GivingTuesday is next week… what now?

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving! We're grateful to partner with nonprofits like you, doing the hard work in your communities every day.

GivingTuesday is one week away. If you're behind on prep, you're not alone, and there's still time to move the needle. A well-timed email with suggested gift amounts can boost conversions 10-20%. A quick phone video often performs better than polished content. And spotting the 3% of your audience who could fund your next program? That's the kind of shift that changes everything.

This week, we're sharing last-minute moves you can implement now: mobilizing your board with pre-written messages, adding small, matching challenges to create urgency, and rethinking your approach to focus on major gifts rather than mass appeals.

The take-home template

GivingTuesday is one week away, and you still need graphics? Canva's GivingTuesday templates have ready-to-customize social posts, banners, countdown graphics, and progress trackers. Build awareness, share real-time updates, or celebrate milestones without starting from scratch.

Snackable snippets

5 last-minute GivingTuesday actions to do now 📖

Running short on time? Start by sending one emotional email with suggested gift amounts, which boosts conversion 10-20%. Then share a quick phone video on social, mobilize your board with pre-written messages, and add a small match to create urgency. Even a modest matching challenge increases conversion rates by 2-3x, giving donors a reason to act now rather than later.

Leveraging untapped generosity on GivingTuesday 📖

Despite economic uncertainty, people still respond generously when asked. Research shows that between 50-73% of people don't remember being asked to give, yet 9% of those who weren't asked would have donated if solicited. What's more, expanding outreach could unlock an estimated $52 billion in additional annual charitable giving.

GivingTuesday but make it major gifts 🎧

In this Nonprofit Lowdown episode, Rhea Wong flips the typical GivingTuesday approach. Instead of mass emails, use the day to spot major donor prospects. She explains how to segment donors into two lanes (annual givers and your top 30 prospects) and why in-person meetings boost major gifts by 70%.

For your inspiration folder

The Red Cross is incentivizing year-end giving with tiered thank-you gifts while supplies last. Donors who give $125 receive a multitool flashlight, $250 gets a stainless steel tumbler, and $500 earns a bamboo cheese board. These tangible rewards create urgency and give donors something physical to show for their generosity, a smart strategy for converting hesitant supporters and encouraging gift upgrades during the competitive holiday season.