With thousands of nonprofits posting about #GivingTuesday, it can be tough to stand out amidst the noise. We’ve compiled some of the best Giving Tuesday posts from different social media platforms so you can gather inspiration. Our goal is to help you raise more, and find new donors and volunteers.
#GivingTuesday Lessons from Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
1. Don’t just post on the day itself
#GivingTuesday 2021 is November 30th, 2021, but that doesn’t mean you should only post about it on that one day! Take a page from Hoja Nueva‘s book: It’s never too early to remind donors that they can help. And start building excitement! In the for-profit world, there’s a rule of 7: It typically takes someone 7 times seeing or hearing something before they act on it. Take this to heart and remember, social media platforms won’t show all of your followers every post you make, so post early and often. If it feels like it’s a little too much, it’s probably just right.
2. Tell a Heartwarming Story
Stories can be powerful. While plenty of other nonprofits are posting graphics encouraging people to give, stand out with a story that’s heartwarming and easily shareable. Make sure that it tells the story of someone (or something) that your nonprofit helped. Don’t include language that a person who is new to your cause wouldn’t understand. For example, if you provide a certain type of therapy, don’t get bogged down in clinical language, just tell us how you’ve helped! UCLA Health has a 1 minute video on Facebook that tells a story and helps their donors see the long term impact of their gifts.
3. Partner up!
Lady Luck Animal Rescue created some great, simple video content: a before and after video of about Jasper the kitten and how the rescue helped him. These two things alone make this a great post, but they’ve also done something many nonprofits don’t think about: They’ve partnered with a for-profit business that has customers who care about their cause.
If you’re looking to reach new people, a partnership or cross-post is a logical next step. Lady Luck Animal Rescue rescues cats, and Meowingtons sells items for cat lovers. It’s a match made in heaven. If you have a nonprofit food pantry, try reaching out to local restaurants to see if they’d be willing to post on your behalf on Giving Tuesday. Their followers are already anticipating seeing food pictures, so a food pantry or soup kitchen could be of interest to their followers. Or if you have a youth program, a children’s clothing boutique could be a logical fit. Ask yourself: When my ideal donor isn’t giving to my program, what else are they doing? Who else are they already following?
4. Plan some UGC (User Generated Content)
You have people who already support your mission throughout the year, so engage them during the holiday season by encouraging them to post why they give to you. Asking donors to post on TikTok is great because the short form video content is an easy ask: all you need is a smartphone and a TikTok account (Though this tip can work on other social media platforms as well). This TikTok about Black Girls Code is a great example. But you don’t need a major influencer like @glitterandlazers for this tip to work for you! The beauty of UGC is that it’s authentic and it’s a great opportunity to reach people who follow (and often have similar interests as) your current supporters.
@glitterandlazers Its #givingszn! Let’s raise some money for @blackgirlscode #givingtuesday #tiktokpartner ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic
In conclusion, #GivingTuesday is a great opportunity to maximize your social media following. Whether you run a youth mentoring program or an animal shelter, social media can mobilize your supporters and introduce your cause to new people. But remember: it’s just the start of year-end giving season. It’s not the only day you can garner support. Keep your social media presence active and engaged throughout the year to breed year-round giving. If you want assistance with social media strategy for your nonprofit, let us know! We’re happy to help nonprofits of all shapes and sizes.
