Top 10 tips for GivingTuesday

Here are our top 10 tips for bringing in money, volunteers, donations of goods or new advocates for your cause on any day of the year – including GivingTuesday.

1. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. Tattoo this on the back of your hand, and remind yourself often.
   
2. People don’t give to causes, people give to people. People give when someone they like and trust asks them to give. So ask, and ask your supporters to ask for you.
3. People don’t give for causes, they give for people. People give when they’re able to identify with the eventual recipient.
4. Diversity equals strength.The more sources of funds you have, the stronger your organisation will be, financially.
5. Hold your first fundraising event to make mistakes. Hold your second to make money. And don’t change for change’s sake – learn from your hard-won experience. If last year’s trashand-treasure sale was a huge success, there’s no reason to run a trivia night this year instead.
6. The magic word is “Thanks”. Tell your donors how very, very grateful you are, and tell them often. Focus on the donor, not the donation. When you’re saying thanks, don’t ask for another donation at the same time (it’s not the right moment), but do invite the donor to continue the relationship.
7. Just because someone didn’t give yesterday doesn’t mean they won’t today. Be persistent up to the maximum limits of politeness.
8. From little things big things grow. People give tentatively at first; you have to cultivate the relationship and make it meaningful for them before they’ll give significant amounts.
9. Make your donors your friends, and make your friends your donors. Building relationships is a fundraiser’s most important job – and a pleasure.
10. There’s no such thing as easy money. The more you put into fundraising, the more you’ll get out of it. But if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. See rule 1, or check the back of your hand.