11 Nov 4 Giving Tuesday Ideas To Kick Off Your Year-End Giving Season

Giving Tuesday is on December 1st this year, meaning it’s right around the corner. But, unlike years past, this giving Tuesday will be quite different. With COVID-19 still present in the world, everyone who plans on holding giving Tuesday fundraisers needs to think creatively to do so in a safe manner.

So, to ensure that you have a fun, safe, and fruitful Giving Tuesday, here are 4 COVID proof fundraising ideas to kick off your year-end giving season!

Host a Cook-Off

Depending on where you’re located and what the weather looks like on December 1st in your state, a cook-off may or may not be possible. If you live in a colder state, then definitely save this idea for the spring or summer.

Cook-offs are a fantastic way to raise money and kick-off your Giving Tuesday because everyone loves a good home cooked meal. And, many cooks have the go-to recipes that they swear by. By implementing some friendly competition, they can put their skills to the test for a good cause. Best of all, you can host this event outside (weather permitting) where social distancing is easier and you’re able to ensure the safety of everyone who attends.

Online Fundraisers

The safest way to hold a COVID-proof fundraiser is to do it digitally. Of course, it can be difficult to drum up support or interest in an online event, so you have to be creative. Whether it’s having a comedian or guest speaker to entertain over Zoom, or any other out of the box idea you can think of, online fundraisers can work.

When people can’t donate in person, however, you run the risk of not raising as much money. That’s where tools like mobileAxept’s GiveNow come into play. With GiveNow, people can easily donate to your nonprofit through their smartphones. When people can give from their smartphones, they are also more likely to be repeat donors, which can be extremely beneficial for your nonprofit long after Giving Tuesday is over.

Reach out today to get started on integrating GiveNow into your nonprofit fundraising initiatives!

Host a Winter 5k, 10k, and Half-Marathon

Running is the most popular form of exercise in the U.S, so why not take advantage of that by hosting a winter run? Because every runner (hobby jogger, avid, or otherwise) is at a different skill level, having multiple types of runs is a good way to get more people involved.

For example, you could hold two different races – one a 5k, the other a 10k. If you have enough runners interested, a half-marathon can also be included.

There are a few different ways you can make this a COVID-proof race. One way would be making it a virtual race, where people have a week to run the course, which you can post online or make available to those who sign-up. This way, not everyone will be running at the same time, and you can compare times once everyone has finished to find out who wins. Including a trophy or medal for the top finishers is the perfect way to make it competitive!

In addition to charging a small fee to those who participate, encourage them to also reach out to friends, family, and neighbors for donations. This is an example of peer-to-peer fundraising and can help bring in new donors and help spread the word of your fundraising race.

Host a Polar Plunge

Fun, unique, and memorable, a polar plunge is perhaps one of the best ways to ring in Giving Tuesday. Once again, this type of fundraiser can be conducted outside and can be spread out throughout the day to ensure there is no overcrowding.

Polar plungers are rooted in peer-to-peer fundraising and there is a reason they are so popular. They help bring people together for a good cause and can significantly help boost your nonprofit’s fundraising.

By kicking off your Giving Tuesday with any of those fundraising ideas, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your fundraising goal.