What are your plans for November 28th?

I will start my morning by asking my Facebook family what nonprofits matter to them. Throughout the day my friends will use the comment section to suggest their favorite nonprofits and then “vote” by liking the different options. At the end of the day, the four nonprofits with the most “votes” will receive a donation from yours truly.  This is my small way of raising the awareness of #GivingTuesday, and encouraging others to support organizations that are important to them.

The end of year giving marathon is upon us and #GivingTuesday is less than 20 days away!  Are you ready?

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Last year 1,640,000 gifts were made and 177 million was raised in over 98 countries!

Here are ideas to consider as you finalize your organizations #GivingTuesday plan:

Recruit a team: Gather a small team of people to brainstorm how to best leverage this special day of giving. Include leadership, marketing and development.

Have a plan:  What is your goal for the day?  And make it S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely).  Keep your message consistent and simple but communicate what you want to achieve and a plan to provide updates throughout the day. Prior to November 28th share your #GivingTuesday goals through social media, newsletters and other communication.

Stand out: Find a way to be memorable!  Engage your staff, clients, board and donors in why your organization matters. Use videos, photos or anything to show your impact.

Check the basics: When is the last time you made a gift on your own website?  Do it!  Test your system on your mobile device too. One recent study indicated over 50% of gifts are being made via mobile devices. Don’t let a technology be the reason someone won’t support your organization.  

• If you don’t have a good online giving option, consider leveraging Facebook. On November 28th, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are matching up to $2 million (https://donations.fb.com/givingtuesday/) in funds raised on Facebook for U.S-based nonprofits. Matching starts at 8am EST so start early!
• AND … Facebook is also waiving fees for donations made via Facebook. (Before and after #GivingTuesday, charitable organizations that have signed up to use Facebook’s fundraising tools will pay a 5% fee.)

Create your own Doorbuster: A discount is to #BlackFriday like a matching grant is to #GivingTuesday. Ask a board member or another key stakeholder to match donations made on that day. Consider offering a special giveaway for all donors at a certain level.

5 for $5: Create a friendly competition with your staff.  Ask them to consider donating $5 and getting five of their friends to do the same. Reward the staff member with the most gifts with a cup of hot chocolate or an extra hour of PTO.

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