9 tips to supercharge your GivingTuesday

GivingTuesday is a day for giving back. This yearly event falls on the Tuesday following American Thanksgiving. It’s strategically placed to follow major shopping days Black Friday and Cyber Monday, too. In the seven years since its inception, GivingTuesday has exploded in popularity. If you’re not already utilizing GivingTuesday in your organization, it’s time to start. Here are 9 tips to supercharge your GivingTuesday.

1. Tune Up Your Social Media Presence Beforehand

According to the founding organization, GivingTuesday is “fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.” Bolster your social media presence in the days prior to GivingTuesday: encourage your base to like and follow, and purchase a few ads to increase exposure. This way, your day-of initiatives will reach more people.

2. Be Prepared for Digital Giving

This is a social, digital-first giving holiday. A big on-site or physical event-style fundraiser runs the risk of feeling out of touch. Instead, focus on your digital offerings. Do you have the ability to easily receive donations through your website? If not, you’re likely to miss out on GivingTuesday.

3. Connect Your Initiative to Holiday Shopping

GivingTuesday was intentionally placed right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. It’s already a season for giving thanks and spending money. Emphasize the themes of thanks, giving, and money in your initiative. Encourage donors to save some of their shopping money for your worthy cause.

4. Create Clear, Easy-to-Digest Online Initiatives

People are inundated with opportunities on GivingTuesday. Make yours stand above the rest by ensuring the objective of the giving initiative is clear and easy to grasp. For your initiative to gain traction on social media, readers need to understand it nearly instantly. Otherwise, they keep on scrolling.

5. Compelling Imagery and Words Drive Donations

Create a shareable link that’s paired with a gripping photo and a moving story. If your GivingTuesday project is about feeding the homeless, you can do better than “Donate to help fund a soup kitchen.” Consider “This family could go hungry this winter. You can feed them for less than a fast-food dinner” paired with an image of a family in need—that’s compelling.

6. Use Online/Mobile Giving to Monetize Your Social Campaign

If you’re raising money for or through your own organization, your social campaign should include direct links to give. People should be able to give with only a few clicks, right from your social post.

7. Create Avenues for Service, Too

GivingTuesday isn’t just about money. It’s also about giving back to the community in other ways, including service projects. Not everyone your organization reaches will have money to give. But you can still connect with these people by inviting them to join a service project, such as a community cleanup initiative or serving in a food bank. GivingTuesday.org offers a search tool to find service projects near you.

8. Bridge the Gap Between Serving and Donating

On the other side of the coin, not everyone who wants to serve is strapped for cash. It’s entirely legitimate to appeal for a donation to the folks who come out to serve. Not all will be able to give, but some can. They are already engaged in giving of their time, which primes the “giving” pump. If you ask at the end of a service project, you may find volunteers more willing to give financially, not less.

9. Extend Giving Tuesday to Your Organization’s Staff

When you’re already involved in nonprofit work, it’s easy to overlook your organization’s own staff. Use GivingTuesday as an opportunity to reinvigorate your staff by taking time to serve somewhere new. Choose a service project that looks nothing like what your organization does on a regular basis. Your staff will be refreshed and may even return to their daily work with greater drive.

Givelify is your one-stop-shop for GivingTuesday tips and preparation. Download your free GivingTuesday guide today!