Give 100
The Century
A gathering of 100 named participants, convened during the 100 days of Give 100 in the 100 Commonwealth Founding Cities, for the advancement of philanthropy and the realisation of civilisational purpose.
The Gathering
What the Century Is
The Century is the principal form of gathering within Give 100: an assembly of exactly 100 named participants, including the organisers, convened during the 100 days of the observance in the 100 Commonwealth Founding Cities. The 100 who gather are themselves also called a Century — named participants assembled to give visible expression to philanthropy, peace, and common purpose.
A Century may be convened during the observance by any person or body willing to gather 100 named participants in accordance with the formal criteria of Give 100. The Final Century is distinct. It is convened in each Founding City on the International Day of Peace, 21 September 2026, by the Corporate Champion, and serves as the city’s culminating act within the 100-day observance.
The Purpose
Why the Century Matters
The Century gives cities and citizens a formal instrument of participation in Give 100. It is a disciplined act of peace, generosity, and public example — a gathering through which participants drawn from the several spheres of a city’s life demonstrate that philanthropy is a shared duty. Any Century convened during the observance contributes to this collective expression. The Final Century gives each city its culminating moment within the observance.
Each Final Century is a local gathering with global consequence. Through it, a city contributes directly to the Sovereign Shield and, by extension, to the Toronto Founding — the culminating moment of the entire Give 100 observance. One hundred cities. One hundred Final Centuries. One Commonwealth.
The Charter
The Five Formal Criteria
A Century is constituted only when it satisfies each of the following five criteria without exception.
-
It is a gathering of exactly 100 named participants, including the organisers, committed to advancing philanthropy.
-
Invitees may be drawn from outside the host city.
-
It must commence with the lighting of the Commonweal Candle by each person in the Century and conclude with the lighting of the Century Flame.
-
It must not exceed 100 minutes in duration.
-
A Century may be constituted without fundraising. Where funds are raised, they add to the Sovereign Shield’s US$100 million objective to establish the Institute of Preemptology and its Queen Elizabeth II Centre for Cervical Cancer Elimination. All monies raised through the Centuries shall be deposited under the Trusteeship.
The Observance
Ceremonial Sequence
The Final Century follows a prescribed ceremonial order, observed simultaneously across every participating city on 21 September 2026.
10:00 Local Time
Convening
The Final Century assembles on the International Day of Peace at 10:00 local time.
Opening Rite
The Commonweal Candle
Each of the 100 persons lights the Commonweal Candle, inaugurating the gathering.
Closing Rite
The Century Flame
The Final Century concludes with the lighting of the Century Flame — sealing the city’s contribution to the Commonwealth-wide observance.
Peace through preemption is the closing logic of the Century and of the Founding.
The Endowment
Philanthropic and Fiduciary Purpose
Where contributions are made through a Century, they serve a single, clearly defined objective — governed by institutional trust and directed toward lasting public benefit.
Sovereign Shield
All funds raised contribute to the Sovereign Shield’s objective of US$100 million — the collective endowment of Give 100.
Learn more →Institute & Centre
These funds establish the Institute of Preemptology and its Queen Elizabeth II Centre for Cervical Cancer Elimination — the permanent legacy of the initiative.
Learn more →Trust & Trusteeship
All monies raised through the Centuries are deposited into the Givingtide Global Trust and administered by First Trustees Limited—ensuring independent fiduciary stewardship.
Learn more →Recognition
Honour and Distinction
Give 100 recognises extraordinary contributions through two distinct structures of honour. Contributions of one million dollars or more qualify for formal recognition within the Roll and Scroll of Honour.
A City’s Pledge
One Hundred Named Participants.
One Act of Peace.
The Century is a city’s formal act of participation in Give 100 — a gathering that transforms individual generosity into Commonwealth-wide purpose. Through it, 100 named participants in 100 cities give collective expression to peace, philanthropy, and the enduring legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.