It’s Giving Tuesday – where are you?

It’s #GivingTuesday. Did your nonprofit organisation participate in this increasingly important marketing campaign?

GivingTuesday, often stylised as #GivingTuesday for purposes of hashtag activism, refers to the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a movement to create a national day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

US Thanksgiving, which was Thursday, 26 November, is a day when families and friends gather for an autumn feast and celebrate the things we are most grateful for in our lives. Friday is known as “Black Friday”, which is the official kick off of the retail season for Christmas and other holidays. Saturday is known as “small business Saturday”, promoting shopping at your local businesses. Monday is known as “Cyber Monday”, promoting sales online.

#GivingTuesday follows the madness of black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, where your charity may partake in a worldwide marketing campaign to encourage and incentivise people to give to the charity of their choice. The movement started in the US in 2012.

#GivingTuesday says “This effort harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners— charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a global moment that is dedicated to giving around the world”.

The results obtained during #GivingTuesday last year were phenomenal. Feel left out? Make plans now for #GivingTuesday 2016. It’s not too late to join the movement.