7 Non-Cash Charitable Donation Ideas to Amplify Your Giving Tuesday Impact

Why non-cash charitable donations are great options for Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday thrives on inclusivity, community, and shared action. It’s a moment when people around the world come together to do good, and that doesn’t have to mean giving cash.

Non-cash charitable donations can:

• Engage donors who want to help, but can’t make a cash gift
• Offer fresh, creative ways for people to get involved
• Boost social media participation and storytelling
• Strengthen donor relationships that can grow over time

Pro tip: Include at least one non-cash giving option in your campaign communications. This helps first-time donors and younger supporters feel welcome and included, even if they’re not giving financially.

Track every gift your supporters give—not just cash. DonorPerfect helps you manage in-kind, time, stock, and donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions alongside monetary gifts for a complete view of donor impact.

7 non-cash charitable giving ideas to boost your Giving Tuesday campaign

Offering multiple ways to give allows supporters at every level to participate meaningfully, whether they share their time, skills, or tangible goods that power your mission.

1. In-kind gifts and wish-list donations

In-kind giving lets donors contribute physical items your organization needs. From care packages to school supplies, these gifts often have an immediate impact.

Tips for success:

• Keep the list short and mission-aligned.
• Include item descriptions and delivery instructions.
• Promote your wish list in advance.
• Thank donors publicly (with permission).

2. Volunteer time and skills as gifts

Many people can’t give financially, but are eager to contribute their time or talents. Invite supporters to pledge hours or donate skills. Recruit volunteers and build relationships with them locally or in regional areas where your organization makes an impact.

Examples include:

• A designer making event flyers
• A volunteer pledging five hours
• A local business team volunteering as a group

Assigning a dollar value (e.g., “Each hour = $34 in impact”) can help donors visualize their contribution.

Pro tip: Create a Giving Tuesday “hours tracker” graphic and update it throughout the day to show how many volunteer hours your community has pledged.

For example, you can boost volunteer management by logging hours directly in DonorPerfect to recognize contributors at scale.

3. Gift cards and retail partner donations

Gift cards offer flexibility and fast impact. Ask donors to send grocery, gas, or retail cards, or partner with local businesses for a Giving Tuesday gift card drive.

For example, a youth program might request $25 grocery store cards to fill weekend meal kits for families, a quick and impactful way for supporters to contribute.

Pro tip: A simple thank-you goes a long way. Turning even small gifts into meaningful donor moments starts with prompt, thoughtful acknowledgment.
Enhance the donor experience by automating personalized thank yous.

With DonorPerfect, you can log in-kind gifts, such as gift cards, using custom gift types and automate thank-yous, so stewardship never falls through the cracks and you can ensure every Giving Tuesday donor feels appreciated.

4. Mission experience gifts

Invite supporters to contribute something meaningful that directly fuels your mission, not through money, but through tangible items or services that make your programs come to life. These “mission experience” gifts connect donors more personally to the people or causes they’re helping.

For example, a supporter could:

• Donate art supplies or instruments to help a classroom create together
• Assemble a care package for a shelter animal or foster pet
• Provide transportation vouchers or supplies for families accessing your services

These gifts create memorable, hands-on experiences that deepen donors’ sense of connection to your work—perfect for the energy and storytelling potential of Giving Tuesday.

5. Peer-to-peer fundraising with non-cash donation options

Encourage your supporters to host their own Giving Tuesday campaigns—not just for money, but for goods or services, too.

Supporters can:

• Organize mini drives (e.g., collecting winter coats, books, or hygiene kits)
• Pledge group volunteer hours and recruit friends
• Share your Giving Tuesday wish list on social media or via email

Giving supporters tools to take initiative—even without fundraising dollars—turns your mission into a shared movement.

Pro tip: Give your supporters everything they need to share your mission. Quick, clear messaging makes it easy for them to spark action in their own networks. For example, DonorPerfect lets you create branded online forms that don’t require payment.

6. Corporate partner non-cash donation matches

Giving Tuesday is an ideal time to engage corporate partners in matching efforts that go beyond monetary gifts. Many businesses are eager to contribute through in-kind support, employee volunteerism, or product matches that multiply your campaign’s reach and impact.

Common non-cash match ideas include:

• Matching employee volunteer hours with donated products or services
• Donating professional expertise—like design, legal, or IT support—to match your community’s collective volunteer time
• Contributing goods, gift cards, or experiences based on the number of items or hours your supporters give on Giving Tuesday
• Matching every community-donated item (e.g., coats, backpacks) with one from the business
• Offering meals, perks, or recognition for volunteers

These partnerships not only enhance visibility but also build long-term goodwill between your nonprofit and local businesses. Announce them early and share progress throughout the day to inspire participation from both communities.

Pro tip: Turn matching into a public challenge. Try: “For every coat donated, [Partner Name] will match it.” Simple match goals inspire engagement and build community buzz.

Show shared impact in real time. Use DonorPerfect to track corporate matches alongside individual contributions and report your full Giving Tuesday results with ease.

7. Digital and alternative gifts (stock, crypto, DAFs, and real estate)

Not all donations come in the form of checks or cash. Some supporters prefer to give in ways that align with their financial planning, assets, or values, especially younger or tech-savvy donors.

• Appreciated stock – Donors can avoid capital gains and support your mission through stock giving.
• Cryptocurrency – A growing number of donors prefer giving via digital assets. Be transparent about the digital gifts you can accept, and offer clear instructions.
• Real estate or valuables – Some donors may donate real estate, vehicles, or collectibles. Be sure you have acceptance policies in place and that all gifts align with your mission.
• Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) grants – Encourage DAF holders to recommend a gift on GivingTuesday.

DAFs have become a popular giving method for donors. Check out our Strategies and Best Practices for Securing Donor-Advised Funds blog, including four key ways donors leverage DAFs to maximize their philanthropic impact.

The key is to promote these options early, make the process feel secure and straightforward, and ensure your organization is ready to receive them.

Pro tip: Confidence starts with clarity. Make it easy for donors to give non-cash assets by clearly outlining what you accept and how to get started.

Increase donor trust by reducing manual processes. With DonorPerfect, you can document and report gifts like stock, DAFs, and crypto using user-defined gift types, custom fields, and acknowledgments, so your team is always prepared and your donors feel secure giving in ways that work for them.

Marketing your non-cash charitable donations on Giving Tuesday

Clear, simple instructions help your donors take action. Here’s how to build awareness and momentum:

Before Giving Tuesday:

• Announce non-cash giving options in your emails and social media posts
• Share impact stories or testimonials from past non-cash donors
• Use visuals like “3 Ways to Give Without Cash”

On Giving Tuesday:

• Post regular or hourly updates highlighting progress (“We’ve received 100 gift cards!”)
• Share photos or visuals of in-kind donations or volunteer efforts
• Use inclusive messaging: “Every act of giving counts,” celebrating all types of giving

After Giving Tuesday:

• Share a summary of the total impact (cash + non-cash)
• Share and celebrate unique non-cash gifts and the supporters behind them
• Invite all participants to stay engaged year-round

Pro tip: Real-time storytelling inspires action. Show your community’s generosity in motion throughout the day with email updates, photos, reels, or livestreams.

Increase donor engagement with timely, automated outreach. Every DonorPerfect system includes Constant Contact, so you can schedule Giving Tuesday campaign emails, acknowledgments, and impact stories all in one connected platform.

Plan ahead with this non-cash Giving Tuesday readiness checklist

Non-cash giving can be simple — if you plan ahead. Here’s what to have in place before Giving Tuesday:

• Clear gift acceptance policies – Outline what your organization can and can’t accept to avoid confusion and streamline approvals
• Streamlined online forms – Enable donors to describe or pledge their non-cash gifts through online forms that don’t require payment
• Trained staff and volunteers – Ensure everyone understands how to log non-cash gifts accurately in your nonprofit CRM
• Timely acknowledgments – Send prompt, personalized thank-yous that reflect the nature and impact of each gift
• Accurate tracking and reporting – Log non-cash gifts alongside cash donations to measure total Giving Tuesday impact

Are you looking for more ways to acquire donors? From planned giving to events to donor-advised funds (DAFs), explore donor engagement ideas as part of your broader fundraising strategy with these 43 Ways to Diversify Your Nonprofit Funding Sources.

Non-cash donations are a vital part of your Giving Tuesday strategy. From donated time and goods to DAFs, stocks, or crypto, these contributions invite broader participation and create new opportunities to connect.

When you use a nonprofit CRM like DonorPerfect, you can easily track and report every gift type, giving you a clear view of donor impact while reducing manual work for your team.

Pro tip: Keep the GivingTuesday spirit going! Send a follow-up that connects your campaign momentum to your year-end campaign.

Increase donations with DonorPerfect’s GivingTuesday Cheat Sheet, packed with checklists, templates, and more. Download now >>

Ready to take the next step? Giving Tuesday is just the beginning.

With DonorPerfect, you get a real-time view of every gift—cash, volunteer time, in-kind donations, and digital assets. Set up your Giving Tuesday forms and tracking today to ensure your supporters can give in all the ways that matter most.