How to Make Your Nonprofit’s Giving Day a Success on #GivingTuesday
Participation in a giving day for nonprofit organizations is growing more popular with every passing #GivingTuesday. I like to think of giving days as the modern evolution of telethons!
Thinking back to the Jerry Lewis telethon every Labor Day to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), my family tuned in every fall to watch.
Having classmates with the disease, my siblings and I, along with seemingly our entire school, volunteered—washing cars, baking goods, and staffing tables at our parish rummage sale—all to donate proceeds to the cause. We couldn’t wait to see the grand total raised and how it would help our friends!
Why Giving Days Matter for Nonprofits
As National Program Director for #iGiveCatholic, I see this same excitement and engagement as thousands of Catholic organizations prepare for the annual giving day on #GivingTuesday—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
Giving days have proven to be transformative for Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries of all sizes and demographics across America.
But not every organization experiences the same level of success.
If your organization is planning to participate in a giving day, and you’ve set aside ample preparation time (a minimum of five to six months), following these four proven steps will help make your giving day a win for everyone involved.
1. Demonstrate Impact – Tell Your Story
People give to people. They want to make a real difference with their gift.
- Why are you passionate about your organization’s mission?
- How have you seen lives changed through your work?
Write your impact statement in a few powerful words and share it as often as possible. Use storytelling, testimonials, and visuals to showcase the real impact of donations.
2. Make Giving Simple & Ask Directly
Make it easy for donors to give! Every communication should include:
- The giving day date & timeframe
- Accepted donation methods (credit card, PayPal, cash, check, etc.)
- Your donation page URL
Encourage your most generous supporters to make a pre-donation that can be matched on the giving day. Matching gifts create momentum and inspire more giving.
3. Thank Your Donors—Multiple Times
People remember when they were not thanked. A best practice is to thank donors within seven days of the giving day and use multiple methods to express gratitude.
- Send personalized thank-you emails
- Mail a handwritten note for major donors
- Give a public shoutout on social media
- Share video messages from beneficiaries
No one will ever be upset about being thanked too often!
4. Share Your Results – Show the Impact
Donors want to know:
- How much money was raised?
- How will their donations be used?
- What impact did they help create?
Survey results from #iGiveCatholic donors confirm that transparency builds trust and increases future donations. Celebrate your giving day success with visuals:
- Photos of donation milestones
- Short videos of beneficiaries sharing their gratitude
- Social media updates showcasing results
The Power of Giving Days
Giving days unite communities around a cause, encouraging people to give back to what they love. By participating in a giving day during this season of generosity, you allow donors to express their gratitude in tangible ways.
Just like my siblings and I once rallied around the MDA telethon, your benefactors will do what they can to support your mission. And there is no greater cause than supporting Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries—the organizations that shape our souls.
Learn More About #iGiveCatholic
Julie Kenny is National Program Director for iGiveCatholic. Learn more about iGiveCatholic at https://www.igivecatholic.org/ or by contacting Julie at [email protected].
Deep Dive: Raising Money With a Giving Day
"The gameplan for giving day success!" The experienced fundraisers at Petrus Development have compiled the comprehensive step-by-step guide to executing a successful day of giving.
Check out "Raising Money with a Giving Day," click HERE for details.
READY TO BECOME A BETTER FUNDRAISER?
Sign up below to receive tools, ideas, and inspiration to take your development efforts to the next level.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
