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Winter is coming…and so is Giving Tuesday!

Monday, November 20, 2023
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*6QWj3_qMoh5yHZt_0msucg.jpeg" /><figcaption>Sloane, Aloe Blacc, and I (!)</figcaption></figure><p>Last month when we were in Cleveland, I got to hear Aloe Blacc perform. He was incredible. About 15 minutes into his set, he sang <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3oUphdZVPyrsprZ8FgbmQS?si=3ef13f1055d648ef">I Need a Dollar</a>. One of my dear friends in the cohort of nonprofit leaders leaned over the table excitedly and shouted “it’s the nonprofit anthem!”</p><p>I might venture to guess that as a nonprofit leader, fundraising is probably not your favorite thing to do. You probably got into this business because you care about people and this is just a necessity to get resources to your community.</p><p>That said, I am certain you’re thinking about fundraising leading up to <a href="https://www.givingtuesday.org/">Giving Tuesday</a>.</p><p>In 2022, Giving Tuesday unlocked $3.1 billion dollars for nonprofits in the U.S. <strong>That’s more than the total amount of money given by the top 10 philanthropies in the entire year. </strong>And it was mostly made up of $50–100 donations from everyday individuals.</p><p>It’s <em>always</em> everyday people at the forefront of building belonging.</p><p>Last year, I wrote about the <a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network/the-nonprofit-love-language-and-why-you-shouldnt-just-donate-on-givingtuesday-c7b535b1391d">nonprofit love language and why you shouldn’t <em>just</em> donate on Giving Tuesday</a>. It was a call for more sustainable monthly donors. The good news is that Giving Tuesday donors <em>are</em> more likely to become ongoing donors than any other time of the year.</p><p>This year, we were lucky to have a friend from the Giving Tuesday organization share tips and guidance with our Network members.</p><p>Here are three top tips from that session as the day approaches:</p><ol><li><strong>Giving Tuesday is not enough of a reason to give</strong>, center your community and individuals through storytelling. The donor is not at the center, your mission is.</li><li><strong>Focus your energy on social platforms your audience uses</strong> and you do well (you do not need to use all of them!)</li><li><strong>Send your supporters a calendar invite</strong> (bcc:) for Giving Tuesday with resources in the event description. This is one of the most effective digital tactics!</li><li><strong>Lean on your networks!</strong> (hint hint: the Hello Neighbor Network!)</li></ol><p>How can the Network support you on Giving Tuesday?</p><ul><li><strong>Tag the Hello Neighbor Network on LinkedIn or Twitter</strong> (if you’re a Network member) and we will reshare your post and uplift your campaign.</li><li><strong>Utilize stats within this </strong><a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network/the-nonprofit-love-language-and-why-you-shouldnt-just-donate-on-givingtuesday-c7b535b1391d"><strong>article</strong></a> (or share the whole article) to encourage donors to become monthly donors.</li><li><strong>Check out our </strong><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uKylPm1Dj2evMQ13m08P9?si=4b6807189f0a4de1"><strong>Giving Tuesday playlist</strong></a> for inspiration and to bring a little levity to a busy day of fundraising.</li></ul><p>And, remember, as our friends at Giving Tuesday say “<strong>people give to people</strong> not to organizations.”</p><p>So here’s to more connections and bridge building this holiday season!</p><p>Cheers!</p><p>Rachel</p><p>Director of National Programs</p><p>You can <a href="https://www.neighbornetwork.io">give to the Hello Neighbor Network or our member organizations</a> this Giving Tuesday to support grassroots nonprofits welcoming newcomers!</p><img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=a4c4e572e89d" width="1" height="1" alt=""><hr><p><a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network/winter-is-coming-and-so-is-giving-tuesday-a4c4e572e89d">Winter is coming…and so is Giving Tuesday!</a> was originally published in <a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network">Hello Neighbor Network</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.</p>