As the holiday season approaches, so does the opportunity for your company to make a significant impact through generosity and community spirit. GivingTuesday, the global day of giving on Dec. 3, is right around the corner, and in 2023, raised over $3 billion for charitable causes! This year, we’re excited to once again unite with millions of people around the world in supporting causes that matter, and we invite your company to join us.  

For companies, GivingTuesday is an excellent moment to engage employees, customers, and the community while demonstrating corporate social responsibility. Whether it’s supporting a local charity, contributing to global initiatives, or volunteering your time and skills, every act of kindness counts. 

I often hear from my corporate partners that they don’t have the time they’d like to invest in planning for observance days like GivingTuesday. No need to stress! Whether you have a month, a week, or just a day to prepare, there are always effective strategies you can implement to ensure this day is a success. Here’s how to get ready for GivingTuesday, no matter your timeline. 

One Month to Prepare
With a month to plan, you can create a comprehensive and engaging campaign that maximizes participation and impact. 

1. Set Clear Goals and Outline a Strategy 

  • Determine what you want to achieve, whether it’s a specific fundraising goal, boosting employee participation, or enhancing brand reputation. 
  • Align with a cause that resonates with your company’s values and mission. Consider one of these cause areas, featuring best-in-class charities working on global issues. 
  • Offer multiple ways to give! Encourage employees to participate through volunteer opportunities, donations through your company’s giving program (and any associated matching opportunities), direct donations to a Global Impact Cause Fund, or highlight fundraising contests.  
  • Plan for incentives, such as matching donations or prizes for top contributors. Consider making a donation to your featured cause area for each post using a unique hashtag for your company. Encourage employees and customers to share your posts to increase reach. 

2. Create a Communications Plan 

  • Outline how you’ll promote your GivingTuesday efforts. Use a mix of internal communications (emails, staff intranet sites, meetings) and external channels (social media, newsletters, press releases). Also, consider creating a dedicated GivingTuesday page on your website with clear information on how to participate and donate. 
  • Develop key messages that highlight the importance of GivingTuesday and your selected cause(s).  
  • Share stories, videos, and images that emphasize the importance of giving and volunteering. Share past success stories, the impact of donations, and why it’s important to get involved this year. Reach out to us for help! We can put together a curated selection of charity materials for any of your fundraising needs.   
  • Consider recording a video message from company leaders to inspire participation. And plan for regular updates from your executive team leading up to Dec. 3.

3. Collaborate with Employee Groups 

  • Involve volunteer committees or Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in planning and promoting activities. 
  • Encourage these groups to lead specific initiatives or events. Consider inviting in-office teams to organize charity runs, bake sales, or silent auctions to engage employees and raise funds throughout November (before GivingTuesday). 
  • Host training sessions for ERGs on how to use your company’s fundraising platform, how to share on social media, and ways they can get involved. 
  • Host a virtual or in-person meeting to rally employees. Share the goals, introduce supported charities, and spotlight your staff involvement. (Need a compelling charity speaker? We’re able to connect you with our alliance of leading international charities that can speak the causes your employees care about.) Share compelling stories and testimonials from recent volunteering and giving experiences. 
  • Use the momentum from GivingTuesday to build long-term employee engagement. Plan follow-up activities through ERGs, continue to communicate the impact of your collective efforts, and reach out to Global Impact for support in 2025. 

One Week to Prepare
If you only have a week to prepare, focus on high-impact activities and clear communication to rally your employees quickly. 

1. Quick Goal Setting 

  • Set achievable goals for fundraising and employee participation and communicate these goals clearly to employees through an executive email. 
  • Encourage your customers and clients to participate by offering to match their donations, creating easy donation options on your website, or inviting them to join an event. 
  • Have volunteer committees or Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) act as GivingTuesday ambassadors and provide them with template emails to promote within their teams. 

2. Employee Communications 

  • Create a daily communication schedule across email, intranet, or other platforms to educate employees about the importance of giving, ways to give, and any incentives available for GivingTuesday. Intensify social media efforts and share countdowns, employee stories, and how employees can donate. 
  • The night before GivingTuesday, announce any company-wide incentives or prizes for participation. This could include matching donations, extra time off, gift cards, and more — and can be a great way to drive participation on Dec. 3. 
  • Communicate the outcomes of the campaign, including total funds raised and the impact on the supported causes. And don’t forget to thank participants! Send personalized thank-you notes to everyone who contributes, including employees, leadership, and external partners. Our Employee Giving Hub offers tools for thanking your donors. 

3. Recap and Prepare for Next Year 

  • Hold a debrief meeting to discuss what worked well and what can be improved with more planning time in 2025. Start planning for next year’s employee engagement activity based on feedback and contact us for support. 
  • Review the charities that your employees donated to and build out a plan to stay involved with the top organizations or causes that align with your company’s values. Identifying these charities or causes early will help you prepare for GivingTuesday next year. 
  • Highlight your staff involvement and contributions to nonprofit causes in ongoing communications and your annual social responsibility reports. 

One Day to Prepare
Did you forget to plan for GivingTuesday? If you only have one day to prepare, focus on immediate and compelling communications to drive quick action. 

1. Immediate Goal Setting 

  • Set a clear, urgent goal for GivingTuesday, and communicate this goal in all messaging. 
  • Outline key messages that highlight the importance of GivingTuesday for your specific organization. Encourage your employees to give to the organizations and causes they are most passionate about. Determine the best communication channels for reach employees (email, Slack/Teams, intranet, social media, etc.) and plan accordingly. 

2. Rapid Communication 

  • Send an urgent email from the company executive team explaining GivingTuesday, how it matches your company mission, and encouraging participation. 
  • Post immediately on your intranet or internal messaging platform with a compelling message and clear call to action. Be sure to include a link on where to give (your employee giving platform, Global Impact’s Cause Funds, or a direct charity link). 
  • Provide live updates throughout the day on progress. Celebrate milestones and recognize contributors in real-time. If possible, offer double matching when you reach a certain participation or dollar level. Highlight matching gifts or other incentives in all communications to encourage immediate giving. 
  • At the end of the day, send a thank-you message from company leadership, sharing preliminary results and expressing gratitude for everyone’s participation. 

3. Ask for Help 

  • Reach out to a few employees who are passionate about giving and volunteering to boost your messages. These individuals could be part of an ERG, volunteer committee, or lead a large group within your organization. 
  • Use existing GivingTuesday resources. Take advantage of the resources provided by the GivingTuesday organization, including toolkits, templates, and webinars, or reach out to us for support to engage your employees. 
  • Consider a small celebration or acknowledgment for the team’s efforts, reinforcing the company’s commitment to social responsibility, and ask for their continued support in the following year. 

No matter how much time you have to prepare, your company can make a significant impact on GivingTuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. By setting clear goals, engaging employees, and utilizing effective communication strategies, you can inspire greater giving and build community within your organization!