National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November every year. The purpose of this day is to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy — and those people active in the philanthropic community — to the enrichment of our world.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) National Philanthropy Day was originally conceived and organized by philanthropist Douglas Freeman in the 1980s. The first official events were held in 1986 after then U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation recognizing November 15 as National Philanthropy Day in the U.S. In 2012, the Government of Canada signed the National Philanthropy Day Act into law, declaring November 15 as the annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day as well.
Across North America over 130 AFP chapters hold NPD events and activities. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions.
AFP has also launched #NPDLove and the NPDLove website, a global social media outreach and awareness campaign to engage the global charitable sector, the philanthropic community, and the public in activities to demonstrate ‘love of humankind’ and highlight how they (or their organization) are helping to change the world.
In the November 15 edition of the Globe and Mail, an AFP/Globe and Mail supplement on National Philanthropy Day will be published. This special feature will highlight some of the
outstanding contributions of individuals, foundations, corporations, fundraising volunteers, and non-profit organizations who have worked to make a difference to a wide variety of causes in Canada and beyond.
To learn more, you can visit https://afpglobal.org/NPDLove, as well as check out resources provided by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
