GiveRise: Empowering Change While Uplifting Communities
Our core mission is to close the “giving gap” and revolutionize fundraising for the next generations of donors. Through our online marketplace and thrift store, we are bridging the charitable sector to the ever-growing secondhand economy while also supporting small businesses and local vendors.
Our Story
Our journey began when our founder, Janelle von Kleist-Bernard, stumbled across the "giving gap". She wanted to donate to a number of causes but didn't have the means to do so. Instead, she started commissioning artwork and selling preloved items to raise funds for important causes. Manually handling the cash and e-transfer donations was proving to be a hassle, so she set out to find an online tool that could help with the workload. She continuously searched for a platform where she could post her items and not have to worry about collecting and distributing the funds. When these searches came up dry, she made it her goal to create one - a fundraising marketplace where people could use their creative passions to give back to causes closest to their hearts.
Founder, Janelle von Kleist-Bernard, with some of the commissioned portraits she sold to raise money for charity.
Our Values
Sustainability:
We encourage participation in the circular economy as a way to reduce textile waste.
Community: We operate with purpose, making it our goal to uplift local communities and our Canadian economy.
Transparency: We prioritize honest and ethical practices, aiming to build trust throughout every interaction.
Community: We operate with purpose, making it our goal to uplift local communities and our Canadian economy.
Transparency: We prioritize honest and ethical practices, aiming to build trust throughout every interaction.
What Makes Us Different
Every item you buy or sell on our platform contributes to a more circular economy and helps fund various charitable causes. While vendors on other marketplaces have to forfeit up to a 20% of their sale to the platform, we ask our vendors to select a portion of their sale to donate to one of our Canadian nonprofit partners. This empowers our vendors to have more control over their income as well as their impact.
What Is The Giving Gap?
According to CanadaHelps, the “giving gap” is a notable trend where younger Canadians are donating less than previous generations did at the same age range. This is due to economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures and is proving to be a significant obstacle for charities who rely on donations.
Join Us
Every item you buy or sell on our platform contributes to a more circular economy and helps fund various charitable causes. Join our community of difference-makers and together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable world!