The Best GivingTuesday Ideas That Every Nonprofit Should Try

GivingTuesday is just around the corner. This year, mark your calendar for November 28, 2023. This annual event offers nonprofits a special opportunity to secure essential funding, grow their support network, extend the reach of their mission, and, ultimately, drive their causes forward while nurturing a spirit of community and philanthropy.

While there are countless ways for nonprofits to participate in GivingTuesday, we’ve curated a list of our top 10 favorites. 

1. T-shirt Fundraising Campaigns
2. Nonprofit Collaborations
3. Wish Lists
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
5. Gift Matching
6. Email Campaigns
7. In-Person Events
8. Volunteer Opportunities
9. Product Fundraisers
10. Corporate Partnerships 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these ideas. We’ll also explore practical strategies, expert tips, and the essential steps you need to take to maximize your impact and achieve your fundraising goals on GivingTuesday.

T-shirt Fundraising Campaigns

Running an apparel fundraiser for GivingTuesday provides tons of perks for nonprofits. By designing and selling custom-branded clothing items like t-shirts, hoodies, or accessories, your nonprofit can raise funds and transform supporters into walking ambassadors for your cause at the same time.

What’s more, these campaigns create a unique opportunity to engage and keep donors in the loop. People love proudly wearing these items like badges of honor, expressing their commitment and strengthening that sense of community and loyalty. So, it’s not just about the money; it’s about leaving a lasting impression on your supporters and beyond.

Tips for T-Shirt Fundraising

• Invest in eye-catching and meaningful apparel designs that resonate with your cause. A quality, creative design can attract more supporters and make your fundraiser more appealing.

• Set a reasonable and competitive price for your apparel to encourage more purchases. 

• Create a sense of urgency and exclusivity by offering limited-edition apparel. Limited-time offerings can boost sales and excitement.

• Promote your apparel fundraiser through your website, social media, email newsletters, and any other communication channels you have. Use captivating visuals to pique interest.

• Clearly communicate how the funds raised from apparel sales will support your nonprofit’s mission. Donors appreciate transparency and knowing where their money is going.

Nonprofit Collaborations

Boost the collaborative spirit with other nonprofits in your sector by joining forces for your GivingTuesday fundraising endeavors. This will foster a healthy spirit of competition and give all organizations involved the opportunity to extend their influence and reach a broader array of supporters. Nonprofit collaboration is a powerful tool for creating synergy and making a more profound and lasting difference in the communities they serve.

Tips for Nonprofit Collaborations

• Choose nonprofits that align closely with your mission and goals. Look for organizations with similar values and audiences to maximize the effectiveness of your partnership.

• Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each organization in the collaboration. This includes fundraising responsibilities, promotional efforts, and the allocation of funds raised.

• Develop a unified GivingTuesday campaign that highlights the collective impact of your collaboration. This fosters a sense of unity and purpose among supporters.

• Identify the unique strengths and resources each partner brings to the table. Leverage these strengths to benefit the overall campaign, whether it’s access to specific donors, marketing expertise, or connections with local businesses.

• Collaborate on cross-promotional efforts, leveraging your combined networks, email lists, and social media channels to increase visibility and drive more donations.

Wish Lists

Wish list fundraising involves creating a list of specific items, projects, or needs that the organization requires, allowing donors to select what they want to support. These campaigns offer a tangible connection to the cause, with donors witnessing the direct impact of their contributions. 

Furthermore, they can be particularly effective for GivingTuesday, as they provide a focused and relatable way for nonprofits to engage supporters, generate funds, and illustrate the meaningful difference that each donation makes in achieving their mission.

Tips for Wish Lists

• Use your wish list fundraiser to clearly communicate your organization’s specific needs and how donations will be utilized. Transparency builds trust.

• Share compelling stories related to the items or projects on your wish list to make your cause more relatable and engaging.

• Emphasize that donors can see the tangible results of their contributions, such as specific items or services, creating a sense of satisfaction and motivation.

• Attract support from individuals or businesses willing to donate specific items, strengthening partnerships and expanding your impact.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraisers prove to be a highly effective strategy for nonprofits on GivingTuesday. These campaigns work by channeling the passion and commitment of individual supporters who serve as enthusiastic advocates for the cause. By allowing these supporters to set up their own fundraising pages and reach out to their personal networks for donations, nonprofits can access a wider pool of potential contributors. 

This approach not only increases the number of donors but also infuses authenticity and personal connections into the fundraising process. The result is a powerful tool for nonprofits that leverages the collective strength of a community while nurturing a sense of shared ownership and pride in the mission. 

Tips for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

• Make sure your supporters can easily access your main fundraising page. For example, include a link to your fundraising page in all your social media bios and prominently feature it in any emails or newsletters you send to your supporters. This way, you’re simplifying the process for them, making it crystal clear how to kickstart their peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

• Provide guidelines and templates for your supporters. This helps ensure mission alignment and branding consistency. 

• Encourage your supporters to share personal stories about why they support your organization and the impact their contributions will make. Authentic and emotionally compelling narratives can resonate with potential donors.

• Ask fundraisers to share their campaigns on social media and to engage with supporters through these platforms.

• Follow up with donors and express your gratitude. Share the impact of their contributions and explain how their support makes a difference.

Gift Matching

Gift matching is a powerful strategy that can significantly boost fundraising efforts. This approach involves corporate partners or major donors agreeing to match the contributions made by individual donors, often dollar for dollar. Gift matching not only encourages more substantial donations but also incentivizes supporters to give, knowing their impact will be doubled. 

It creates a sense of community and shared responsibility, as donors understand that their gifts have an even more significant effect. This strategy not only maximizes the funds raised but also fosters strong relationships between nonprofits, donors, and their supportive partners, making it a win-win for all parties involved.

Tips for Gift Matching

• Cultivate relationships with individuals, corporations, or major donors willing to provide matching funds. Clearly communicate the impact their matching donations can make.

• Actively promote matching gift opportunities on your website, social media, and email communications. Ensure donors are aware of the chance to double their contributions.

• Clearly explain how gift matching works and the specific impact of matching funds on your organization’s programs and initiatives.

• Utilize online donation platforms that support gift matching, making it easy for donors to access and take advantage of this opportunity.

Email Campaigns

Email campaigns are a vital component of a nonprofit’s GivingTuesday strategy. These campaigns allow organizations to directly engage with their supporters, sharing compelling stories, updates, and fundraising appeals. Leading up to GivingTuesday, nonprofits can use email to generate excitement, explaining the day’s significance and the impact of donations. On GivingTuesday itself, emails serve as urgent calls to action, motivating supporters to contribute. 

After GivingTuesday, nonprofits can use emails to express gratitude, showcase the results of contributions, and maintain ongoing relationships with donors.

Tips for Email Campaigns

• Start early by creating a detailed email campaign strategy that outlines your goals, target audience, messaging, and content schedule.

• Segment your email list to send tailored messages to different groups of supporters, ensuring your emails are relevant and engaging.

• Craft attention-grabbing subject lines that pique interest and encourage recipients to open your emails.

• Use clear and concise language to explain the significance of GivingTuesday, how donations will be used, and the impact supporters can make.

• Include clear and prominent CTAs that guide recipients on how to donate or get involved.

• Create a sense of urgency with countdown timers or deadlines in your emails to encourage immediate action.

• After GivingTuesday, express gratitude to donors through thank-you emails, and share the impact of their contributions. Continue to engage and nurture these relationships.

In-Person Events

In-person events for GivingTuesday allow nonprofits to connect with their community, fostering shared purpose. These events, ranging from volunteering to fundraisers, offer a tangible way for supporters to engage, witness impact, and celebrate contributions. They raise funds, boost visibility, and strengthen community bonds, amplifying a nonprofit’s mission impact.

Tips for In-Person Events

• Start planning your event well in advance to ensure a seamless and successful execution. Be sure to recruit and engage volunteers to help with event logistics, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

• Choose a suitable venue that aligns with your event’s goals and expected attendance.

• Promote your event through various channels, such as social media, email, and your website, to reach a broader audience.

• Incorporate fundraising activities, such as auctions, raffles, or donation stations, to encourage giving.

• Make the event engaging and interactive to involve the community. Consider live entertainment, workshops, or educational sessions.

• Ensure your event is accessible to a broad range of participants, considering different abilities and backgrounds.

Volunteer Opportunities

GivingTuesday volunteer opportunities are a valuable resource for nonprofits, involving activities such as community service, fundraising, and awareness campaigns. Volunteers play a pivotal role in expanding a nonprofit’s reach, lending their time, skills, and passion to advance the mission. These opportunities not only contribute to the immediate needs of the organization but also foster a sense of community and shared purpose, both among the volunteers and the broader support network. 

Tips for Volunteer Opportunities

• Offer a variety of volunteer roles to cater to different skills and interests, making it inclusive and engaging for a broader audience.

• Clearly communicate the time, location, and expectations to volunteers. Make it easy for them to sign up and get involved.

• Provide any necessary training and support for volunteers, ensuring they feel confident and capable in their roles.

• Make the volunteer experience engaging and rewarding, incorporating fun elements and acknowledging their contributions.

• Gather feedback from volunteers to improve future volunteer opportunities and make them even more impactful.

Product Fundraisers

Product fundraisers involve selling custom-branded merchandise, such as mugs, tote bags, or other products – with proceeds going to the organization. Beyond the immediate financial support, product fundraisers turn supporters into brand ambassadors, spreading awareness and sparking conversations about the nonprofit’s mission. This approach fosters a deeper connection between supporters and the cause, while the products themselves serve as lasting symbols of commitment. 

Tips for Product Fundraisers

• Create attractive and meaningful product designs that resonate with your supporters and reflect your nonprofit’s mission.

• Offer a range of products to cater to different tastes and budgets.

• Communicate the impact of each purchase, explaining how the funds will be used to benefit your organization.

• Collaborate with local businesses, artists, or influencers to enhance the appeal and reach of your products.

• Plan for efficient shipping and delivery, ensuring a positive customer experience.

• Express gratitude to product purchasers, reinforcing the impact of their contribution to your cause. 

Corporate Partnerships 

GivingTuesday corporate partnerships are a strategic collaboration between nonprofits and businesses aimed at leveraging shared values and resources for the greater good. These partnerships can take various forms, including financial contributions, employee volunteer programs, cause marketing initiatives, or in-kind donations. 

Such collaborations not only provide nonprofits with crucial financial support but also extend their reach and credibility, thanks to the corporate partner’s brand and resources. These partnerships can spark innovative solutions to societal challenges, foster employee engagement, and drive social impact. They showcase the power of businesses aligning with nonprofits to drive positive change and create a stronger sense of community and philanthropy on GivingTuesday and beyond.

Tips for Corporate Partnerships

• Seek corporate partners whose values align with your nonprofit’s mission and objectives to ensure a meaningful partnership.

• Define specific goals and objectives for the partnership, making it easier to measure success and impact.

• Involve corporate partners in the planning process to jointly decide on campaign strategies, messaging, and activities.

• Develop creative GivingTuesday initiatives that benefit both the nonprofit and the corporate partner, creating a win-win scenario.

• Collaborate on marketing and promotion, leveraging the corporate partner’s reach and resources to maximize visibility for your GivingTuesday campaign.

• Show appreciation for your corporate partners through public recognition and thank-you events to build lasting relationships.

As you prepare for GivingTuesday, armed with a toolbox full of innovative fundraising ideas and expert tips, we hope you feel empowered and inspired to make a lasting impact. Whether it’s harnessing the potential of peer-to-peer fundraising, engaging in wish list campaigns, or forging corporate partnerships, the possibilities are practically endless. 

Remember, the heart of GivingTuesday is not just about raising funds, but also about uniting communities, spreading goodwill, and amplifying the collective spirit of giving. So, go ahead and put your newfound knowledge into action, and may your GivingTuesday be a resounding success, both in terms of support raised and the strengthened connections with your supporters. Together, we can create a ripple of generosity that resonates far beyond this remarkable day of giving.

Written by: Hayden Ireland / Content Specialist
Illustrated by: Madison Summers / Lead Marketing Designer