5 Tips to Turn Giving Tuesday into Year-Round Fundraising Success

The Lapin Group
Nov 12
3 min read

Every year, Jewish nonprofits pour time, energy, and creativity into #GivingTuesday — and for good reason. It’s a global day of generosity, when inboxes are full, social feeds are buzzing, and donors are primed to give.

But while many organizations see Giving Tuesday as the culmination of their fall fundraising, the most successful ones treat it as a beginning — the opening note in a year-long symphony of engagement.

In other words, don’t let Giving Tuesday be your finale. Let it be your launchpad.

Tip 1: See Giving Tuesday as a Relationship Builder, Not a One-Day Campaign

It’s tempting to focus on the immediate goal: hit your target, raise the funds, post the thank-you graphic, and move on. But the true opportunity lies in what happens after the gift.

Your donors have just raised their hands and said, “I believe in this cause.” What you do next determines whether they’ll say it again in March, June, or next fall.

Try this:

Send a thank-you video featuring staff or volunteers sharing how the day felt from the inside.
Share a follow-up story two weeks later showing one concrete impact of those donations.
Invite Giving Tuesday donors to an exclusive online update in January to see the results of their generosity.

These small acts of stewardship turn one-time donors into long-term partners.

Tip 2: Connect the Moment to Meaning

Giving Tuesday is often about volume — “how many donors can we get today?” But Jewish organizations have a unique opportunity to ground this global event in Jewish values that give it deeper resonance.

Frame your campaign around tzedakah (justice through giving), kehillah (community), and achrayut (responsibility). You might say:

“On this global day of generosity, we’re celebrating a Jewish idea that’s thousands of years old — that every gift, large or small, brings healing and hope to our community.”

This turns a social media trend into an expression of timeless Jewish purpose.

Tip 3: Use Giving Tuesday as Your Springboard

Once Giving Tuesday passes, most nonprofits take a breath. But this is exactly when your audience is most attentive.

They’ve opened your emails. They’ve clicked your links. They’ve made a gift. Don’t disappear — pivot.

Here’s how to use the moment strategically:

Launch your “Season of Tzedakah.” Extend the spirit of Giving Tuesday through Hanukkah and into year-end giving.
Set up an automated welcome series for new donors: three short emails that thank, inspire, and invite them to stay involved.
Invite engagement beyond money. Ask donors to share why they give, volunteer for a program, or write notes of encouragement to recipients.

Each of these touchpoints reinforces your mission and builds a sense of belonging that lasts all year.

Tip 4: Measure What Matters Most

It’s easy to judge Giving Tuesday by the dollar total. But for long-term success, track engagement metrics too:

How many new donors gave?
How many opened your thank-you email?
How many engaged again in December or January?

These numbers reveal whether your campaign is just generating revenue — or building relationships.

Tip 5: Plan for 2026 (Starting Now)

The best way to make Giving Tuesday a true springboard is to capture your lessons while they’re fresh. Take one hour with your team in early December to discuss:

What messaging connected best?
Which donors were new, and how will we welcome them?
How can we better link this to our broader fundraising calendar?

A short debrief now sets you up for a smoother, more strategic year ahead.

In the End: It’s About Relationships, Not Hashtags

Giving Tuesday is a wonderful opportunity — but it’s not a finish line. It’s a reminder that generosity, like community, thrives when it’s nurtured all year long.

When we move from one day of giving to a year of connection, we honor not only our donors, but also our Jewish values — building stronger, more resilient organizations that embody the spirit of tzedakah every day.