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Don’t Forget These 7 Tips for Your Giving Tuesday Campaigns (with Examples)

November 21, 2024

Don’t Forget These 7 Tips for Your Giving Tuesday Campaigns (with Examples)

7 min read

Reminder: This year Giving Tuesday is on Tue, Dec 3

As Giving Tuesday approaches, organizations have a prime opportunity to turn engagement into meaningful support. Giving Tuesday has become a day of global generosity, inspiring millions to donate and get involved. 

Texting is an incredibly effective tool for nonprofit campaigns, especially on high-impact days like Giving Tuesday. Here’s a breakdown of the steps to take for your Text 2 Give campaigns, along with example texts and a checklist to keep you on track.

Step 1: Define Goals, Segmentation, and Audience

To get started, set clear goals and segment your audience. For example:

  • Goal: Raise $25,000 to support community services.
  • Segments: First-time donors, recurring donors, high-value donors, and lapsed donors.

Use segmentation to tailor each text so it speaks directly to the recipient’s relationship with your organization.

Sample Text for Each Segment

1. First-Time Donors:
Hi [Name], this Giving Tuesday, a gift of just $10 can provide [impact of donation]. Will you make a difference today? Donate here: [link].

2. Recurring Donors:
Hi [Name], thank you for your ongoing support! This Giving Tuesday, consider a special one-time gift to help us reach our $25,000 goal: [link].

3. High-Value Donors:
Hi [Name], as one of our most valued supporters, would you consider a gift of $500 to support [specific project] this Giving Tuesday? Every dollar brings us closer to our goal: [link].

4. Lapsed Donors:
Hi [Name], we’ve missed you! This Giving Tuesday, please join us again to make an impact. A gift of any amount helps us serve the community. Give here: [link].

[Learn More: Prompt.io For Good – Texting Platform Built for Change]

Step 2: Use Personalization to Connect with Donors

Personalizing your messages helps build stronger connections and boosts engagement. Personalization can include elements such as:

  • First Names: Address recipients by their first name to create a more personal touch.
  • Donation History: Reference a donor’s previous contributions to acknowledge their support.
  • Specific Impact: Customize messages to reflect how their donations will make a difference.

Example Text with Personalization

Hi [Name], thank you for your past support in our [campaign name] fundraiser! This Giving Tuesday, we’re aiming to provide meals to 1,000 families. A gift of $25 from you can feed 5 people. Will you help? [link]

Step 3: Simplify Giving with SmartLinks

SmartLinks allow supporters to donate quickly by auto-filling their information if they’ve previously given, streamlining the donation experience. SmartLinks also let you track engagement, so you can see which segments are responding well.

Example Text Using SmartLinks

Hi [Name], this Giving Tuesday, we’re just $5,000 away from our goal. Your previous gift made a huge impact—could you help us again? Give here: [SmartLink]

[Learn More: SmartLinks for advanced engagement tracking]

Step 4: Implement a Timing Sequence to Build Anticipation and Keep Donors Engaged

Timing is key for Giving Tuesday. Plan a sequence of messages over the days leading up to and during the event, plus a follow-up. Here’s a sample timeline and text examples for each stage:

1. Week Before Giving Tuesday (Awareness):
Giving Tuesday is almost here! Mark your calendar for a chance to make an impact on [project or goal]. We’re excited to have you with us!

2. Days Before Giving Tuesday (Early Engagement):
It’s almost time! Giving Tuesday is in 2 days. A gift of $20 will [specific impact]. Ready to join us? [link]

3. Giving Tuesday Morning (Main Push):
Today’s the day, [Name]! Help us reach our $25,000 goal. Every gift makes a difference, no matter the size. Donate here: [link].

4. Midday Update:
We’re halfway to our goal! Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve raised $12,500 so far. Help us keep going! Donate now: [link].

5. Evening Reminder:
Only a few hours left for Giving Tuesday! We’re so close to our goal. Can you help us reach the finish line? [link]

6. Post-Giving Tuesday Thank You:
Thank you, [Name]! With your help, we raised [total amount] for [project]. Your generosity means so much. Stay tuned for updates on how your support is making an impact!

Step 5: Provide Real-Time Goal Updates and Inspire Action

Real-time updates encourage donors to give, especially when they know their contribution will help you reach a specific target.

Sample Goal Update Messages

1. Morning Update:
We’re off to a great start this Giving Tuesday! So far, we’ve raised $5,000 toward our $25,000 goal. Help us reach $10,000 by noon! [link]

2. Afternoon Update:
We’re halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters like you, we’ve raised $12,500. Will you help us keep the momentum going? [link]

3. Final Push:
Just $2,000 to go! With your help, we can hit our $25,000 goal by midnight. Make your gift count! [link]

Step 6: Follow-Up and Retention Messaging

After Giving Tuesday, show gratitude and continue the relationship. Acknowledging donors’ contributions can encourage them to stay involved.

Sample Follow-Up Text

1. Immediate Thank You:
Thanks so much, [Name]! Your gift on Giving Tuesday helped us raise $25,000. We’ll be putting it to work right away on [specific impact]. Stay tuned for updates!

2. Impact Report (One Month Later):
Hi [Name], thanks again for your Giving Tuesday donation! Here’s how your support has helped us accomplish [specific outcome]. Your generosity truly makes a difference!

3. Invitation to Stay Involved:
Want to keep making an impact? Join our monthly donor program to support us year-round. Every gift brings hope to those we serve. Sign up here: [link]

Step 7: Evaluate, Learn, and Plan for Next Year

Finally, take the time post-Giving Tuesday to analyze campaign metrics, looking at which messages resonated, how many contacts became first-time donors, and areas for improvement. Use these insights to strengthen your donor journey, ensuring future campaigns resonate even more deeply with your members.

[Learn More: 360° real-time broadcast and campaign analytics]

Recap: Your Must-Know Checklist for a Flawless Giving Tuesday Campaign

Finally, here’s a checklist to ensure you’ve covered every angle for a smooth campaign:

- Audience Segmentation: Have you segmented your list by donor type, engagement level, or donation history

- Personalization: Are your texts personalized with first names, previous donations, or specific impacts?

- SmartLinks: Are you using SmartLinks to simplify the donation process and track responses?

- Clear Call-to-Action: Is each message’s CTA direct and easy to follow?

- Donation Goal Updates: Do you have planned updates for donors to track progress?

- Timing Sequence: Have you set up a pre-, during, and post-Giving Tuesday message plan?

- Testing & Optimization: Have you tested the messages with a small group to see which resonates best?

- Opt-out Language: Are your messages providing clearly stated opt-out instructions?

- Follow-Up Messages: Do you have thank-you and impact report texts ready for after Giving Tuesday?

- Analyze Your Metrics: Use the performance of Giving Tuesday campaigns to plan for your next moves.

Giving Tuesday is an incredible opportunity to connect with supporters on a personal level. By crafting thoughtful, well-timed texts, using personalization, SmartLinks, and progress updates, you can create a seamless, impactful donor experience.

With this comprehensive approach and checklist, your Giving Tuesday texting campaign is set for success. Here’s to a record-breaking year of generosity!

Reach out to our texting experts to learn more about getting your campaigns started.

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