The Power of Online Fundraising for Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is more than just a day – it’s a global generosity movement that inspires millions to give back. In 2024, 36.1 million supporters across the U.S. came together to raise a record-breaking $3.6 billion in just 24 hours. While this generosity takes many forms, online giving plays a central role, helping nonprofits expand their reach, engage supporters, and increase their fundraising impact.

Today’s donors expect a fast, seamless, and meaningful giving experience – and online fundraising delivers. With the right software, you can empower supporters to give from anywhere, at any time, and turn their single donation into lasting impact.

OneCause Online Fundraising makes it easy to launch dynamic and engaging campaigns that capture supporter attention. With customizable giving sites and intuitive tools, you’ll have everything you need to maximize your fundraising potential.

Ready to make the most of Giving Tuesday? Let’s explore how to build a campaign that fuels your mission.

How to Elevate Your Giving Tuesday Campaign with Online Fundraising

With so many worthy organizations reaching out to donors on and leading up to Giving Tuesday, it’s more important than ever for you to build a standout campaign. A well-crafted and visually engaging online experience can help you break through the noise and drive real results.

Here’s how you can use OneCause Online Fundraising to elevate your Giving Tuesday campaign.

1. Create a Branded Giving Tuesday Campaign Site

Your Giving Tuesday campaign should tell a story, inspire generosity, and feel like an extension of your nonprofit’s brand. With OneCause Online Fundraising, it’s easy to build a custom giving site that brings your mission to life.

Here’s how to make it yours:

Brand Colors: Use your organization’s HEX colors across the giving site (backgrounds, donation buttons, thermometers, etc.).
Logos: Upload your organization’s logo to reinforce recognition.
- Pro Tip: Create custom Giving Tuesday logos for your campaign site to stand out and drive Giving Tuesday engagement!

A cohesive site helps build credibility, create a memorable experience, and inspire donors to give.

2. Tell a Mission-Focused Story

Successful Giving Tuesday campaigns are fueled by connection. Go beyond the ask – tell a story that shows why your mission matters and how donations will make a real impact.

Make sure to highlight:

Why your mission is urgent today.
Who will benefit from donations made on Giving Tuesday.
What impact a gift will make – immediately and long-term.

With OneCause, you can bring your story to life using:

Impactful videos
High-quality images
Authentic testimonials
Website links
HTML source code

By combining clear messaging and authentic visuals, you create a giving experience that’s personal, important, and inspiring – giving donors a clear reason to act this Giving Tuesday.

3. Set a Clear Giving Tuesday Goal and Gamify Progress

Donors want to see their impact in action. Set a clear, visible goal for your Giving Tuesday campaign. Then bring it to life with real-time progress visuals and gamification tools to drive energy and momentum!

Energize your Giving Tuesday campaign using these OneCause Online Fundraising tools:

Progress Thermometers: Show live updates of your campaign’s progress.
Leaderboards: Spark friendly competition by showcasing top donors.
Goal Visuals: Highlight tangible impact as donations grow.

By setting a goal and gamifying the journey, you fuel participation and turn Giving Tuesday into a collective act of generosity.

4. Enable Personal Fundraising Pages

Take your fundraising to the next level by enabling personal fundraising pages through your online fundraising software. By doing this, every supporter becomes a champion for your cause. Whether it’s passionate donors, loyal volunteers, or partner organizations, they can create their own personalized page to share your mission and raise funds on your behalf.

Here’s what makes Personal Fundraising Pages a game-changer:

Quick set-up: Supporters can launch a page in minutes.
Personal touch: Donors can customize their page with their own story or message.
Expand your reach: Empower ambassadors to bring in new donors from their own networks.
Boost engagement: Keep the excitement going with text notifications and social sharing.
Celebrate success: Recognize top fundraisers with the “Leading Fundraiser” trophy badge.

It’s not just about giving – it’s about connecting. As supporters see their progress grow, the excitement builds. By empowering your community to champion your mission, you spark momentum, deepen engagement, and create a shared sense of achievement. Together, you’ll build a network of advocates who believe in your mission.

5. Embed Donation Forms

This Giving Tuesday (and every day), it’s important to meet donors where they are and make it easy for them to support your mission in the moment. That’s why embedded donation forms are essential for Giving Tuesday success.

Here’s how to make the most of embedded donation forms:

Place forms in high-traffic locations like your website homepage to capture the attention and hearts of your visitors.
Include donation forms in partner or sponsor pages to expand your reach and inspire new audiences.

But the magic isn’t just in placing a form – it’s in investing in a platform where forms are built to convert. The right form guides donors effortlessly from interest to action, removing friction and encouraging completion.

With OneCause embedded donation forms, you’re able to raise more dollars, from more supporters, in less time because of these key features:

Digital Wallet
Secure Payment Processing
Mobile Optimized
Recurring Donations

When your forms are optimized to convert, every click is an opportunity. Use this tool to level up your Giving Tuesday strategy.

6. Enable Easy, Secure, and Mobile-Friendly Giving

Make sure your donation process is fast, simple, and secure – especially on high-traffic days like Giving Tuesday. 63% of donors say they prefer to give online using a credit or debit card. That’s why it’s essential to offer a mobile-optimized, intuitive donation experience.

Here’s how OneCause helps you deliver:

Digital Wallet options, including ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo.
PCI-compliant security that protects your donors’ data.
Optimized giving forms designed to work seamlessly on any device.

When you remove barriers and make giving fast and secure, you not only increase donations – you build trust and loyalty that lasts long after Giving Tuesday.

7. Use Text2Give® as a Key Donation Channel

When it comes to Giving Tuesday, convenience matters. That’s why Text2Give® is one of the most powerful ways to meet your donors where they are – their phones! With a simple text, supporters can give in seconds without the hassle of long forms or complicated steps.

With Text2Give®, you can:

Gather donations anywhere, at any time, with a seamless mobile experience.
Create a unique keyword for your campaign and promote it across social media, emails, and print, leading up to Giving Tuesday and on the day of.
Accept one-time or recurring gifts and thank donors instantly.

Why it works:

Text2Give® simplifies giving, motivating more people to participate. It also gives you the tools to:

Customize donation amounts
Collect valuable donor data to create ongoing engagement
Offer secure payment options, from credit cards to digital wallets

With Text2Give, every text sent is a chance to spark generosity, making it an essential channel to keep donors energized on days like Giving Tuesday.

8. Motivate Donors with Matching Gifts

Matching Gifts is a proven way to boost donor engagement and inspire more giving. When supporters know their gift will be doubled, they’re more likely to donate, give at higher amounts, and act quickly. This means raising more funds in a shorter period of time, which is just what you need for a high-energy Giving Tuesday campaign. In addition to increased donations, matching gifts are also a great way to strengthen relationships with sponsors and high-value donors by showcasing their generosity to your community.

Matching Gifts can be a powerful fundraising strategy for Giving Tuesday, but they only work if your supporters know about them. That’s where OneCause makes it simple:

Activate a match in minutes through your fundraising software.
Highlight it with a matching donor banner at the top of your giving site.
Recognize the matching donor on your fundraising page and donor wall, or keep them anonymous if they prefer.

And here’s where the strategy comes together: combine matching gifts with personal fundraising pages to empower your ambassadors and their networks. When personal fundraisers share the match with their supporters, the excitement multiplies – and so does your impact!

9. Create Custom Impact Levels

Tangible impact helps donors feel confident in their giving. Use customizable impact levels and preset amounts to clearly communicate how gifts will be used.

With online fundraising solutions, you can craft clear, compelling giving experiences that showcase the real impact of each gift. By incorporating customizable impact statements and preset donation levels into your donation forms and giving sites, you help donors understand exactly how their contributions make a difference.

For example:

$50 – Supply groceries for a family for a week.
$100 – Fund one night of emergency shelter and services.
$500 – Help a family transition into stable housing.

Impact statements on a donation form are important for several reasons:

Builds trust: Donors want to know that their gift is making a difference. Impact statements clearly communicate how funds will be used, helping supporters understand the value of their donation – especially on Giving Tuesday, when they’re choosing between many meaningful causes.
Inspires action: Clear impact motivates quick decisions – which is essential for a successful one-day Giving Tuesday campaign. The more tangible the outcome, the more likely supporters are to complete the donation on the spot.

Donation Page Examples to Inspire Your Giving Tuesday Campaign

To help you create an easy-to-use donation, we’ve gathered 3 examples of successful online fundraising pages.

Believe Ranch & Rescue

Believe Ranch & Rescue provides horses with medical attention, rehabilitation, and love – protecting them from abuse and neglect. They’ve rescued over 300 horses since they began their mission in 2016.

Top Features of this Online Fundraising Page:

Impact Statements: Donation options from $25 to $5,000 clearly connect each donation level to real outcomes – empowering supporters at all giving levels.
Gift Matching Call-to-Action: A top-of-page banner highlights the “Double Your Impact” gift matching opportunity, motivating donors by inviting them to maximize their contributions.
Powerful Imagery: Authentic, high-quality photos build emotional connection and bring the mission to life.
Giving Tuesday Branding: Custom visuals and the themed title “For the Love of Horses” make the Giving Tuesday campaign both mission-driven and attention-grabbing.

Nevada Donor Network Foundation

The Nevada Donor Network Foundation supports lifesaving programs and urgent healthcare needs by raising funds to grow organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation efforts.

Top Features of this Online Fundraising Page:

Strong Branding: Consistent use of the organization’s logo and brand colors reinforces credibility and trust.
Powerful Storytelling: Mission and vision statements, paired with a moving success story from someone impacted by the organization, build emotional connection and inspire support.
Honorary Giving: Tribute donations made in honor or celebration of loved ones are displayed on the page, adding meaningful personalization.
Recent Donor Recognition: A real-time donor feed highlights recent gifts and amounts – creating transparency, energy, and giving momentum.

NEOMED Free Clinic

In 2024, the NEOMED Free Clinic surpassed its Giving Tuesday goal of $15,000, raising a total of $18,627 using OneCause Online Fundraising. Because of their efforts, they were able to grow their impact, providing essential healthcare services to underserved communities.

Top Features of this Online Fundraising Page:

High-Quality Images: The donation page features high-resolution photos of patients, volunteers, and the clinic in action, bringing donors face-to-face with the impact of their gifts.
Impact Statements: Giving levels outline how each donation – from basic medical supplies to full clinic visits – directly supports care for underserved patients.
Fundraising Thermometer: A live thermometer visualizes the campaign’s momentum and inspires continued support.
Personal Fundraising Pages: Supporters can set up their own fundraising pages to rally their networks around the clinic’s mission, helping to expand reach and create a strong sense of community.

Maximize Your Giving Tuesday Success

Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to inspire generosity and deepen donor connections. OneCause Online Fundraising software makes it easy to launch a campaign that builds momentum, engages your community, and drives results. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday your most impactful yet.

More Giving Tuesday and year-end resources are just a click away: