By: Elizabeth Webb
Whew. Just when you thought you could kick back and coast for a few weeks, we are here to remind you that #GivingTuesday is the start of the giving season. No rest for the weary when year-end fundraising goals must be met and donations can come in right up until the ball drops on December 31. In fact, Network For Good reports that 11% of all online giving occurs in the last three days of the year.
As if your holiday to-do list wasn’t long enough already, here are a few things that we suggest to help keep the #GivingTuesday momentum going.
1.First, celebrate with your team! #GivingTuesday 2017 set all kinds of records. 2.5 million supporters help organizations raise $274 million, which is 28% more than last year. So go out to lunch, raise a toast, and then get back to work.
2. If you haven’t already, thank your donors with a personalized message that is specific to each of these key groups:
- First time donors
- Recurring donors
- Long-time donors
3. Report the totals, especially if you offered a match, so that everyone knows how much was raised. If you were a bit shy of your goal, remind supporters that they can still encourage their friends and family to join you – it’s never too late!
4. Show supporters an example of how their contribution will be used, and be sure to mention something about how their continued support will help even more.
5. Collect examples of really creative ideas like this DIY campaign on Facebook. Who wouldn’t eat a bunch of jalapenos to raise $10,000?
6. Call supporters on the phone just to thank them. Don’t ask for more, express your gratitude. That personal touch will make their day.
7. Debrief the team to get improvement ideas now, before everyone moves on to the next campaign. It’s amazing how much we forget when we come back to the office in January.
8. Circle a date in July to start planning for #GivingTuesday next year. That sounds super early, but trust us, BIG ideas take time to plan and execute.
Follow these eight great suggestions and by all indications, 2018 will be even BIGGER.
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