Black Friday. Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday

Only eleven more weeks until Christmas. Can you believe it? Most mass retailers have already set up Christmas merchandise displays and it’s not even Halloween yet! The fact is, just around the corner “‘tis the season” – complete with long checkout lines, hustle and bustle, and Black Friday. And if you survive Black Friday, there’s Cyber Monday. At least you can stay warm while you shop, right?

The Christmas season has a much different meaning for non-profit organizations. The Tuesday following Cyber Monday (November 28th this year) is #GivingTuesday, a specific day that shifts the focus from getting to giving.

#GivingTuesday is fueled by social media and collaboration between non-profits and the public who support them. If it’s executed correctly, it can be very profitable. Below are some ways you can help your organization maximize donations on this global day of giving:

Plan ahead. November 28th will be here before you know it! Start by developing your own #GivingTuesday brand. Don’t lose your brand standards, of course, but even incorporating one #GT element into your logo will set this campaign apart from any others that may be underway.

Engage your donors. Giving them time to financially prepare is smart. A simple mailer sent to your donors will prepare them for the upcoming ask. Also, consider an email campaign during the month of November. Even one email per week will keep the campaign top of mind.

Ask for a match. Many local foundations will offer to match donations up to a certain dollar amount. This will exponentially grow your incoming donations.

Share, share, share! As with any social media campaign, the key is to make sure all of your posts are cross-pollinated between your accounts. The more team members you can get to post and share the greater your reach.

Click here to learn more about #GivingTuesday and click here if you’d like the Farmhouse to guide you through the process.