There are tons of resources out there about #GivingTuesday Fundraising. We’ve rounded up the best of them here for a quick primer!
- Is it your first year participating in GivingTuesday?
- Would you like to raise even more money than last year?
- Maybe you’re not even sure what GivingTuesday is?
Our #GivingTuesday Fundraising Bootcamp can get you started learning about GivingTuesday fast, help you set up your first GivingTuesday fundraiser, and boost your revenue this year even more over previous years.
#GivingTuesday Fundraising in 30 Seconds
Every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, donors from around the world contribute to causes they care about—and many even discover new organizations and missions they want to support.
Giving Tuesday can be whatever you make it! Whether it’s a planned campaign leading up to the big day, or simply a day-of fundraising push, it’s up to you to choose the approach that’s right for you and your available resources.
If you’re only just hearing about GivingTuesday now, it’s not too late to participate! This is a great time to set up your GivingTuesday donation page, plan a few publicity blasts, and start approaching donors about commitments. Check out our last-minute GivingTuesday marketing tips.
If You Want to Put More Effort Into It: Read our tips and suggestions for creating a successful GivingTuesday campaign!
GivingTuesday Guide
Download our full GivingTuesday Guide for even more in-depth strategies on raising big money this Giving Tuesday!
Where to Start
Create a #GivingTuesday Fundraising Page
Whether it’s your first year or your fifth year, make sure you have a GivingTuesday-specific online donation page. This is where you want donors to go on the big day to give. You won’t be able to accept donations without one!
Hot Tips for Raising More with Your Giving Tuesday Website
- Use compelling, emotional images and video to get across the importance of your cause.
- Highlight a specific goal: Funding a program, completing a construction project, or continuing your mission. (Hint: Make your mission tangible and specify how each donation will impact the cause, e.g. “$20 can feed two families this holiday season.”
What should your goal look like? Read about how to set SMART giving goals - Explain how donor support makes your work possible. This is a great opportunity to showcase past projects, and how you spend donor funds.
- Make recurring gifts an option! Allow donors on Giving Tuesday to make a repeat donation by including a checkbox on your online giving page. Remember, Recurring Giving is the Key to Ongoing Support for your nonprofit!
Want more quick ways to improve your online giving page and encourage donors to complete their gift? Here are 5 Ways to Improve Your Online Donation Experience.
Promote Your #GivingTuesday Fundraising Page
First, decide how much effort you want to put into publicity and promotion. Then feel free to choose one of our suggested publicity plans, or make your own!
Read more about individual marketing tactics and diversifying your promotional approach for maximum impact: Marketing Your Giving Tuesday Campaign to Get Donors Giving
Email Marketing
For most nonprofits, simply sending out an email or two to your list is a great way to give your Giving Tuesday campaign some visibility and drive traffic to your donation page.
Many organizations will send out emails a day (or a few days) before to remind supporters that Giving Tuesday is coming up, and then another email or two on the big day.
Social Media
Social media is a great way to reach existing supporters, and even find new ones.
Posting to your social media can reinforce the importance of Giving Tuesday to those who have already seen your emails, and bring the message to people who may only follow you on social media.
Hot Tips for #GivingTuesdaySocial Media:
- If your nonprofit’s social media account has a smaller following, try using ambassadors!Ambassadors are supporters of your organization that may have a broader reach, either online or offline. Read more about Taking Your #GivingTuesday from Zero to Hero with Ambassadors.
- Issue a challenge to your followers! Suggest posting a personal story about your nonprofit or the cause, or encourage a specific action with photo evidence. Get creative!
- Spotlight a story that must be shared. You know your work and the communities you serve better than anyone. Write about a special success story with your social media post, include thoughtful, resonant images, and encourage supporters to share it widely.
Include Direct Mail and Local Media Outreach in #GivingTuesday Fundraising
Direct mail is a more expensive approach to promoting your GivingTuesday campaign, but it can get the word out beyond your existing supporter list.
Reaching out to local radio and TV stations about your #GivingTuesday donation drive can make a big impact. Develop a newsworthy press release or press package, spotlighting your cause, your goal, and how your fundraising will positively impact the community you all share.
MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT: Corporate Sponsors, Major Donors and Matching Gift Programs
If you have the resources and time, there are even more ways to promote your GivingTuesday campaign and raise big dollars
- Secure commitments from major donors in advance of #GivingTuesday. Reach out to your big donors personally and mention your upcoming campaign. Can they commit to a gift that day?
- Find a local business or corporate donor to sponsor your GivingTuesday event!
- Matching Gift Programs are a fantastic way to drive additional giving on #GivingTuesday. Find a major donor or corporate donor to match gifts from within their organization, or the general public. Let your donors know that every gift they give on the big day will be matched, doubling the impact of their donation!
Most of all, use #GivingTuesday Fundraising as a chance to reconnect with your supporters, and drive that all-important year-end giving!
