December is often all about year-end goals — closing deals, hitting targets, and finishing strong — but the most powerful results come from focusing on people first.
And this year, people around the world need us more than ever. Massive federal funding cuts earlier this year have drastically reduced support for global causes, impacting access to food, health care, and education for millions. At Global Impact, we’re deeply concerned about this drop in funding and are calling on companies and employees alike to step up for global causes.
That’s where GivingTuesday (Dec. 2) can help. It’s not just another giving day; it’s the day for generosity, volunteerism, and giving back. GivingTuesday is an opportunity to strengthen your culture, build community, and create moments that employees genuinely want to be part of.
Employees who feel their company values social impact are more engaged, more loyal, and more likely to stay. GivingTuesday gives you a ready-made platform to show your people that you care about them and about the causes they care about. It’s a great opportunity to boost giving and participation in your workplace giving campaign, especially for those most affected by global funding shortfalls this year.
It starts with your people
Too many companies treat employee giving campaigns as a checkbox exercise. The most successful see GivingTuesday for what it is: a chance to connect employees’ values and desire to make a difference with the company’s purpose.
When you frame GivingTuesday as a people-first initiative rather than just a fundraising moment, everything changes.
1. Set clear goals around employee experience, not just dollars raised.
Before launching, ask: “What do we want our people to feel?” Are you building connection, boosting participation, strengthening culture, or enhancing your employer brand?
Align GivingTuesday with causes that resonate with your company’s mission and workforce. Offer multiple ways to give (like volunteering, donation matching, contests, etc.) so everyone can participate meaningfully.
Plan for incentives that encourage engagement; match gifts, offer PTO for reaching goals, recognize top contributors, or make a company donation for each social media post using your campaign hashtag. The goal isn’t just to raise funds — it’s to make your people feel valued and empowered.
2. Design a year-end campaign that reflects your culture.
Employees want to see their company champion causes that matter. Use GivingTuesday as a launchpad for your year-end giving with clear, inspiring storytelling.
Promote across internal channels (email, intranet, meetings, and newsletters) and create a simple GivingTuesday message with easy ways to get involved.
Share stories, photos, and videos in thank you messages. A message from company leaders can go a long way in motivating participation too.
3. Match employee gifts to show your company walks the walk.
Here’s what the data tells us: When employers match donations, over 80% of employees are more likely to donate to a cause. But matching isn’t just about doubling the money; it’s about sending a clear message that your company believes in this work and wants to amplify employee generosity.
Share your matching gift strategy early and often. Help employees understand exactly how their contribution becomes something greater. Consider offering double matching when you hit certain participation or dollar milestones; it’s a powerful way to drive last-minute engagement on Dec. 2.
4. Use updates and stories to inspire giving.
Stories connect people to purpose. Don’t just ask for donations, share why they matter. Here’s draft language you can use on your giving portal page to get you started:
Your passion can drive real change this GivingTuesday. Through [CAMPAIGN NAME], you can support global causes that align with your values, whether it’s fighting poverty, advancing education, protecting the environment, or responding to humanitarian crises. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.
Payroll deduction makes giving effortless; set it and forget it with automatic contributions from each paycheck. We match your donation dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact. You’ll support causes you care about, from emergency relief to long-term development, while potentially enjoying tax advantages. Plus, you’ll join employees across [COMPANY] to make a difference together this GivingTuesday.
Leverage tools like our giving persona quiz to help employees discover charities that align with their personal values. The more personalized the experience, the more meaningful their participation becomes.
5. Activate your employee champions.
Every organization has people who genuinely care about giving and volunteering. Identify these natural champions — they might be part of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteer committees, or are simply passionate individuals who lead large groups. These champions amplify your message authentically. Their peers trust them, and that trust drives participation far more effectively than top-down communications alone.
Empower them as GivingTuesday ambassadors. Provide template communications and toolkits they can use to promote within their teams. Host training sessions on how to use your company’s fundraising platform, share on social media, and get involved. Host a virtual or in-person rally where you share goals, introduce supported charities, and spotlight staff involvement. We have template language, toolkits, and more to share with your champions in the Employee Giving Hub.
Need a compelling speaker? Let us connect you with our Charity Alliance organizations that can speak to causes your employees care about most.
6. Make giving tangible and unforgettable.
Clicking “donate” online matters, but nothing compares to the impact of hands-on giving experiences. GivingTuesday is the perfect time to host a custom event that brings your workforce together around shared purpose, especially the global causes that are facing funding gaps and employees are concerned about. Our Charity Alliance members offer some of the best opportunities available. See recent examples from Feed My Starving Children, Heifer International, UNICEF USA, and the International Rescue Committee to get started.
When employees can see, touch, and participate in giving, it becomes real. It becomes personal. These experiences create lasting memories and deepen emotional investment in your company’s mission. People remember how they felt during these moments and that memory shapes their loyalty and engagement for months to come.
7. Build long-term engagement, not just one-day impact.
GivingTuesday is Dec. 2, but your people-first approach shouldn’t end there.
Plan follow-up activities through ERGs and volunteer committees. Continue communicating the collective impact of your efforts. Hold a debrief meeting to discuss what worked well and what you’d improve with more planning time next year. Review which charities your employees gave to most and build out a plan to stay involved with top organizations that align with your company’s values.
Highlight your staff involvement and contributions in ongoing communications and your annual corporate social responsibility reports. Make your people’s generosity visible and celebrated throughout the year.
8. Take action: Support global causes this year.
Global communities are counting on corporate partners more than ever this year. With sweeping cuts to U.S. federal funding for international aid, critical programs addressing hunger, health, and humanitarian crises are under threat.
Now is the moment for companies to step up and fill the gap. Your organization can make a tangible difference by highlighting global causes in your GivingTuesday campaign and beyond.
One easy action item: Choose at least one international charity from our incredible Charity Alliance to feature in your company’s campaign. By doing so, your organization helps sustain life-saving programs and demonstrate a global commitment your employees can be proud of while connecting staff with a new organization and mission they can connect with.
The real ROI of people-first giving
When you approach GivingTuesday as an employee engagement initiative first and a fundraising opportunity second, remarkable things happen. Your workforce feels seen and valued. Your culture strengthens. People stay longer because they work somewhere that actually means something.
And when that generosity extends to global causes, the impact multiplies, reaching far beyond office walls to communities around the world.
Employees want to work for companies that care. They want their paychecks to come from organizations aligned with their values. They want to be part of something bigger. GivingTuesday, approached with a people-first mindset, delivers on all three fronts.
This year, resist the urge to treat GivingTuesday as a transactional moment. Instead, invest in making it transformational for your team and for the world. Focus on your people. The impact on both your employees and on the causes you support will far exceed your expectations.
Ready to make GivingTuesday your company’s most powerful people initiative?
Reach out to [email protected] for customized event and fundraising ideas, campaign materials, tracking tools, and support to create an experience your employees will genuinely love.
