Get ready for #GivingTuesday 2016

With six weeks to go until #GivingTuesday, here’s what you need to know.

What is #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that takes place on November 29^th. Created in 2012, #GivingTuesday was started by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact team at the 92nd Street Y to celebrate and support giving during the holidays. In contrast to the commercial shopping days Black Friday and Cyber Monday that immediately precede it, #GivingTuesday encourages individuals to participate in a charitable act.

Entering its fifth year, #GivingTuesday has become a global movement. Last year, 700,000 donors across 71 countries joined forces to raise $116.7M in online donations.

What’s in it for my charity?

As a global day of giving, #GivingTuesday offers a huge opportunity to increase awareness of your cause and support for your organization while reaching out to new and current donors.

How do I get started?

Form a plan – Start preparations early to ensure your #GivingTuesday goes off without a hitch. Set your fundraising goals, train your employees and volunteers, prepare your donor outreach list, and schedule promotional communications leading up to the big day.  Take advantage of ready-to-use materials from the #GivingTuesday website that include a free toolkits, sample messages, logos, and more.

Set up your online donation page – Log in to your free JustGive nonprofit account to customize your existing donation page. Add #GivingTuesday as a program designation option, incorporate a #GivingTuesday graphic and messaging, custom donation amounts and special descriptions to remind your donors of the impact of their participation on this global giving day. (Check out 5 ways to customize your Donation Page.)

Tip: Once your page is customized, add our Donate Now button to your website, email signature, campaign emails and social media to link donors directly to your custom page.

Reach out to your network – Spread the word about your campaign through email communications and social media posts in the weeks leading up to #GivingTuesday – be sure to use the #GivingTuesday hashtag in all your online communication! Raising awareness early will give you momentum heading into the big day. (See our 10 Nonprofit Tips & Strategies to make your outreach as effective as possible)

On #GivingTuesday, share your page with your donors in the morning and keep them updated on your progress via social media and email throughout the day. You can even encourage your most engaged supporters to share these updates with their networks to drive donations!

Follow up with donors – While many of your #GivingTuesday donations may come from your regular donors, it’s also a likely that you’ll see new donors showing their support. Once #GivingTuesday is done, take the time to thank your donors, share the final total raised, and communicate the impact their donations will have. This is a great opportunity to engage regular supporters and turn new donors who are passionate about your cause into long-term supporters.

Amanda Chun
Account Development Manager