Giving Tuesday is an incredible opportunity for organizations to engage with their communities, raise awareness, and mobilize support for their mission. But running a Giving Tuesday campaign doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re a small nonprofit with a tight budget or a large organization with extensive resources, there are simple, impactful ways to get involved and make a difference on this global day of giving.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help your organization run a successful Giving Tuesday campaign:
1. Start Simple: Fundraising Campaigns Don’t Have to Be Huge
One of the easiest and most effective ways to participate in Giving Tuesday is by running a fundraising campaign. Whether it's raising money for a specific project, an urgent need, or your overall mission, a targeted, well-crafted fundraising effort can have a big impact.
How to Run a Campaign:
- Set a goal. Aim for something achievable (like raising $1,000 or securing 20 new donors). Focusing on a realistic target increases your chances of success and allows you to celebrate when you hit the goal.
- Use GivePulse to create a giving campaign page and make it easy for donors to contribute. With built-in tools, your donors can track progress, and you can showcase the impact their contributions will have.
- Offer incentives, like matching donations or thank-you gifts, to encourage contributions.
What You Can Do:
- Run a specific campaign like “$25 for 25 families,” where donations go directly to support a specific need.
- Run a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) fundraising campaign to encourage your board members, staff, volunteers, past event attendees, or friends and family of campaign leaders to spread the word about your mission and vision and encourage others to support your organization.
- Pro tip: If you use GivePulse for volunteer management or events, you already have a great database of potential P2P fundraisers at your fingertips!
- Host a fundraising campaign through the end of the year for an even greater impact!
2. Host a One-Day Event
A Giving Tuesday event doesn’t have to be a month-long campaign. You can host a small, meaningful event on the day itself to engage your community, raise funds, or recruit volunteers. Whether in-person or virtual, a single-day event can drive momentum and support.
How to Run an Event:
- Host a virtual or in-person donation drive or community gathering. These can be as simple as a potluck, a coffee meet-up, or a livestream about your organization’s mission.
- Organize a “Give Back Day” where volunteers come together to pack meals, clean up a park, or do other hands-on work that supports your cause.
- Use social media and email marketing to spread the word and invite your supporters to attend or participate.
What You Can Do:
- A virtual event (like a livestream or webinar) where you talk about your work and allow for real-time donations.
- A one-day donation drive at a local community center, school, or workplace.
- A one-day volunteer event supporting your mission.
3. Leverage Your Network and Partnerships
Your network of supporters, volunteers, and donors can help amplify your Giving Tuesday campaign. Reach out to local businesses, community leaders, or other nonprofits for support and collaboration.
How to Leverage Networks:
- Ask local businesses to promote your campaign by displaying flyers, sharing on social media, or offering a matching donation.
- Partner with other organizations for joint initiatives that can increase the campaign’s visibility and impact.
What You Can Do:
- Collaborate on a social media challenge or fundraiser to expand your reach.
- Ask local businesses to donate a portion of their sales on Giving Tuesday to your cause.
4. Thank Your Supporters and Show Impact
Once your campaign is over, don’t forget to thank your supporters and show them the tangible impact of their contributions. This builds goodwill and strengthens relationships with your donor base for future campaigns.
How to Do This:
- Send thank-you emails and personalized notes to your donors.
- Create a thank-you video or post showcasing what their donations helped you achieve, such as providing services or materials to those in need.
What You Can Do:
- Use social media to publicly thank donors, volunteers, and partners for their contributions.
- Share stories or testimonials of people whose lives were impacted by the donations.
5. Keep It Simple but Impactful
The key to a successful Giving Tuesday campaign is not necessarily scale but connection. The goal is to engage your community, showcase the work your organization is doing, and inspire others to take action. By focusing on a simple, well-executed plan, you can drive real impact—whether you’re raising funds, recruiting volunteers, or building long-term relationships with supporters.
About GivePulse
GivePulse's mission is to enable everyone in the world to participate and engage in lifting their community to new heights. We do so by providing a platform to list, find, organize and measure the impact of service-learning, community engagement, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and volunteerism.
Founded in 2012 in Austin, Texas, GivePulse works with 650,000+ groups, including colleges and universities, nonprofits, businesses, K-12/school districts and cities and municipalities. Together, we connect millions of people in an effort to create positive social change.
Start making a difference today by visiting www.givepulse.com. Or schedule a call with our team.