On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people everywhere will open their hearts (and wallets) for the causes they cherish for Giving Tuesday.
Whether you're a nonprofit, charity or adjacent organization, it is essential to implement a donor warm-up strategy on a highly visible and personal channel (like peer-to-peer texting) instead of making a cold ask on the day itself.
Ready to take the leap with P2P texting to give your cause the best chance to stand out and surpass your Giving Tuesday goals? We have outlined fool-proof steps to creating a successful Giving Tuesday texting strategy.
Properly laying the foundation to build a relationship with your audience will help make Giving Tuesday successful. Here's how to get started:
🗓️ 1-2 weeks before Giving Tuesday
Begin with a compelling story that showcases your mission and underscores your impact this year. Share what you're striving to achieve next, and keep your message concise, heartfelt, and impactful.
Not convinced this is worth the time? Think again - sending unsolicited donation requests without prior engagement can feel impersonal and may discourage potential donors. Research indicates that 75% of donors find video helpful in deciding whether to donate, and 57% of viewers make a donation after watching a nonprofit's video.
While Enhanced Video Texting is an option, we know that many organizations do not have the resources on hand to turn a video around so quickly. Other ways to enhance the story-like experience for your audience is by including compelling images, insightful infographics, engaging video content, authentic testimonials or a link to your website to foster deeper engagement and provide additional context.
Reminding your audience why they care about your cause through a compelling story is essential for laying a successful foundation. Most importantly, make this outreach purely about connection - no asks, just an authentic touchpoint.
🗓️ 2-3 days before Giving Tuesday
A few days before Giving Tuesday, send a quick heads-up about the upcoming opportunity to make a difference. For example:
💬 Giving Tuesday is just around the corner, and we're gearing up to make a significant impact for [cause/mission]. Your support means the world to us! Stay tuned for how you can help – let’s make a difference together!
Again, no immediate ask, just a gentle reminder that something big is coming and a chance to get excited together.
Now that you've laid the groundwork, it's time for the main event.
By now, your audience should feel a significant connection to your mission and be receptive to contributing their time or money. Make your message direct, inspiring, and easy to act upon using the following tips:
❤️ Be Passionate: Re-share the highlights of your organization's story, mission/cause, and the impact of your work to help your audience understand more fully the importance of their contribution and how it ties back to a bigger picture.
🚨 Create Urgency: Giving Tuesday is a one-day event, so convey the urgency. Let your audience know their action today will make an immediate difference.
🔗 Make Donating Simple: Include a direct link to the donation page and clearly spell out how to take action. Use our built-in link shortener feature to ensure messages are delivered smoothly without disruption.
Many organizations overlook this final step, but it is crucial for list nurturing; whether someone donated or not, convey a heartfelt thank-you for being part of the community.
This follow-up text is more than just polite. A genuine thank-you can reinforce the positive emotions tied to supporting your cause, which primes your audience to act on future campaigns, such as mobilizing them to take a specific action, donate again or volunteer.
You want supporters to feel good about their involvement, to know that their efforts matter, and to feel appreciated. For example:
💬 Thank you so much for being part of Giving Tuesday! Your support means the world to us. Together, we made a real impact on ____. We couldn’t have done it without you!
But does it end here? Definitely not.
Keep your donors engaged by providing more opportunities for involvement. Invite them to events or offer volunteer roles to maintain and deepen the relationship - don’t let them sit idle in your donor pool! Make your donors part of your mission with meaningful initiatives and turn them into committed, recurring supporters!
Texting is uniquely powerful because it's personal. It's one of the only ways to build real, one-on-one connections with thousands of people simultaneously.
By priming your lists with texts that lay a proper foundation before Giving Tuesday, you go beyond simply asking for money; you're showing supporters why they matter, inviting them to be a part of something meaningful and then giving them a chance to make a difference.
Ready to start texting? Sign up for RumbleUp today at rumbleup.com.
Still not sure if P2P texting is right for you? Our sales team is here to help you find the best solution. Contact us at (833) 530-4400 or sales@rumbleup.com.