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Churches and faith-based organizations across the globe are getting ready to participate in #GivingTuesday, and it’s no wonder! With the focus placed on generosity instead of shopping for a moment, it can be a nice break and sound reminder about the true meaning of the Christmas season and the importance of giving.
People around the globe have taken notice of this event and its impact continues to grow. In fact, donations have increased by more than 1000% since #GivingTuesday began in 2012. This gives churches an incredible opportunity to take part in a positive movement that people value and enjoy. When you think about it, it’s hard to find a reason not to participate!
Whether you’re currently putting the finishing touches on your campaign or if you’re feeling a bit scattered as the date nears, here is a quick checklist to ensure your launch plan is on the right track.
Establish specific goals
Highlighting #GivingTuesday on your social media accounts and website is a fantastic start! But if you feel that you’ve been doing this a bit aimlessly, it’s time to set specific goals.
Make sure your goals are specific and achievable (such as increasing giving by 2% over last year or gaining eight new donors). Of course, goals will be unique for every church based on size and location, so make them thoughtful as well as customized to your congregation.
Communicate with your team about your #GivingTuesday plan
While you should have a strategy leading up to November 28th, you should also have a separate and detailed plan for the day itself. It’s important to reach out to people multiple times throughout the day with fresh content and updates on the status of achieving your giving goal.
To make sure everyone is on the same page, everyone involved your #GivingTuesday campaign needs to clearly communicate with one another about the tasks being assigned for November 28th. A little communication goes a long way when it comes to planning large giving campaigns such as this.
Setup an online giving account
If you haven’t set up an online giving account yet, there is still time! This is going to be one of the most crucial steps to having a successful #GivingTuesday. Make sure you have mobile options as well as giving forms set up before the big day. Also, share how to use these tools through social media, email, and on your church’s website.
Test your donation forms
Whether you just set up your online giving account or you have had it in place for some time, go ahead and test all of your forms to ensure they are all working seamlessly. This way, if there are any hiccups, you can address them before #GivingTuesday (and not in the middle of it).
Spread the word across multiple platforms
You may be worried that by posting and emailing several times throughout the day that you’ll be overdoing it. Trust instead that you won’t be bothersome, but will provide people with more reasons to give and showcase your passion for generosity. Plus, donors with full calendars definitely appreciate a reminder or two.
Even if you are deciding to take part at the last minute, spread the word about your #GivingTuesday campaign across multiple platforms. Use email, your website, church bulletins, and social media to let people know about your church’s mission and the different ways that they can contribute.
Have a follow-up plan
Once the day has passed, and you have the results, enact your follow-up plan. This includes everything from sending thank-you notes to givers to analyzing your reports. Gaining insight is a big part of the process, and you can use this information to enhance next year’s #GivingTuesday!
If you’re looking for more tips and techniques for launching a successful #GivingTuesday, check out our other posts, such as 5 Techniques to Make the Most of Your #GivingTuesday Campaign.
Let easyTithe help you cross off a few tasks on your checklist today! Call us at 1-888-4843 or reach out to our friendly sales team by email at sales@easytithe.com
