GivingTuesday is a holiday that started in 2021 and is promoted as a day for everyone to give back to their community by doing good deeds and making donations to organizations working to improve communities.  

According to NeonOne “After 10 years of steady growth—with every GivingTuesday seeing a big increase in dollars raised over the last, GivingTuesday 2023 saw revenue plateau. Donors in the United States gave $3.1 billion last year, which represented only a .06% increase over 2022.”  Growth may have slowed, but there is still great oppurtunity for non-profits.

It falls on December 3 this year.

Traditionally, most people think of giving to charities like food pantries or dog rescues on this day, not the church that they attend.

Churches certainly are working to improve the communities they serve, but how can they leverage GivingTuesday?

1:  Campaign Planning: Develop a clear and compelling campaign that outlines specific goals, such as funding a community project, supporting missions, or enhancing church programs.  Be specific.  Pick one area of ministry that people will be excited about supporting.  They are more likely to give on this day to a food pantry or missions project than just making a donation to your church.

2:  Promotion: Use social media, newsletters, and announcements during services to spread the word about the campaign.  Build excitement. Set goals and talk about them a lot! Highlight the impact of donations to encourage participation.

3:  Engagement Activities: Organize events or activities leading up to Giving Tuesday, such as service projects or community gatherings, to build excitement and a sense of community.  Help people to see the need that you hope to meet.

4:  Online Giving: Ensure your church has a user-friendly online giving platform. Make it easy for people to donate through your website or social media.  There needs to be a clear button or tab for Giving Tuesday.

5:  Storytelling: Share testimonials and stories of how past donations have made a difference in the community. Personal stories resonate and can encourage giving.

6:  Acts of Kindness:  Encourage people to not only make donations but find ways to demonstrate kindness.  Can they help a neighbor or pay for the person behind them in the drive through? These acts help build excitement.

7:  Follow-Up: After Giving Tuesday, thank donors and share the impact of their contributions. Keeping donors informed fosters a sense of connection and encourages future giving.

By strategically planning and executing these ideas, churches can effectively harness the spirit of GivingTuesday to support their missions and engage their congregations.