A comprehensive 3-step guide to planning a Generous Tuesday campaign

Hey, Generous Tuesday is coming up! You may not be as familiar with it, but you should know that Giving Tuesday only happens once a year. It's an important date if you're fundraising for a good cause - and a great way to raise more money for your PavelAndreev.ORG fundraising campaign. We've put together a complete guide of fundraising tips and ideas so you can plan a Giving Tuesday campaign that will not only be a huge success, but spread kindness to the people and organizations you care about.

Online crowdfunding for Giving Tuesday

"Giving Tuesday, often stylized online as #GivingTuesday or #GivingTuesday, is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, it's a day of widespread giving designed to kick off the holiday season on the right note of volunteerism.

Over the years, we've seen many Generous Tuesday campaigns in which we at the PavelAndreev.ORG platform have participated. People use our crowdfunding platform to raise funds for personal, medical and charitable causes, and we have a 0% platform fee for organizers.

1. Determine your approach for your Generous Tuesday campaign

For Giving Tuesday, people often fundraise for something they plan to do themselves (like delivering food to people in need) or donate to an organization that already does this kind of work. Alternatively, you may decide to promote your fundraising campaign for yourself or a loved one in conjunction with this day of giving. The approach you take to plan a campaign for Generous Tuesday will vary depending on which of these camps you fall into.

Running a fundraising campaign

In this case, you are raising money to fund an action you plan to carry out, such as delivering food to people in need or organizing a beach cleanup.

• Be very clear and transparent about exactly how the money you raise will be used so that people understand what their donation is going towards.
• Instill confidence in potential donors by being vulnerable, telling a personal story that connects you to your cause, or by matching donations to your cause.

Raising money to donate to a well-known organization

In this case, you're raising money for an organization like The Humane Society or American Heart Association.

• Make the focus of your donation page shift from legitimizing your efforts to revealing your personal investment in the cause.
• Why is this particular need important to you? Make a clear and compelling narrative to inspire people to make donations.
• Try to play up the cause by thinking of fundraising ideas. For example, if you're fundraising for an animal shelter, consider organizing a dog bath.

Raising money for yourself or a loved one

This category goes without saying as you are raising money for yourself, a family member or even a friend.

• Think about how you could tie your fundraising into an online or in-person event for Giving Tuesday.
• Example One: Issue a "local challenge" in your neighborhood to help neighbors in need after a fire in their house.
• Example Two: Promote a 24-hour "mini-goal" for donations as part of a larger fundraiser for a loved one battling cancer.

2. Implement best practices for your Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign.

If you've never run a crowdfunding campaign before, here are some guidelines to think about as you plan your Giving Tuesday campaign.

Get your team together

We recommend teaming up with others - friends, family, anyone you know who shares a passion for your cause. Fundraising is more fun when you're not overwhelmed and can divide tasks among your team, like posting updates and writing thank you notes. Plus, when it's time to share your fundraising campaign, you'll have a much greater reach with your combined social networks.

Tell your story with photos

One way to do this is to use images and videos, which are a great way to tell your story honestly while adding legitimacy and interest.

Keep donors in the loop with updates on the charity campaign

As with any fundraiser, it's important to post frequent fundraising updates to make donors part of the story. Show what their donations mean to you and the beneficiaries and you'll keep people connected to your fundraising campaign. You're also more likely to inspire repeat donations and shares - including shares related to #GivingTuesday or #GivingTuesday.

Create a hashtag for your fundraising campaign

Speaking of hashtags, consider creating a fundraising hashtag, then pair it with #TuesdayTuesday when you share it on social media. Hashtags help other people find your fundraising campaign and connect with it.

Express your gratitude

Last, but definitely not least, don't forget to thank your donors. If people feel good about the contributions they've made this year, chances are many of them will be ready to donate again in 365 days.

3. Put these Giving Tuesday fundraising ideas into action

If you want to add even more fuel to your Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign, consider these proven fundraising methods:

1. Partner with a local business

Get businesses to pledge matching donations and/or sponsor your fundraising efforts. The more naturally connected the small business is to your cause, the more receptive they will be. For example - local restaurants and coffee shops could give you a venue to host your event.

2. Spark interest with a challenge

If there's a cause you care about, challenge like-minded people to start a similar fundraiser in their area. A great example of this is the #BlackPantherChallenge started by Frederick Joseph. After his Help Kids See "Black Panther" fundraising campaign took off, he challenged others to follow suit in their neighborhoods and eventually started a movement.

3. Fundraise at work

Start a fundraising challenge at your workplace. Place empty jars around your space and encourage co-workers to put small amounts of money in and in a few weeks it will have a huge effect.

4. Use your social network

Start posting compelling messages on social media and support them with other social fundraising tools. This can be particularly effective if you have teamed up with others and can tap into your combined social networks to spread the word about your fundraising.

Check out our articles related to social media:

• 5 ways to spread the word about your fundraising campaign and reach more people
• How to use social media to run a successful fundraising campaign
• 10 ideas on how to promote a donation campaign on Facebook

5. Plan an event

The holiday season is a festive time. Consider pairing your online fundraiser with a real-world event. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive - there are a wide range of event fundraising ideas to choose from. How about an ice rink date or a barbecue dinner? With a tablet or smartphone in hand, it's easy to accept donations on the spot (perhaps as the price of admission). Just make sure people know the event is a fundraiser when you invite them.

These recommendations from Paul Andreev will help you run a successful fundraising campaign. You can quickly and easily organize a fundraiser on PavelAndreev.ORG.

Double your donations by fundraising for Giving Tuesday

Whatever ideas you use to make your Giving Tuesday campaign a success, they need to reinforce each other and connect to your cause in a way that feels right. We're here to support you every step of the way with top fundraising tips and easy fundraising ideas.

Giving to Generous Tuesday is only once a year. Plan a campaign, get your friends involved and turn compassion into action.