This is an interesting new initiative coming from the office of Canada’s Governor General. Called My Giving Moment, it is meant to encourage Canadians to donate of themselves, whether it is time, money or expertise. Many of Canada’s large corporations are on board, which is always a good sign, and a new group called the Rideau Hall Foundation has been set up.

A quick look at the web site reveals that it appears to tackle head on some of the reasons that people do not volunteer, despite their good intentions. Aside from just providing ‘feel-good’ stories about how and why people volunteer and the differences they have made, the web site provides many creative suggestions about how to contribute. There is also a mechanism that seems intended to create accountability: people can log in and create an account, after which they can select suggestions of different actions and indicate whether they intend to do it, have done it or will challenge a friend to do it. At my latest check, 1,480 people have had “giving moments.” This tackles another problem with volunteering: most people simply don’t know where to start and get overwhelmed. Let’s hope this initiative catches on. I will leave you with an excerpt from the Governor General’s message:

I believe that the key to a smarter, more caring Canada lies in helping more of us discover what we have to give.

That’s why I’m delighted to invite you to join My Giving Moment, a campaign that will celebrate and generate the kind of giving that, as Canadians, is in our DNA.

Opportunities to give are all around us, every day. We call them “Giving Moments”. They’re those special moments when we see someone who needs help, something that needs changing, or other people giving. They’re those moments when we suddenly realize that we can give, too.

My Giving Moment will help Canadians seize these moments, and then act upon them. It will help more of us give something, whether big or small, and whether it involves time, skills, or money.

Join me in spreading the word about My Giving Moment. Use the website to discover and share your own Giving Moments. Read and share stories from other Canadians about giving. Find out creative ways to increase your community participation or to make a charitable contribution to an organization you had never thought of.

Together, we will inspire one another to achieve great things through giving of all kinds, one moment at a time.

We will forge a stronger, more caring nation that innovates by embracing the talents and natural generosity of all its citizens.

We will do more than just envision a better world.

We will create one.”