GivingTuesday is just around the corner, and while the clock is ticking, it’s not too late to pull off a successful campaign. With focus and smart use of resources, you can still inspire generosity, energize your supporters, and meet your fundraising goals.
This step-by-step toolkit is tailored for nonprofits working with a tight timeline. From quick strategies to streamlined templates, here’s how to prepare for GivingTuesday with just a few weeks to go.
1. Refine Your Goal
With limited time to plan, focus on a single, clear goal for GivingTuesday. Make it specific and measurable so donors can immediately understand the impact of their contributions.
Quick Examples:
- Raise $10,000 to fund 100 therapy sessions for underserved youth.
- Enroll 50 new monthly donors to sustain ongoing programs.
- Provide winter kits (jackets, gloves, blankets) for 300 families.
Pro Tip: Break your goal into milestones, like “$5,000 funds 50 families,” to keep momentum high throughout the day.
2. Simplify Your Messaging
You don’t have time to overthink your story or create complex narratives—focus on emotionally compelling, direct messaging that drives action.
Essential Elements:
- A Clear Need: Explain why your goal matters and what’s at stake if it’s not met.
- A Tangible Outcome: Highlight exactly what a donor’s gift will achieve, like, “$50 provides 20 meals for families in need.”
- Urgency: Emphasize that GivingTuesday is a one-day opportunity to make a big impact.
Example Message:
“Together, we can provide warm meals for 500 families this winter. Every $25 you give feeds one family for a week. Donate now and double your impact through our matching gift!”
3. Use Templates to Save Time
When time is short, using pre-made nonprofit templates can help you hit the ground running with emails, social media posts, and graphics.
Where to Find Free Templates:
These resources make it easy to quickly produce polished, branded content for your campaign.
4. Focus on High-Impact Outreach
With just weeks left, prioritize activities that have the most potential to engage donors and amplify your reach.
Email Campaigns:
- Send a “Save the Date” email immediately.
- Follow up with impact stories or donor testimonials.
- On GivingTuesday, schedule morning, midday, and evening emails to remind supporters to give.
Social Media:
- Share countdown posts leading up to GivingTuesday.
- Use Stories, Reels, and live video to show behind-the-scenes preparations or thank donors in real time.
- Engage your audience with polls or challenges: “Help us hit $1,000 in the next hour!”
Pro Tip: Pair every email and social post with a strong, clear call-to-action link directly to your donation page.
Pro Tip #2: We have a guide on preparing your social media: 10 Tips to Prepare Your Nonprofit’s Social Media for the Giving Season.
5. Activate Your Community
Your supporters can be your most powerful allies, especially when time is short. Get them involved in spreading the word.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising:
- Ask key supporters to create personal fundraising pages.
- Provide easy-to-use templates and graphics they can share on social media.
- Recognize top fundraisers with shoutouts or small rewards.
Ambassador Campaigns:
Recruit board members, volunteers, or community leaders to act as campaign ambassadors. Give them clear tasks like hosting mini-events, sharing posts, or reaching out to their networks.
Pro Tip: Host a quick virtual briefing to energize ambassadors and ensure everyone is aligned on key messages.
6. Secure a Last-Minute Matching Gift
If you don’t already have a matching gift, it’s not too late. Reach out to corporate partners, major donors, or even local businesses to create a match that doubles the impact of donations.
How to Promote It:
Share the urgency: “Only $1,000 left to unlock the full match—help us get there!”
Announce the match in all your communications: “Every gift up to $5,000 will be doubled today only!”
Use progress bars on your website or live updates on social media to track how much of the match has been met.
7. Fine-Tune Your Donation Page
Your donation page is the backbone of your campaign, so make sure it’s easy to use and fully optimized for GivingTuesday.
Key Features:
- A clear goal or impact statement (e.g., “Your gift helps us feed 100 families”).
- Suggested donation amounts tied to outcomes (e.g., $25 = one family fed for a week).
- A streamlined, mobile-friendly interface that minimizes clicks.
Quick Tip: Test your donation page with a volunteer to ensure the process is seamless.
8. Plan for Real-Time Engagement
On GivingTuesday, keep the energy high with real-time updates and live interactions.
What to Do:
- Post Hourly Updates: Share progress toward your goal, thank donors, and highlight stories of impact.
- Livestream Content: Host a Q&A, show behind-the-scenes footage, or spotlight beneficiaries who can speak about your nonprofit’s work.
- Engage Directly: Respond to comments, tag donors, and keep the conversation going throughout the day.
Pro Tip: Use Instagram or Facebook Stories to create polls, quizzes, or interactive challenges that encourage followers to engage and donate.
9. Prepare to Say Thank You
Gratitude is critical for donor retention. Plan your thank-you strategy now so you’re ready to follow up immediately after GivingTuesday.
Ways to Show Gratitude:
Share a short video featuring your team or beneficiaries expressing thanks.
Send personalized thank-you emails within 24 hours.
Post public thank-you messages on social media, tagging donors (with permission).
10. Don’t Forget Post-Campaign Follow-Up(s)
GivingTuesday may be a one-day event, but its impact doesn’t have to end there. Plan your post-campaign strategy to maintain momentum.
Next Steps:
Send a survey to gather feedback and insights for next year’s campaign.
Share an impact report showing how the funds raised will be used.
Invite donors to become recurring contributors or attend a follow-up event.
Conclusion: Make the Most of the Time You Have
Even with just a few weeks left, you can still run a successful GivingTuesday campaign. Focus on what matters most—clear goals, engaging stories, and strong community involvement—and use ready-made tools to save time. With the right strategy, you’ll inspire generosity, connect with your audience, and make a lasting impact.
Start today—there’s still time to create something extraordinary this GivingTuesday!
