Do Good. Give Back.

Giving Tuesday tips

This Tuesday we can all do good by giving back to a non profit we believe in. I'm privileged to work with some passionate organizations, so I've put together some quick tips to make the most of your #givingtuesday efforts.

1. Go ahead and ask.

A clear ask is critical in any communication campaign. Highlighting your goals and the impact you're making inspires donors to give their resources and be a part of the good you're doing.

Consider adding a donation page like this one from St. Jude or creating an email campaign outlining what you need and why to help your donors take action.

Add a donation page.

Direct donors to one place to learn about your giving project and ways to engage.

2. Keep it simple.

Boil down your mission to it's simplest and purest form and then put that messaging everywhere. Whether you're building wells, running a school or saving the world from an alien invasion, your answer to the question, "why" inspires giving. Take a look at how Charity:Water has answered their why here. What's the problem? Well, 1 out of 10 people lack access to clean water. This leads to disease and death, but clean water changes everything.

Screen Shot 2017-11-27 at 1.19.31 AM.png — Define your why?

*What problem are you solving? And how can I help?*

Back to you. What is your why? And how can I help? There are big and small ways to engage your base, so make sure you consider ways for all types of givers. For instance, saying you need 24k in 24 hours is simple, yes, but you may want to pair it with bite size wins. Suggest donating the cost of a weekly Starbucks for the next year. It may seem small but the multiplier effect can make it grow.

Screen Shot 2017-11-27 at 12.46.33 AM.png — Break your big ask into bite size wins.

If 300 people donated one of their weekly Startbucks where would you be?

3. Sharing is caring.

The success of Giving Tuesday is all social, baby. Whatever your ask, make it sharable. Consider providing social media posts for donors who participate, so you're engaging your audience and theirs. And don't just think in terms of Giving Tuesday. Let this one day launch you into a whole month of giving before the end of the year.

If you have merch, use it. Offer mugs, t-shirts, or coozies for shared and tagged posts. And say thank you. There's no substitute for relationship and the smallest gesture really does go a long way.

Here's to you, world changers. Thank you for the long hours and the sacrifices. I hope these tips help encourage your efforts. Can't wait to hear how it goes. Until then, don't just do it-- design it.

To read more, I recommend this.