7 Tactics to Amplify Your Impact on Giving Tuesday
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday stemmed from one prevailing desire: to inspire others to do good. Today, it has not only grown into a global movement for generosity; it also serves as a powerful tool that corporations and CSR leaders use to encourage employees to engage with important causes.
To help you make the most out of this day at your organisation, here are seven tactics that can amplify your efforts.
1. Special Incentives
One effective way to drive engagement is by offering limited-time incentives such as matching donations, especially for charities or causes you want to highlight.
Employees are much more likely to donate to a cause if they know that their contributions will catalyse a much larger impact. If you have a year-round matching programme, consider offering a 1.5:1 or 2:1 matching programme to celebrate and encourage generosity around Giving Tuesday.
Leverage purpose-built CSR software to offer employees motivators like cause cards. These are pre-purchased funds that can be given and redeemed like a gift card towards charitable causes. This kind of initiative can significantly boost excitement and drive participation with your company’s online giving process.
2. Employee-Nominated Grants
Empower your team by allowing them to nominate nonprofits they care about to receive a corporate grant for Giving Tuesday. Our data shows that when employees (particularly Gen Z and millennials) feel like their voices are heard, and their passions are supported, they are more likely to engage deeply with other giving and volunteering initiatives at the workplace. This not only fosters a sense of ownership and personal connection for employees but also introduces your organisation to a diverse range of causes and charities that might not have been considered otherwise.
3. Skills-Based Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering is one of the best ways to spread generosity on Giving Tuesday. Not only do employees get to step away from their desks, which is great for their well-being, but skills-based volunteering, in particular, enables them to use their skills beyond the day-to-day.
For example, a marketing team might assist a nonprofit with their social media strategy, or a group of software developers could help build a new website for an organisation in need. These activities offer valuable support nonprofits while also providing employees with fulfilling experiences that enhance professional development.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers
Giving back doesn’t engage employees, it can also act as a bridge between your business and your community. Connect with those outside your company by letting employees create and manage individual fundraising pages to raise money for eligible nonprofits. Through these self-led initiatives, employees become advocates for the causes they support, leveraging their personal networks to raise funds and awareness.
Peer-to-peer fundraising can be one-off events, pat of broader campaigns, or even team competitions. By empowering employees to lead these efforts and tap into their vast networks, you can significantly extend the reach of charitable engagement.
5. Leverage Employee Resource Groups
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), or affinity groups, are groups built around shared identities or interests. But more than that, they can be a great asset when mobilising their members to support relevant causes. When you involve ERGs, you tap into passionate advocates who can drive engagement and participation across the organisation.
ERGs can organise events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising activities that align with their group’s focus – ultimately, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. For example, a women’s ERG might support charities focused on empowering women and girls, while a sustainability ERG might organise a cleanup event or support environmental nonprofits.
6. Friendly Competitions and Goal Setting
Another strategy is to introduce a friendly competition between business units or regions. Alternatively, you could set collective goals or targets to hit as a company around Giving Tuesday. Providing regular reporting on progress can motivate teams to surpass their targets. The gamification of philanthropy can add a fun element for employees that increases involvement and contributions.
7. Storytelling and Reflection
Encourage employees to share their giving stories and experiences through internal channels or showcase their impact on social media. Highlighting personal stories can inspire others and create a sense of solidarity and shared purpose.
Furthermore, recognising and celebrating the efforts of employees who participate in Giving Tuesday activities can further boost morale and encourage ongoing involvement.
Ultimately, incorporating these tactics into your Giving Tuesday plans, you can significantly maximise your impact and create a meaningful experience for your employees and communities. Finally, remember to continue the momentum from this occasion to cultivate an even more engaged and impactful workforce as you prepare for the holiday giving season and beyond.
Want even more helpful tips to take your CSR strategy to the next level?
Get in touch with our social impact experts! These passionate professionals are here to talk through where you are, where you want to be, and provide you with a clear road map on how to get there.