Heather Takes On #GivingTuesday (Part 1)
#GivingTuesday has quickly become one of the most charitable days of the year, but this new initiative is still an unfamiliar concept to many of us. Setting up an entirely new campaign and finding a way to market it can feel a bit overwhelming. To relax some of your nerves we’ve teamed up with Heather, a nonprofit leader, that is planning on running a campaign on GiveGab for #GivingTuesday. Heather is the Executive Director of the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, New York, where they provide safety and support to individuals and families affected by domestic violence. Over the next two weeks we’re following her through the process of creating a #GivingTuesday campaign. That way, through her trials and successes, you may find some guidance and even additional tips for starting your own #GivingTuesday campaign.
#GivingTuesday was initiated only three years ago, so for many of us, this is our first-time participating in #GivingTuesday. We asked Heather whether she had ever run a campaign for #GivingTuesday before, and like most of us she said she hadn’t, citing some of the common issues nonprofits run into when trying to bring together a brand new fundraising campaign.
Starting a brand new campaign can be daunting, especially if you’ve been working hard on an established campaign that you have a stronger familiarity with. But it’s time to whisk these fears away, because research has shown one-third of all annual giving happens in the last month of the year [1]. What this tells us is that even if you have already run a successful campaign, now is not the time to cool the jets! Donor fatigue should always be avoided, but it seems like at the end of the year there’s something in the air that motivates people to give just a little more.
Another concern Heather mentioned was how to utilize this new realm of online fundraising. Is it worth it? Can new donors really be found through social media? Is it possible to make a real impact? How can we stand out from the thousands of other nonprofits online? These are just some of the questions we hear every day.
Many of us are used to more traditional forms of fundraising, and for some of us there’s a preconceived fear that fundraising online means dealing with a clunky interface, spotty customer service, hidden fees, and an overall more stressful experience. At GiveGab, we focus on providing a different kind of experience. One built for the modern nonprofit that gets rid of the unnecessary stress so that you can focus on conveying your campaign’s message. We even have you covered there too – below are some awesome articles we’ve written in the past to help make the most of your #GivingTuesday campaign:
- On #GivingTuesday, What Story Are You Telling Your Supporters?
- 4 Easy Ways to Make The Most of #GivingTuesday
- Record and Upload a Video for Your #GivingTuesday Campaign in 30 Minutes or Less
Like Heather mentioned before, fundraising can be a double edged sword. There’s so little time to plan your campaign when you’re busy allocating the services your organization promised to provide, but you can not provide those services without proper funding. That’s why we strive to make this part of your mission as simple as possible… so that you can focus on the things that matter.
Heather, along with thousands of other nonprofits, have just begun their journey with GiveGab. Are you ready to join them?
