If there is one quote that perfectly encapsulates the philosophy of #GivingTuesday, it would be this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
In other words, if you want to make the world a better place, you should start with yourself and your actions, no matter how big or small.
But what exactly is #GivingTuesday, and how can non-profit organizations use their core principles? A trusted auction management company shares a few tips for success.
Simple yet effective
Created in 2012, #GivingTuesday operates upon a straightforward idea: encourage people to do good, even for just a day. The idea was to create a hashtag trending on social media to encourage everyone to do good.
From that small seed, #GivingTuesday has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon that continues to inspire people to share whatever resources they have. It can be as simple as helping other people in your neighborhood, or something as big as lending your support to a cause that is close to your heart.
The people behind this movement believe that no matter how big or small your contribution is, your generosity makes a difference.
On a larger scale, #GivingTuesday seeks to achieve a couple of goals.
First, the movement seeks to make the world more connected. Although social media has given people new platforms to communicate with one another, these same platforms have alienated some people from their peers and communities.
#GivingTuesday seeks to create bridges to reconnect people with one another.
But more importantly, by reinvigorating the connections people have with their communities, #GivingTuesday strives to make the inherent generosity of people a catalyst for building societies that are united in achieving the goal of creating a just and humane society.
Starting your own #GivingTuesday campaign
If you want to incorporate some of the critical concepts of #GivingTuesday for your non-profits fundraisers and other activities, what are the key elements that you need to get right?
Make an inventory of your donors
The success of any campaign depends heavily on what assets you have readily available and how you effectively deploy these.
One vital asset that you can leverage for your #GivingTuesday is your current crop of donors. True, you will need to amplify your campaign through a variety of channels, especially social media. However, when your donors and other stakeholders buy into your #GivingTuesday campaign, most of the legwork you need to do has already been done.
Your donors are valuable not only for contributing resources. More importantly, they can help amplify your campaign by bringing in people from their networks as new donors.
The best way to mobilize your donors for a #GivingTuesday campaign is to announce it on your social media platforms. Make sure that you outline the particulars, including the campaign period, end date, and parameters.
Determine how #GivingTuesday fits into your calendar
You and your team members might be excited about the prospect of adding #GivingTuesday as an event to your lineup of activities. And rightly so.
But before diving head-on with your preparations, it is worthwhile to look at your calendar of activities and how #GivingTuesday fits into the grander scheme of things.
Some non-profit organizations have noticed a marked increase in their donations when the #GivingTuesday is launched either during the start or the tail end of the year. For your organization, #GivingTuesday can be an excellent opportunity to gain momentum for your other activities that are lined up.
It’s also important to have it as a time that won’t be stressful on top of other responsibilities that your company has in place for that day/week
Set a realistic goal
What’s your goal for launching a #GivingTuesday campaign? Raise money? Touch people’s lives?
Whatever goal you want to achieve, there are a few things that you should look into during the planning stage of your campaign.
Start by looking at your previous efforts. This will give you a ballpark figure of how much money you can raise.
Next, look at the campaigns launched by other non-profits. This will give you a fair idea of what works and what doesn’t.
Finally, make an inventory of resources that are available to you. This will help you plan better and scale up or down the campaign based on the availability of resources.
Find ways to encourage donors and volunteers
Your donors and volunteers aren’t looking for compensation. You do, however, need to provide them with an incentive to work with your organization.
To determine the best incentive, you should have a clear idea of who your donors and volunteers are in terms of gender, age, location, and socioeconomic status.
Look for potential partners
The more support you gather for your cause, the higher the chances of succeeding in your event.
For your #GivingTuesday Campaign campaign, forging new partnerships can help you reach more people, and at the same time, extend your network for additional opportunities in the future or even entice to contributecharity auction items.
Consider partnering with local businesses in your area. Many companies are looking for social responsibility opportunities, and it is up to you to take advantage of this. The best place to start is your local Chamber of Commerce.
You may also want to link up with other non-profit organizations in your area. Alternatively, you can seek out organizations outside of your area that share or support the same causes as you.
One day at a time
Is it possible to change the world in just one day? Probably not.
But every small effort, when taken together, can make a massive difference in the lives of the people living in your community. And what a great start that is.
Want to read more tips to help you with your fundraiser? Check out our other blog posts.
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