The recent heartbreaking discoveries at residential school sites across Canada have stunned us as a nation. The injustices faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada are known, but these discoveries have brought the enormity of their historical struggles into sharp, painful focus. As a community, we are asking: Where do we go from here and how do we find our way towards healing and reconciliation?

As a company, we have been questioning and reflecting on how we act on our purpose to help people be their best selves when so many in our community struggle to thrive due to generational trauma and systemic obstacles to growth and opportunities. The journey to a better world — one of connection and harmony — needs to start somewhere. We believe it starts with empathy and understanding. Social change happens when hearts and minds change. And we can begin the transformation if we educate ourselves, one of the calls to action for business from the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

In that spirit, we are launching the #EducationForReconciliation campaign, taking a hopeful first step in our own journey and honouring those who have already embarked on theirs by educating themselves. Our campaign calls upon Canadians to help us grant $100,000 to eight Indigenous causes, curated by Benevity in collaboration with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies, that address the unique needs of Indigenous communities and peoples in Canada.

To help us grant these funds, we are asking those who have completed the University of Alberta’s free Indigenous Canada course to share their proof of course completion with us. Offered through Coursera, it explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today, from a historical and critical perspective, highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

For every person who shares their proof of course completion with us on LinkedIn, Benevity will grant $50 (up to a maximum of $100,000) on their behalf to the following Indigenous nonprofits (divided equally):

1. First Nations Child & Family Caring Society stands with First Nations children, youth and families so they have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education and be proud of who they are.
2. Indspire educates, connects and invests in First Nations, Inuit and Métis people so they will achieve their highest potential.
3. Reconciliation Canada – A New Way Forward Society leads the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.
4. The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund creates a pathway to reconciliation by providing access to education on the true history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the true history and legacy of Residential Schools.
5. The Native Women’s Association of Canada works to preserve Indigenous culture and advance the well-being of all Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people, as well as their families and communities.
6. University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies, the only independent Faculty of Native Studies in Canada, seeks to understand the experiences and lives of Indigenous people and communities past, present, and future – not on their own but in their relationships with those of settler society.
7. Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY), based in our HQ city of Calgary, enriches the lives of all urban Indigenous youth by nurturing self-empowerment and fostering healthy collaboration and communication to ensure healthy future generations.
8. Water First Education and Training Inc. is helping address local water challenges in Indigenous communities through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

How to participate:

1. Complete the free Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) (the "Course") with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies. If you have completed it already, you’re also invited to participate.
2. Post a photo of your course completion e-mail or certificate on LinkedIn within the Donation Campaign period: July 14-September 30, 2021. Be sure to tag @benevity and use the hashtag #EducationForReconciliation, so we can include you in the donation tally.
3. For an extra dose of Goodness: tag a friend or colleague who might be interested in taking the Indigenous Canada course.

This is just the beginning of our journey towards reconciliation. Join us by sharing your #EducationForReconciliation milestone with us today. 

Those looking to further support these causes can make their donation at https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community.

At Benevity, we’re dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage people of all visible minorities, including Indigenous applicants, and those of any religion, sex, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to join us in our journey and become part of our team. Check out our current job openings.

Official Donation Campaign Rules

1. Eligibility: Open to participants who provide proof of completion of the Course. All applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws apply. In order to be eligible, you must: 1) register for and successfully complete the Course. If you have completed it already, you’re also invited to participate; 2) post a photo of your course completion e-mail or certificate clearly indicating the Course name, date of completion and your full name on LinkedIn within the donation Campaign period: July 14-September 30, 2021 and use the #EducationForReconciliation hashtag, as well as tag Benevity, Inc.’s (“Benevity” or the “Sponsor”) LinkedIn account at @Benevity. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void, as are entries that are illegible, garbled, incomplete or that contain errors, as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Normal time, toll, connection, and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider may apply for your use of LinkedIn. No other entry method will be accepted. You agree that the Sponsor may, at any time, in whole or in part, edit or modify your entry, or remove your entry, from the Sponsor’s Post and/or may disqualify you from the Donation Campaign at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. The Sponsor may cancel the Donation Campaign at any time in its sole discretion.
2. No purchase necessary. Enrollment in the Course is free; however, if you choose to receive a certificate instead of a confirmation e-mail, a fee of $60 CAD will be charged by Coursera.
3. Sponsor: This Donation Campaign is sponsored by Benevity, Inc. Donations will be collected by Benevity and made to Benevity’s foundation partner, Canadian Online Giving Foundation, for disbursement to the Charities.
4. Charity Selection: For every Eligible Entry made on the Sponsor’s Post, $50 CAD will be donated to the following Canada Revenue Agency-approved charities chosen by the Sponsor in its sole discretion (the “Charities”): First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, Indspire, Reconciliation Canada - A New Way Forward Society, The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, The Native Women’s Association of Canada, University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies, Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth, Water First Education and Training Inc.
5. Maximum Donation: Up to 2,000 donations of $50 CAD each are available to the eight charities. A maximum of $100,000 CAD will be donated. The proportion will be equally distributed to each charity.
6. Restrictions: Limited to one (1) entry per individual LinkedIn account and per person (eg. if you have multiple LinkedIn accounts, only one entry will be accepted) during the Donation Campaign Period. Any comment accompanying an entry that is offensive, discriminatory or violates any of the rules or terms of LinkedIn will not be eligible for the Donation Campaign.
7. Donation Campaign Period: The Donation Campaign Period will begin on Monday, July 14, 2021, at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) and end on September 30, 2021, at 9:00 PM EST, subject to the following (the “Donation Campaign Period”), after which time the Donation Campaign will be closed and no further entries shall be accepted. After September 30, 2021, at 2021 at 9:00 AM EST the Donation Campaign can be extended, at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. You acknowledge that if the full available amount of $100,000 CAD is met before September 30, 2021, at 2021 at 9:00 AM EST, the Donation Campaign Period will end at that time and your entry will not be eligible.
8. License: By participating in the Donation Campaign, you grant Sponsor the right to use, reproduce, display (publicly or otherwise), publish or distribute any images, data or other information you submit as part of your Eligible Entry for any marketing material or purposes.
9. Release: By participating in the Donation Campaign, you agree to release Sponsor, its affiliates and Canadian Online Giving Foundation and its and their directors, officers and employees from any claims or liability arising from participation in the Donation Campaign or Course or the use of the license.