After Thanksgiving and before Christmas, two huge unofficially official holidays capture many Americans attention: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While you might love the thrill of getting a good deal and waking up early to snag the latest electronic gadget for a loved one’s holiday gift, there is another day many nonprofits and giving enthusiasts have chosen to focus on instead: Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday was created by 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation in response to the commercialization of the post-Thanksgiving season. It began as a movement in 2012 to launch the international giving season leading up to Christmas and now is celebrated all over the world today. This year’s holiday will be on Nov. 29, 2016 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
“We never needed more than six words: It was always Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday. And people would really say ‘Yeah, I think that’s a good idea,'” Henry Timms, 92nd Street Y’s executive director told CBS News. “It was an amazing thing to see that actually all over the country people started bringing their own ideas to Giving Tuesday and started to grow it.”
“More than 700,000 people participated and raised an estimated $116 million.”
So what is #GivingTuesday?
According to the movement’s website, Giving Tuesday is a global day where people and organizations from all walks of life can unite under the common goals of encouraging and celebrating giving. Through the power of social media and enthusiastic collaboration, this holiday now kicks off the charitable giving season and encourages volunteers to get involved in their local organizations. Last year, more than 700,000 people participated and raised an estimated $116 million in over 70 countries around the world.
What can your nonprofit do this Giving Tuesday?
There are many ways your nonprofit can get into the spirit of Giving Tuesday and benefit from an influx of donations. The Giving Tuesday website offers many ways individuals and organizations can get involved this year. Here are a few great ideas to launch your end-of-the-year giving season in style:
- Tap into the power of social media. If you want your donors and potential givers to know you are participating in Giving Tuesday, you’ll want to use the #GivingTuesday hashtag early and often on Twitter and other social-media platforms. This way, your followers will know that you are involved and may be more inclined to participate or even spread the world. For example, begin posting Instagram shots of a drawn Giving Tuesday logo in your office or another iconic representation of the holiday in early November to get people excited!
- Maybe it’s time to rebrand and get creative. You don’t have to only tweet #GivingTuesday to participate. Many nonprofits use this holiday to spice up their rebranding efforts or tie their unique cause to the Giving Tuesday mission. Instead of only focusing on #GivingTuesday posts on social media, many organizations tailor it toward their own fundraising goals or current project. For example, if your nonprofit supports local wildlife, you may use the hashtag #GivingAnimalsDay or #GivingWildlifeDay.
- Hold a project or event for donors, volunteers and community members. Giving Tuesday is more than just encouraging giving; it’s also about raising awareness for important causes and organizations. Use this day to promote a special volunteer project, like a local cleanup or building project, to get more people involved. Meanwhile, you could hold a Giving Tuesday event for volunteers, donors and members of your community. This way, you can not only tie yourself to a worthwhile fundraising day, but you can also reach out to potential donors just in time for the holiday season.
Your organization needs to keep its volunteer and donor information current and accurate in order to engage your community and foster these important relationships in the future. To learn about how donation software can help you this Giving Tuesday, visit Eleo Online and sign up for your free trial!
