#GivingTuesday: December 1st, 2015. What is it and how do you get involved?

• Brad Pope


• 16 Nov 2015

December 1, 2015 marks the fourth annual global-giving phenomenon known as #GivingTuesday, a world-wide day of giving powered by social media and other forms of international collaboration.

While the US recognizes major shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a cultural center located in New York City decided to introduce #GivingTuesday in 2012 to observe a day of giving.

This New York based organization, 92nd Street Y, turned their vision into a reality in the fall of 2012, marking the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving as a day to connect diverse groups and organizations from around the world for one common cause, to celebrate and encourage giving.

 

From the inaugural #GivingTuesday to its second year, donations nearly doubled with over 7,000 non-profits participating in the 2013 #GivingTuesday campaign. The 2014 #GivingTuesday movement introduced the #GivingTower, a virtual tower that is made up of bricks, each of which represent a donation made to charity on #GivingTuesday. CrowdRise is creating a free App in 2015 so donors around the globe can interact and visualize the impact that their giving is having on December 1st. (You can take a look at the CrowdRise #GivingTower and what #GivingTuesday plans and goals are being set in 2015 HERE.)

Now, in their fourth year of promoting the movement, #GivingTuesday seems to be hitting its stride globally, jumping from $19 million donations in 2013, to over $45 million in donations a year ago.

With expectations for #GivingTuesday at an all-time high this year, many churches and non-profit organizations find themselves asking one question: How can WE get involved and promote our giving on #GivingTuesday?

Popular online giving providers such as easyTithe, MinistryLINQ, SiteOrganic, Giving Kiosk, E-Zekiel and many others provide services starting at $0 per month. Allowing individuals access to give via online or mobile provides the availability to contribute at any time, any place.

In this day and age, mobilizing your giving is an absolute game changer. Chances are many of your regular members will be off-site from your church campus on #GivingTuesday.

Many of these online giving providers supply you with the capability to receive donations via web log-in, a FREE mobile App, or even better, Text Giving! The notion of giving becoming convenient to givers will really make an impact on your church!

Another useful strategy to consider in preparation for #GivingTuesday is to market and promote the movement via social media. Creating graphics, bulletin inserts, social media posts and emails can really encourage members to share the movement and get the word out.

Online giving providers such as easyTithe and SimpleGive equip your ministry with resources such as this to better inform individuals and help them get involved.

#GivingTuesday combines the potential of social media with the generosity of people around the globe to bring a real change to your community. This allows a platform for giving on an international level, helping encourage the donation of time and resources as acts of kindness.

Visually showing how close you are to your year-end budget, or even providing visuals as road-maps for your church mission for years to come, will inspire your community to meet both short-term and long-term goals.

Get involved, and get your members involved in #GivingTuesday this season to connect your community with many communities throughout the world that are just like yours! Being connected with this global movement will show generosity and energize your community to finish the year strong and meet future goals like never before!