Are you ready for November 28th?
If that question has you flipping ahead in the calendar and wondering, “What’s November 28th?” then you need to keep reading.
#GivingTuesday this year falls on November 28th. It’s the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the consumer-driven, materialistic Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s now a national movement, as nonprofits, ministries, and charities use this day to help bring awareness to their causes and raise funds.
Sure, we’re still a couple of months away from #GivingTuesday, but the sooner you begin planning, the more successful your efforts will be.
5 #GivingTuesday Ideas
Here are 5 ways you can make the most of this year’s #GivingTuesday.
CONNECT IT TO SOMETHING LARGER
Consider making your #GivingTuesday ask in the middle of a larger campaign. Perhaps it could be one “spoke” in a bigger wheel that includes special fundraising efforts for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or the end of the year. The last few months of the calendar year often see an overall increase in charitable giving because of the holiday season and the year’s end. Why not capitalize on that momentum with your #GivingTuesday campaign efforts?
TIE IT TO A THEME
While many donors will certainly be motivated to give just by recognizing the #GivingTuesday label, you’ll probably get even more donations if your #GivingTuesday campaign has a specific theme.
As we always say, tell your story in your outreach materials. The more specific and compelling your message, the more likely you are to see engagement from your supporters.
Give your #GivingTuesday campaign a specific name and brand identity. Make this one stand out visually from your other appeals.
ATTACH IT TO A GOAL
Campaigns with specific goals tend to perform better and achieve greater results. Make sure you set a realistic goal for your #GivingTuesday campaign. If possible, define that goal in terms of how it will impact the work you do (i.e., such as raising $20,000 to provide warm clothing and winter meals for a homeless shelter). Announce the goal and keep your followers updated on progress as the day goes on.
VIEW IT AS MORE THAN FUNDRAISING
While your primary focus for #GivingTuesday is on fundraising, don’t forget that this day can also bring exposure and awareness for your nonprofit. This is not the time to stop sharing your message across multiple platforms in an effort to gain new audiences and supporters.
Keep telling your story with informative and engaging posts, photos, and videos about your organization and the results your work brings.
TALK ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
#GivingTuesday is largely a social media event. Make sure you have plenty of focused posts ready to go, so that you and your staff are free to interact with supporters as they respond. Be conscientious and timely with your responses; have fun and keep posts targeted on your message.
Make sure you have a plan for engaging all your new followers after #GivingTuesday. If you need a tool to help you better organize donor data, we can help. Now would be an ideal time to give Donor.com’s software suite a try — before your new slew of #GivingTuesday supporters come along.
Try it for free!
What are your best #GivingTuesday ideas?
