GivingTuesday, which started in 2012, is a global giving day that inspires millions to support causes they care about. In 2023 alone, GivingTuesday raised $3.1 billion in the U.S., highlighting just how impactful this one day can be for nonprofits. It’s a chance to connect with supporters, reach new audiences, and make a big difference—all within 24 hours.
With this year’s GivingTuesday quickly approaching on Dec 3, 2024, choosing the right fundraising platform is more important than ever. The platform you use affects how easy it is for donors to give, how smoothly you can manage the campaign, and how successful your efforts will be.
In this article, we’ll cover the must-have features to look for your GivingTuesday fundraising platform, so you’re set up for success.
Download the Ultimate Guide to GivingTuesday and Year-End Fundraising:
Ease of Use
Choosing a GivingTuesday fundraising platform that’s easy for both your team and your donors to use will make your campaign run smoothly and encourage more people to give. Here are some key features that make a platform user-friendly:
Donor Experience
The donor’s journey is at the heart of any successful GivingTuesday campaign. If the donation process is confusing, even the most motivated donor might give up. A few features that can make a big difference include:
- Seamless Donation Flow: The donation process should be straightforward with minimal steps, reducing friction and allowing donors to complete their gifts quickly.
- Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Strong, visually appealing CTAs guide users to take action. Well-designed CTAs can be the difference between a completed donation and someone leaving the page.
The clear “Make a Donation” button above is a great example of a clear CTA.
Staff’s Ability to Navigate The Platform
Your team’s experience with the platform is just as important as the donor’s. If the backend is overly complex, it can make it difficult to make quick adjustments, send updates, or keep everything running smoothly. A user-friendly interface lets your staff handle tasks with ease and pivot quickly to any changes.
Mobile Friendliness: Meeting Your Donors Where They Are
With over 50% of online donations coming from mobile devices, a mobile-friendly platform isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for GivingTuesday. Your donors should have an effortless experience, no matter what device they’re using. Here are the features to keep in mind:
Mobile Optimization
Your GivingTuesday campaign needs to look great and work seamlessly on every device. A platform that automatically adjusts donation pages for different screen sizes—whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop—will ensure that your content is always accessible and easy to interact with. But it’s not just about resizing. Your branding should stay intact, with consistent fonts, images, and messaging, so donors feel confident they’re in the right place. Features like fast loading, intuitive navigation, and clear calls-to-action are crucial for keeping users engaged and driving them to complete their donations.
Mobile Wallets
Convenience is everything when it comes to donations. Platforms that support mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo make it easy for donors to give with just a few taps. This quick process reduces the chance of drop-offs and encourages more completed donations. Venmo, in particular, can appeal to younger audiences who already use it frequently, helping you reach and engage new supporters more effectively.
Customization
GivingTuesday is your chance to show the world who you are, so your campaign should feel authentic to your brand.
Branding and Page Layout
Your donation page is often the first introduction many donors have to your campaign, so it should reflect the heart of your mission. That means using your organization’s colors, logos, and fonts to create a consistent look that instantly tells people, “Yes, I’m in the right place”. Platforms like CauseVox make this simple with drag-and-drop tools, letting you easily adjust the layout, add impactful visuals, and highlight key messages.
(CauseVox’s drag-and-drop editor)
Remember, a well-customized page builds trust. Donors are 75% more likely to give when the page reflects your unique brand, making them feel confident and more likely to complete their donation.
Donation Counter and Visual Appeal
Visual elements like a real-time donation counter can make a huge difference in driving engagement. Seeing contributions add up in real time creates excitement and a sense of momentum, almost like watching a goal come to life.
(Spur Local’s 2023 GivingTuesday campaign counter showing over $1 Million Raised from 5,347 donations)
Customizing these elements—matching them with your campaign’s colors and messaging—helps convey urgency and shows how every contribution matters. This kind of progress can motivate people to join in, knowing their support is making an immediate impact.
Optimized Donation Form
Another crucial part of customization is your donation form. A well-optimized form can be the deciding factor between someone completing their donation or dropping off halfway through. Here are a few key things to include:
- Suggested Donation Amounts: Providing suggested gift amounts helps donors decide quickly on how much to give, and they’re often inspired to choose a slightly higher amount when prompted.
- Recurring Donation Options: Always make recurring gifts visible as an option. Many people want to support causes long-term, and simply highlighting this option can convert one-time donors into lifelong supporters.
- Minimal Fields: Only ask for what you absolutely need. The more fields someone has to fill out, the more likely they are to abandon the process. K
Capabilities to Use Different Fundraising Methods
GivingTuesday is a time to leverage various fundraising methods to boost engagement and donations. A platform that has flexibility in how you raise funds can mean more ways to reach different segments of your audience.
Matching Gifts
Matching gifts are a powerful way to boost donations during GivingTuesday, leveraging the sense of urgency and excitement to drive significant contributions. By partnering with a donor or sponsor willing to match contributions up to a certain amount, you effectively double the impact of every donation, which can be highly motivating for supporters.
(The power of CauseVox’s automated matching in action)
Look for platforms that support automated matching gifts, making it easy to set up, promote, and track these valuable opportunities. Using language like “Every dollar you donate today will be matched, doubling your impact for our cause!” can create a strong incentive for donors to give, knowing their contribution will go even further.
Event Ticketing
If you’d like to incorporate an event, consider using a platform that supports event ticketing. GivingTuesday adjacent events can create a buzz and rally your community around your cause. Hosting special events—whether they are in-person gatherings or virtual meetups—helps to build excitement on or around this impactful day and gives people a reason to engage beyond just donating. A platform with integrated event ticketing ensures a seamless process for supporters to sign up, make contributions, and participate. This not only enhances their overall experience but also maximizes the engagement potential on GivingTuesday, driving further donations and deepening community connections.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Peer-to-peer fundraising is another powerful way to amplify your reach on GivingTuesday by leveraging the enthusiasm of your supporters. By empowering your most passionate advocates to create their own fundraising pages, you can expand your campaign beyond your immediate network, tapping into the connections of your volunteers, donors, and champions.
Select a GivingTuesday fundraising platform that provides user-friendly tools for setting up these peer-to-peer pages—ideally with customizable options that reflect your campaign’s branding and messaging. This makes it simple for supporters to share your cause with their own friends and family, creating a ripple effect of generosity and expanding your impact on GivingTuesday far beyond what your organization could achieve on its own.
Reporting and Analytics: Understanding Your Impact
Data is key to understanding how well your campaign is performing and where you can make improvements. Make sure your platform offers comprehensive reporting features.
Access to Donor Data Throughout and After the Campaign
The ability to access donor data in real time, as well as after the campaign, ensures you can follow up promptly, thank donors, and even plan next year’s campaign more effectively.
Running Specific Reports
Your platform should allow you to run specific reports on donations, matching gifts, donor demographics, and more. Having access to detailed reporting helps you evaluate the success of your campaign in a targeted way. For example, you might run a report on average donation size to determine the effectiveness of your suggested giving levels or generate a report on donor acquisition to see how well your campaign attracted new supporters. You could also analyze matching gift data to identify which matching opportunities had the greatest impact. These insights are crucial not only for assessing your GivingTuesday performance but also for refining your approach for future fundraising events, allowing you to improve your outcomes.
CRM Integration
The ability to integrate with tools you already use can streamline your workflow and improve efficiency. One of the most important integrations to consider is with your CRM. A fundraising platform that seamlessly integrates with your CRM allows you to manage donor information effectively, track interactions, and maintain strong relationships beyond GivingTuesday. This ensures that your donor data remains organized, up-to-date, and ready for use in personalized follow-ups and future campaigns. If the platform doesn’t integrate with your CRM, having a robust built-in CRM is essential for managing supporter engagement and long-term relationship building.
Support and Resources
A platform with reliable support is key to ensuring your GivingTuesday campaign runs smoothly, even when challenges arise.
Availability of Customer Support
It would be a nightmare if something went wrong on GivingTuesday and you couldn’t get it fixed quickly. In moments like that, you need reliable customer support that’s available immediately. Platforms with live chat support are your best bet, as they allow you to get real-time help when it counts the most. The right support can make all the difference between salvaging those crucial donations or losing them entirely when every second matters.
Educational Materials and Resources
In addition to real-time support, having access to educational resources like guides, webinars, and how-to articles can help you stay ahead of potential problems. These tools can empower your team to learn the platform, troubleshoot independently, and make informed decisions throughout the campaign. When a platform offers robust learning materials, it ensures that you’re not left in the dark and that you’ll be well-prepared to handle any challenge.
Payment Processing and Fees
How donations are processed and what fees are involved can significantly impact the funds you ultimately receive.
Multiple Payment Options
Make sure the platform allows donors to use multiple payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, and mobile wallets. This flexibility helps meet donor preferences and facilitates more completed donations.
Donation Tipping
Some platforms allow donors to cover transaction fees by adding a tip. This helps ensure more of each donation goes directly to your cause, which can be a great feature for GivingTuesday campaigns.
CauseVox: Free to Get Started
CauseVox offers a free tier, making it accessible for organizations of all sizes. Starting without upfront costs means you can focus on planning a great campaign without worrying about platform fees eating into your budget.
Make Your Choice and Prepare for Success
Choosing the right GivingTuesday fundraising platform is about aligning with your nonprofit’s needs and goals. A platform that offers ease of use, excellent donor experience, mobile optimization, customization options, and powerful fundraising tools will help you maximize your impact on GivingTuesday.
CauseVox is one such platform that has been specifically designed with the needs of nonprofits in mind. Its intuitive design editor, peer-to-peer capabilities, and transparent fee structure make it a top choice for organizations looking to run a successful GivingTuesday campaign. With the right tools and preparation, you can create an engaging, seamless experience that drives donations and fuels your mission.
Get started with creating your GivingTuesday campaign on CauseVox today!
