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A key component of any successful Day of Giving is advocacy from organizational champions that help get the word out.

This can be staff, faculty, alumni, or past donors; the important thing is to reach out (ideally more than 3 months in advance) and identify who within these groups is willing to help tell your story and inspire their networks to action.

You can find these members through a variety of tactics: at donor or staff events where you can announce your upcoming initiative, through major gift officers who can ask for support using an existing relationship, through very tailored direct email aimed at your most likely advocates, and (most personally) a call from you or your leadership.

Try to follow this timeline to create your own giving day communications kit:

90 Days before Launch

  • Send your initial announcement to your network to warm up potential supporters.

2 Months before Launch

  • Send a ‘Save the Date.’
  • Use an electronic postcard – you’re hosting a big event!

1 Month before Launch

  • Send weekly or bi-weekly announcements if possible. Don’t fatigue your database, but it’s important to keep things top of mind. Segment and tailor messaging for alumni age groups to have better open and engagement rates.

Once your ambassadors are identified, you need to have a clear plan and documented timeline for what you are asking them to do for your giving day communications.

This includes several elements:

  1. Concise, templated social media posts with a clear call to action.
  2. A distinctive hashtag to collect all social activity.
  3. ‘Pre-launch’ and ‘Day of’ email templates for ambassadors to send to potential supporters.
  4. Image collateral to use in social and email promotion.

If you’re not sure where to start, follow the below template for a killer communications document:

Thank you for supporting [Giving Day Name]! This is an online fundraising initiative lasting 24 hours that encourages alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends to make a difference to [Institution Name]. Before our event and during from [Start Date] to [End Date], we’re counting on loyal and caring [Mascot Name] and their friends to spread the word and make an impact through giving to a wide range of worthy projects! Thanks for your help, we couldn’t do it without you.

Questions? Contact [Designated Support] at [Email and/or Phone Number]

1 Week before Launch

  • Announce [Giving Day and/or Campaign names] on your social channels.
  • Share the [School/University] [Hashtag] and follow us on [Facebook Link] and [Twitter Link] to like and share posts.
  • Tag friends in your posts.
  • Email your personal network. You can also use [Email Template] if you’re not sure where to start.

 2-3 Days before Launch

  • Download the official [Giving Day Name] pictures from [Images Link]
  • Change your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures and cover photos to [Desired Image Link]
  • Continue posting about [Giving Day Name] on your favorite social media channels and tagging friends in your posts.
  • Make your gift early at [Platform Link].

Day of Launch

  • Email your personal network that today’s the day! Again, here is an [Email Template] if you’re not sure what to include.
  • Post/share on social media throughout the day. Here are some templates we’ve created to help [Link to 3-4 Facebook and Twitter Templates]
  • Tag your friends and encourage them to donate and show support on social media.
  • If you know someone who made a gift, send them a personal thank you or social media shout out.

Day after Launch

  • Thank your network for participating via posts or via email.
  • Share the [School/University] [Hashtag] Facebook and Twitter posts

Once you have created this and your champions have helped you reach your goal, make sure to show gratitude. Thank them first and foremost with a personal note acknowledging their impact. They will be there again to help next year with your giving day communications if you do!

 

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Katie Haystead

Katie Haystead

Senior Vice President, Partnerships

With over a decade of experience working with K12 schools and higher education institutions’ fundraising efforts, Katie Haystead now oversees the partnerships team at Community Funded. Her passion for partner success and satisfaction aligns with Community Funded’s priorities and Katie’s unique background is well suited to manage the day to day operations of our partnerships team as well as new market acquisition.

Prior to joining the team at Community Funded, Katie served many roles within the Fundraising Division at Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Her experience ranges from working onsite and remotely with clients executing phonathon programs, developing annual giving strategies, onsite consultations and also developing multichannel strategies allowing for strong synergy between annual giving channels and creating strong major and planned gift pipelines.

Katie is based in Metro Detroit and is a graduate of Central Michigan University, where she worked for the phonathon for 3 years while working towards her History Major.

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Kim Jennings

Kim Jennings

Senior Generosity Strategist, Generis

Kim Jennings, CFRE is a skilled fundraising leader who believes in the power of Christian education to raise up thoughtful, strong, committed leaders who can make our world a better place for all.

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Kim Jennings

Todd Turner

Director of Digital Strategies, Generis

In addition to his 11 years overseeing Chuck Swindoll’s Insight Living Ministries communications department, Todd Turner has worked as a digital strategist for faith based organizations across the globe..

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Kim Jennings

Jennifer Perrow

Senior Generosity Strategist, Generis

Jennifer is a skilled fundraising and communications professional who helps ministries articulate vision, communicate mission, and raise abundant funds to advance Kingdom priorities.

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