# Canadian site calls for more donations to climate change issues

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/11/03/canadian-site-calls-more-donations-climate-change-issues/
- Published: 2008-11-03T11:36:40+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

“Only one quarter of a cent of every dollar donated in Canada goes to counter global
warming”. That’s the headline on a new website from Natasha van Bentum, Director
of Outreach with PowerUP Canada, Canadians for Climate Leadership. “Even a small
increase in its share of the “philanthropy pie” would translate into millions to
put towards combating climate change”, argues globalwarmingopportunitiesguide.org.
The site is directed at existing supporters of charities, urging them to consider
supporting work to combat climate change as well as their existing commitments. “
As philanthropists, we can do more than have buildings named after us”, says van
Bentum. She presents a graph showing the breakdown of donations to Canadian nonprofits
by type of organisation including religion, health, international, and arts and 
culture. She points out that global warming does and will affect all these activities
so requires a higher priority. She says that she’s not asking donors to stop supporting
charities and redirect all their support to environmental charities. Instead she
suggests “by applying a ‘Global Warming Filter’ to your philanthropy, you can make
a big difference.” By this she means: “Focus on projects that take into consideration
global warming, ask organisations you support are revising their mandates to include
climate change impacts”. Van Bentum, formerly Director of Gift Planning for Greenpeace
Canada and Development Director at the Victoria Symphony, has set up several philanthropy
resources over the past decade or so, including [SeniorsinCyberspace](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/www.seniorsincyberspace.org)
and [VenturePhilanthropyGuide](http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/ires/ires11.html).
She has started [a blog](http://giveclimate.blogspot.com/
) to accompany the new
website. http://globalwarmingopportunitiesguide.org

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