Finish Strong: 10 tips for Giving Tuesday Success
Giving Tuesday is more than just another fundraising day — it’s an opportunity. For nonprofits, it’s the perfect springboard into the most generous season of the year. While December is when many donors finalize their charitable giving, the energy and visibility of Giving Tuesday can set the tone and build momentum for your entire year-end campaign.
The best time to start planning for Giving Tuesday? Right now.
So how can your organization not just survive Giving Tuesday, but use it to thrive all the way through December 31? Here are 10 practical, actionable strategies to help your nonprofit finish the year strong.
1. Start with Strategy, Not Just a Hashtag
Before you post that #GivingTuesday graphic, pause and think about the bigger picture. Where does Giving Tuesday fall in your overall year-end campaign? How will it connect to what comes before and after?
Develop a campaign plan that integrates Giving Tuesday into your broader fundraising goals. Map out key messages, target audiences, and content themes that will evolve through December. Giving Tuesday shouldn’t be a standalone moment — it should be your campaign’s opening act.
2. Warm Up Your Audience Ahead of Time
You wouldn’t run a marathon without warming up first, so don’t expect your donors to respond to a cold Giving Tuesday ask. Use the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday to re-engage your audience. Share impact stories, send “save the date” emails, and remind supporters of the difference they’ve made this year.
Consider segmenting your email list and tailoring messages to each group. Past donors, lapsed supporters, and potential first-timers all need slightly different nudges. A little prep work can go a long way when it comes to priming donors to give.
3. Set a Clear, Achievable Goal
Donors love a tangible target. Whether it’s raising $10,000 to fund a new program or reaching 100 donors in one day, setting a specific Giving Tuesday goal gives supporters something to rally around.
Bonus tip: Make sure your goal connects to real-world impact. “Help us raise $5,000 to provide 200 meals to local families” is much more compelling than “Help us hit our fundraising goal.”
4. Use the Day to Tell Compelling Stories
Giving Tuesday isn’t just about fundraising — it’s about storytelling. Make your mission come alive through personal narratives, photos, and videos. Highlight individuals who’ve been impacted by your work. Share a day-in-the-life of your staff or volunteers. Go live on Instagram or Facebook to answer questions and bring donors behind the scenes.
Remember: people give to people, not organizations. Emotional, authentic storytelling is what moves donors to act.
5. Turn One-Time Donors into Long-Term Supporters
Giving Tuesday often brings in new or one-time donors — and that’s great! But the real magic happens in the follow-up. Make a plan to thank and nurture these supporters quickly and meaningfully.
Send a heartfelt thank-you email within 24 hours, and follow up with impact updates in the weeks to come. Introduce them to your mission, your team, and your community. Invite them to stay involved, whether that means giving again, volunteering, or spreading the word.
6. Keep the Momentum Going Through December
Don’t let the energy stop on November 30. Use Giving Tuesday as the launchpad for a multi-week year-end campaign. Remind your audience that the need doesn’t end after one day — and neither does the opportunity to give.
Build urgency as the year comes to a close. Highlight deadlines for tax-deductible giving. Share countdowns, testimonials, and updates on how close you are to reaching your year-end goal.
7. Repurpose and Reuse Your Best Content
Creating great content takes time and energy — so don’t just use it once. Repurpose Giving Tuesday videos, graphics, and quotes throughout December. Turn that Instagram story into a carousel post, or that donor testimonial into a short video for your website.
Your supporters may have missed the message the first time — or need a reminder of why their gift still matters.
8. Celebrate — and Share — Your Success
Whether you surpass your goal or fall just short, share your results. People want to see the impact of their generosity. Post an update on your website and social media, send a final “you made this happen” email, and thank your community for stepping up.
Not only does this build trust and transparency — it also sets the stage for next year.
9. Build a Giving Tuesday Landing Page That Converts
Your Giving Tuesday campaign needs a digital home — a place where supporters can learn, connect, and give with confidence. That’s where a strong landing page comes in.
Keep it clean, focused, and action-oriented. Include:
A compelling headline that makes your case for support in a sentence or two.
A brief story or impact statement to connect emotionally with visitors.
A clear call-to-action button (“Donate Now,” “Join the Movement,” etc.).
Donation tiers with specific impact explanations (e.g., “$50 provides school supplies for 5 students”).
Mobile-friendly design — many people will be giving from their phones.
Social share buttons to encourage supporters to spread the word.
Avoid clutter and distractions. Your goal is to guide visitors straight to the donation form without confusion or friction.
If you're looking for user-friendly platforms to create your page, tools like Givebutter, Classy, Funraise, and Donorbox offer easy templates, integrated donation forms, and real-time progress meters. They also allow for storytelling elements, recurring gift options, and branded customization.
10. Leverage Peer-to-Peer Fundraising to Amplify Impact
Want to expand your reach and bring in new donors? Empower your supporters to fundraise on your behalf. Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising is a perfect fit for Giving Tuesday — it turns your community into your campaigners.
Here’s how to make it work:
Choose a P2P-friendly platform like Givebutter, Classy, or Facebook Fundraisers. These tools let individuals set up their own donation pages linked to your campaign.
Provide toolkits with messaging, graphics, and templates to make it easy for fundraisers to get started.
Set friendly competitions (think: most donors, most dollars raised, most creative campaign) to keep it fun and motivating.
Highlight your fundraisers on social media and in email updates. People love seeing the faces behind the cause.
P2P fundraising not only brings in dollars—it builds community, increases visibility, and turns casual supporters into passionate advocates.
Final Thought: Finish Strong, Start Smart
Giving Tuesday can be a whirlwind, but with the right strategy and planning, it can also be the catalyst for your best year-end fundraising ever. Use the day to tell your story, activate your community, and build momentum that carries through December 31 and beyond.
Because when you finish strong, you don’t just end the year well — you start the next one even stronger.
P.S. If your nonprofit needs help crafting a year-end campaign that inspires and converts, now’s the time to get started. Whether it’s messaging, storytelling, or strategy, you don’t need to go it alone. Click here and let’s set up a free introductory consult to see how I can help you.