Recap From a Record-Breaking GivingTuesday

Congratulations to the charities who participated in this year’s GivingTuesday.

Your tireless fundraising efforts—from planning events to sending out countless marketing emails to having heartfelt conversations with donors and so much more–paid off. GivingTuesday 2024 was an extraordinary success! 

‍

What are the results of GivingTuesday 2024?

Cue the drumroll! The GivingTuesday results that charities like yours worked so hard to achieve have arrived.

💸 Together, you inspired 43,000 Canadians to donate an incredible $16.2 million through CanadaHelps digital tools on GivingTuesday. 

🏆 The donations raised on GivingTuesday will fuel the work of more than 10,000 different CanadaHelps charities. This is especially important at a moment when demand for the services charities provide is at a peak across the country.

📈 The total funds raised on GivingTuesday 2024 amounted to a record-breaking 19.5% increase from 2023. Increasing our year-over-year fundraising results by nearly 20% was only possible with the vital work charities like you carry out every day.

🆕 28% of 2024’s GivingTuesday donors were first-time CanadaHelps donors. This is huge!

Kudos for smashing records and making this one of our most successful GivingTuesdays ever. Our success speaks to your impact and the spirit of generosity you inspire. 

But it’s still early in the fundraising season! There are a few more weeks until the December 31st tax deadline. The last stretch of the year is crucial—charities typically raise 30% of their annual revenue across December. 

Keep up the momentum and finish strong by following CanadaHelps fundraising best practices, informed by our Ultimate Guide to Year-end Giving.

‍

How to keep fundraising strong in December

‍

1. Use a Multi-channel Donor Communication Strategy

Are you reaching out to your donors through multiple communication channels? Doing so is especially important in the last stretch of the fundraising season. Since each channel has its strengths, using multiple donor touchpoints together increases your chances of conversion. 

‍

Donor touchpoint channels:

Given Canada Post’s service disruption, charities relying on direct mail fundraising may experience delayed donations. To prevent interruption in donations during the crucial Giving Season we encourage charities to register for our Electronic Funds Transfers. EFT allows you to receive funds securely in real-time.

‍

2. Show the Impact of Donations

Showcasing the impact of donations communicates their value to the donor and inspires their continued support. The ideal way to showcase impact is through high-quality content. 

Impact content to share

• Stories about individuals or communities who positively benefit from donations
• Videos that capture your mission and vision
• Infographics that use visuals to highlight statistics and achievements

Here’s an example of an impact story told through an infographic, custody of Calgary Foodbank.

‍

3. Offer a Variety of Giving Options 

Providing multiple ways to donate gives donors options. Offering different giving options is important for charities to meet the needs and preferences of various types of donors.

Giving options to offer:

• One-Time Donations
• Recurring Donations
• Stocks and Securities Donations

‍

4. Share Campaign Updates Regularly

Sharing regular updates about your fundraising campaign over social media and through email are powerful ways to update your audience, celebrate contributions, and create urgency around the end of your campaign. 

Strategies for social media updates:

• Regularly share your campaign's progress
• Share updates as you reach your campaign’s milestones and goals
• Engage with your followers
• Encourage your audience to share posts
• Create and use a campaign-specific hashtag
• Use a progress bar to track your progress towards your fundraising goal
• Post countdowns update in the campaign’s final hours
• Include a clear donate link or donate button in every social post

‍

Finish Strong 

As the year winds down, let’s bring home a strong finish this fundraising season.

Remember, you have until the end of the month to raise money before the December 31st tax deadline. Keep sharing your Donation Form with your supporters! 

For more tips and advice on year-end fundraising, download CanadaHelps' ultimate guide to supercharging year-end fundraising.