GivingTuesday is Tuesday, December 1, 2026, according to GivingTuesday.org. It's the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and everyone's inbox will be loud that day. Here's how to be heard.
Pick one need
Not "support our mission." One thing, with a number you can explain in a sentence: winter coats for the kids in your reading program, a new freezer for the pantry, scholarships for summer camp. A single, concrete goal gives people something to picture and something to finish.
Set the goal from what you've actually raised before. If last year's GivingTuesday brought in a modest amount, aim a little higher, not wildly higher. Hitting your goal at 4 p.m. and saying so is a lovely email to send.
Line up a match, if you can
Early November is the time to ask a board member, a local business or a longtime supporter whether they'd match gifts up to a set amount. A match gives people a reason to give today instead of someday. Only mention a match when there really is one, and say exactly how it works.
Write three short messages now
The heads-up, a week before. One paragraph: what you're raising money for, the goal, and the date.
The day itself. One message in the morning with the story and the link. One short update in the afternoon with your progress, in real numbers: "We're two-thirds of the way to 40 coats."
The thank-you, December 2. Tell everyone what happened, including the people who didn't give. Share the total and what it buys.
Write all three in November, while you have time to think. On the day you'll be busy refreshing the donation page.
Make giving easy
Use one link. Test it on your phone, then ask the least techy person you know to try it too. Make sure the page names the same need as your email, so nobody wonders if they're in the right place.
Give people more than one way to help
GivingTuesday.org calls the day part of a global generosity movement, and generosity isn't only money. Invite people to sign up for a volunteer shift, drop off coats, or share your post with three friends. Someone who can't give this year may well be next year's monthly donor.
Ask your volunteers and board to share
The day before, send them the link and a sentence they can post as it is. Ready-made words turn sharing into a quick copy and paste.
Thank fast, then report back
Send a thank-you to every giver within the week. For any single gift of $250 or more, donors need a written acknowledgment from you to claim the deduction (IRS Publication 1771). Our January guide, Send last year's giving statements, covers what it has to say.
Then, in January, tell everyone what the money did. A photo of kids in their new coats is a warm start on next year's ask.
Keep reading
- Generosity Toolbox (opens in a new tab), from GivingTuesday
- Email campaign ideas to boost year-end fundraising (opens in a new tab), from AYNI
Sources
- GivingTuesday.org (GivingTuesday is December 1, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- GivingTuesday, Generosity Toolbox (opens in a new tab)
- IRS Publication 1771, Charitable Contributions, Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements (opens in a new tab)
Updated October 9, 2026