Communication Guide
Social Media
Click one of the social media icons above to see tips, tricks, and sample posts to get you well on your way to mastering being a social media champion
Facebook Tips
Looking to get the word out with Facebook? This guide will help you get started and on the road to creating a successful strategy.
Below is a list of ways you can begin engaging your community for Giving Day!
Talk it up! Post interesting information about the area that you are supporting and share success stories and photos. Ask your followers questions to engage them in dialogue. Remember to keep posts brief! You don’t want to lose your audience by presenting lengthy updates.
Create a Facebook event. Invite your constituents to be part of Giving Day so that they can be reminded as the day gets closer AND see who else is participating. Also, tell people to invite others. It doesn’t matter whether or not you are hosting an event onsite; the whole event is worth celebration!
Twitter Tips
Want to quickly engage donors and share information about your fundraising efforts? Twitter is instant and efficient!
Below you will find a few tips to help you have success.
Use #hashtags and @handles. Whenever you share information include the GivingDay handle and #givingday to further spread the word. Show that you are a part of Giving Day by using the hashtag in all of your tweets.
Don’t just follow! Become a part of the conversation. Let people know that you are out there and engaged. Respond to tweets like you are holding a conversation. You never know where this may lead.
Share pictures, videos and interesting content. Twitter is not just about your ‘words’. Pictures and videos draw people in, and sharing interesting articles about what you and others are doing shows that you are part of a community.
Tweet, retweet and tweet again (especially during Giving Day)!
Instagram Tips
Looking to harness the power of visual communication? Take advantage of the ability to communicate with potential supporters with impactful images and catchy captions.
Connect your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Make sure that your Instagram posts are automatically posted on Facebook. Connecting Facebook and Instagram harnesses the power of both social media platforms at once and allows you to reach a wider audience.
Find powerful images. People-centric, positive images will help you draw in new followers. Focus on sharing images that speak to your organization’s mission and your target audience.
Socialize! Like other supporters’ posts, and consider re-sharing posts that stand out and speak to your cause. Showcasing the stories and individuals that propel the mission of Giving Day will help you gain more followers, recognition, and traction in advance of Giving Day.
Use #givingday, in addition to other creative hashtags. 2-3 hashtags per post is the sweet spot. Start with a branded or specific hashtag - like a tagline or fun phrase. Follow this with the name of the area that you support, then a broader hashtag tied to the cause (i.e., #spreadingthelove). Having a succession of hashtags helps with branding!
Create a regular schedule for posting. We recommend posting at least 2-3 times per week to stay in your followers' feeds! If you integrate your Instagram posts with Facebook, you’ll want to consider how your Instagram posts will fit in with your other scheduled Facebook posts. Consider making posts that show a chronological history of GiveGab, if applicable.
Have fun! Instagram is a really playful platform, and the perfect opportunity to let the unique personalities, humor, and convictions of GiveGab shine through your photos, captions, and hashtags! Instagram is a fantastic opportunity to relate to your supporters, showing them who you are and what you stand for.
Social Media
Sample Facebook Posts
- Save the date: Giving Day is May 5th! You can be part of the celebration by giving to your favorite area. Visit go.oberlin.edu/allin to find out more.
- The real success of Giving Day will not be how much money we raise but the tremendous impact those dollars will have when GiveGab puts them to work! Join the giving on May 5th at go.oberlin.edu/allin.
- Let’s show GiveGab that we are full of generosity! On May 5th, help us celebrate Giving Day!
Sample Twitter Posts
- Are you ready to be a part of Giving Day? It’s a day to celebrate all the good going on for GiveGab! go.oberlin.edu/allin #givingday
- Mark your calendars for May 5th. It will be a day for everyone to support Giving Day! go.oberlin.edu/allin #givingday
- A little can go a long way when we get together and give together on May 5th for Giving Day! go.oberlin.edu/allin #givingday
Email Templates
You can use these email templates to reach out to your personal network and spread the word about your fundraiser. Just copy and paste the text below into your email client and add some personal flair to make it your own!Before Giving Day
Subject: Join me in Supporting Giving Day
Hi [FIRST NAME],
I am excited to announce that I am supporting GiveGab during Giving Day. Learn more about our seventh annual giving day at givingday.org.
[YOUR FUNDRAISER STORY: Why are you fundraising? What impact has an Oberlin education had on you?]
Subject: I Need Your Help!
Hi [first name],
Giving Day is only [DAYS UNTIL Giving Day] days away. I want you to join me in supporting Oberlin College and Conservatory on May 5th. I need you to help make a difference!
Your contributions can make a big impact on current and future Obies. Plus, there are many matches available that will amplify your gift.
Together we can make a difference. Visit go.oberlin.edu/allin to support the program or department that you are most passionate about.
Thank you!
During Giving Day
Subject: Giving Day is here!
Hi [first_name],
TODAY is the day! It’s May 5th, so the time to give is now. I'm going to support [NAME OF area YOU
SUPPORT] and be one of the 1,000 donors that unlocks a $100,000 match.
Please join me in helping the current and next generation of Obies. Make your gift now at go.oberlin.edu/allin.
If you’ve already donated, thank you so much for your support! I hope you’ll consider sharing All in for Oberlin on social media to get the word out about this amazing day for our community!
Thank you!
Subject: Only a few more hours left to give!
Hi [first_name],
Can you believe Giving Day is almost over? With [$ AMOUNT RAISED SO FAR] already raised for Oberlin College and Conservatory, I am proud to have been a champion for the day.
I am so thankful for the support of my community throughout this day - but the giving isn’t over yet! Visit go.oberlin.edu/allin and make a contribution to help us reach our goal.
You can also show your support by sharing All in for Oberlin with your friends and family on social media!
Thank you again!
After Giving Day
Subject: Thank you
Hi [first_name],
Thank you so much for all of your support during Giving Day. Because of you, Oberlin College and Conservatory was able to raise $[AMOUNT RAISED IN YOUR FUNDRAISER]! Together, we made a
difference.
You rock!
Calling Scripts
Before Giving Day
Purpose of the call: Spreading the word about Giving Day, thanking previous donors for their support, and asking them to help make Giving Day a success.
Hi ________,
My name is ___________, and I volunteer for Oberlin College and Conservatory. I just wanted to thank you so much for your past and present support. Because of supporters like you, we have been able to keep an Oberlin education accessible for current and future Obies.
I wanted to let you know about an exciting day on May 5th: All in for Oberlin!
On that day we’ll celebrate the Oberlin community, rally around our students, and invest in their futures. This would not be possible without contributors like you. I hope that you’ll support us on May 5th. Our gifts will unlock matches from other donors.
You can make your gift early at go.oberlin.edu/allin or by calling (800) 693-3167.
Thank you and have a great day!
During Giving Day
Purpose of the call: Asking for pledges and thanking past donors for supporting your cause and community. Today is a celebration of their support!
Hi ________,
My name is ___________, and I volunteer for Oberlin College and Conservatory. I just wanted to thank you so much for your past and present support. Today is Giving Day! I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word about Giving Day so that together we can continue to ensure access to an Oberlin education, enhance the student experience, and support the next generation of Obies.
Make your gift now at go.oberlin.edu/allin or by calling (800) 693-3167.
Thank you and have a great day!
After Giving Day
Purpose of the call: Thanking donors who gave on Giving Day and inviting major donors to participate further in your organization.
Hi ________,
My name is ___________, and I volunteer for Oberlin College and Conservatory. I just wanted to thank you so much for going Giving Day. Together, we will provide scholarships, support programming, and embolden the student experience.
Thank you and have a great day!