September 7, 2022 | Categories #GivingTuesday, DonorPerfect Fundraising Software, Featured

How to Create Actionable Giving Tuesday Communications

How to Create Actionable Giving Tuesday Communications (With Insight from Fellow Fundraisers!)

We know that many fundraisers are one-person bands, or only have a few hands on deck to write Giving Tuesday communications. But the beauty of Giving Tuesday – besides worldwide generosity – is that you get to choose what your participation looks like.

You know your nonprofit’s workflow better than anyone, so feel free to self-select the Giving Tuesday roles and tasks below that best apply to you. (And remember, you can delegate many of these tasks to DonorPerfect’s automation tools instead!)

Who will be involved in Phase 2 of your GivingTuesday journey:

How to Create Actionable Giving Tuesday Communications (With Insight from Fellow Fundraisers!) - Who will be involved in Phase 2 of your GivingTuesday journey: Communicator and Networker

4 Role-Based Steps for Giving Tuesday Content

Step #1: Communicate your theme through your Giving Tuesday form

Communicator: Create the content that will live on your Giving Tuesday form.

  • Choose a title for your Giving Tuesday form that matches your campaign theme.
  • Write a one-paragraph description of your campaign and what it will achieve.
  • Consider creating giving levels based on donor size and impact. Ex. “Santa’s helper” level: A $20 donation buys a family’s Christmas tree.
    • Use amounts that are appropriate for your small, medium, and large donor levels. If you’re not sure, look at historical data to see how much each group typically gives on Giving Tuesday.
  • Consider messaging for tribute donations in memory or celebration of a loved one.
  • Choose images or graphics that illustrate your theme and message. Ex. A photo of your staff in action, or a beneficiary receiving love and care.

Networker: Decide how the Giving Tuesday form will be promoted.

  • Assess matching and major gift interest in the campaign. Determine if a major donor would be willing to partner with you to maximize the impact of smaller gifts
    • Leverage your network – talk to alumni, board members, partner organizations, local government, industry-specific outlets, and friends.
  • Consider a giving contest with a goal meter to display progress on Giving Tuesday.
  • Consider appointing social media ambassadors to create their own crowdfunding pages on Giving Tuesday.

Step #2: Communicate the impact of your Giving Tuesday campaign

Communicator: Create short, shareable impact stories that fit your overall theme.

  • Write or repurpose short descriptions for each giving level – tell them details about their donation amount that will make their heart happy. What will it do?
  • Write or repurpose bite-sized impact stories for social media graphics, postcards, and more. Keep it to a few sentences, but include a beginning, middle, and end to bring it full circle. Ex. A beneficiary’s success story.
    • If you don’t have impact stories written, recorded, or in memory, try talking to a few constituents and team members, or ask them to record a video.

Networker: Share impact stories and campaign goals across your network.

  • Call, text, email, and meet with partners, donors, and community members to explain the urgency, recency, or relevancy of your Giving Tuesday campaign.
  • Schedule donor outreach with major players and tag in team members to help.

Step #3: Create hype around your Giving Tuesday campaign

Communicator: Create Giving Tuesday reminders to promote the campaign.

  • Create tailored messaging for each donor segment you are targeting. Ex. Emails to last year’s Giving Tuesday donors will include appreciation for last year’s gift.
  • Write or repurpose email content for your campaign reminders.
    • Try to use the same template, but change subject lines and small details within the copy, such as “we’re one week away” or “we’re one day away” to keep recipients engaged.
How to Create Actionable Giving Tuesday Communications (With Insight from Fellow Fundraisers!) Giving Tuesday Month of Recommended touchpoints

Networker: Send Giving Tuesday reminders to promote the campaign.

  • Share campaign reminders with your network. Let people know they have a very limited amount of time to take action. Highlight ways to get involved.
    • Be sure to link to your donation page, share photos, and use the #GivingTuesday hashtag, or one that matches your campaign theme.

Step #4: Consider the copy you’ll need to update & steward donors

Communicator: Develop content for Giving Tuesday goal updates.

  • Create goal updates and reminders to use throughout Giving Tuesday.
    • It doesn’t hurt to use a template or to brainstorm subject lines in advance. Ex. “We’re $1,000 shy of crushing our Giving Tuesday goal! Can you help?”
How to Create Actionable Giving Tuesday Communications (With Insight from Fellow Fundraisers!) - Giving Tuesday day off recommended touchpoints

All roles: Determine your plan to make each donor group feel special.

  • Which donors or donor groups will get handwritten notes or personalized videos? Will you be sending thank-yous en masse, individually, or both?
    • Again, it doesn’t hurt to use a thank-you template that you can quickly customize for different situations when Giving Tuesday is over.

If you found this guide helpful, we recommend reading our checklist for the third phase of Giving Tuesday, executing and stewarding, on the DonorPerfect nonprofit technology blog. If you’d like to manage your Giving Tuesday campaign with one master checklist, we invite you to download the Giving Tuesday Cheat Sheet for your organization!

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Meet the author: Ally Orlando

I’m Ally, a lifelong Pennsylvanian now living south of the Mason-Dixon Line. My main thrills are eating and sleeping, but I also enjoy music, art, film, politics, and animals. I love to learn new skills, and I’m not afraid to be a “master of none.”

As a writer, my ambition has...

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2 Comments
  1. I'm about to get my Year End Appeal
    • Emily Lefferts permalink
      You're ahead of the game! We love to see it. Nicely done!

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