropy is more inclusive than the notion of volunteering—the giving of one's time.
• Remind the Senator that government recognition of National Philanthropy Day would not require any funding. The government's recognition alone would create incentives for partnerships with the media and other organizations to further increase awareness of philanthropy and encourage Canadians to get involved.
• Thank the Senator (or their staff) for their time.

Please pass these talking points along to your colleagues in the charitable sector, including those who are not AFP members and ask them to contact their Senator as well. This landmark legislation affects the entire sector, not just those associated with AFP. It is imperative that Senators see that this has broad support across the country and across all types of organizations, as well as from donors, CEO's, volunteers, fundraisers.

Thank you for your efforts. We are so close to seeing National Philanthropy Day legislation enacted!