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Billions of potential donors consume social media content daily. That means nonprofits have an even bigger opportunity to get in front of them for Giving Tuesday and build momentum for year-end giving.
With more accounts competing for donor attention around the holiday season, it’s crucial to create a social media marketing approach that stands out. That means thinking above and beyond what worked last year.
The dynamics of social media channels like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are changing all the time. That’s why it’s important to stay ahead of trends and get clear on your goals like never before.
Knowing what to post and when, along with some Giving Tuesday social media post examples that make life easier, can put you in the best position to create content that builds relationships and inspires action. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know below.
Social media has always been part of the worldwide phenomenon, #GivingTuesday. Now, it’s a can’t-miss fundraising channel. Below are a few statistics that offer a snapshot of social media's impact to help you see why we’re talking about weaving it into your year-end giving success.
Half of Gen Z shares fundraisers or charitable causes at least once a week on their social media channels to inspire support from others.
Facebook refers 29.4% of traffic to donation pages on #GivingTuesday.
X (formerly Twitter) sends 700% more visitors to donation pages on Giving Tuesday than on a typical day of the year.
The #givingtuesday hashtag has over 2.9 million posts on Instagram.
TikTok launched live-stream fundraisers in 2021 to bring in $7 million in direct donations to various organizations for Giving Tuesday.
When you think about refreshing your social media strategy for Giving Tuesday, it’s helpful to know what’s landing with today’s donors and how to stay on top of trends. Here are a few #GivingTuesday trends to help you prioritize the most impactful sharing this year.
1. Short-form videos and visual storytelling
Social platforms prioritize quick, visually engaging content more than ever, and audiences are now used to taking in information through stories in 60 seconds or less. For nonprofits, this is a huge opportunity to capture attention on Giving Tuesday and in the days leading up to your biggest fundraiser.
How to take action on Giving Tuesday:
Share 30–60 second clips with real faces and emotions leading up to and throughout the day
Post milestone updates (“We just hit 50% of our goal!”) to keep momentum alive
Hook viewers in the first three seconds (show a smiling child, a powerful quote, or a dramatic before-and-after moment)
2. Authenticity, transparency and donor-centric storytelling
On Giving Tuesday, donors are bombarded with asks to give, share, and volunteer. The ones that stand apart are going to help someone feel seen and understood. That means leaning on personal, specific, and real posts that show supporters exactly how their gift will make a difference.
How to take action on Giving Tuesday:
Share a story from someone directly impacted by last year’s Giving Tuesday funds
Highlight small-dollar donors or volunteers to show that giving is for everyone
Be honest about your challenges (Example: “This year, demand has doubled and the cost of supplies has increased. Here’s how your gift helps us fight through it to get our community what they need”)
3. AI and automation-driven personalization
On Giving Tuesday, time feels like it can fly by, and many smaller nonprofit teams are trying to be everywhere at once, posting updates, thanking donors, tracking interactions, and ensuring emails are sent on time. Automation and AI make it possible to reach people at the right moment without overwhelming your team.
How to take action on Giving Tuesday:
Pre-schedule your complete content schedule for November so you never have to worry about forgetting to post at a time-sensitive moment
Use tools such as ChatGPT to draft tailored social media post copy for different donor segments (e.g., first-time givers vs. monthly supporters, younger donors vs. long-term supporters, local volunteers vs. visitors from around the country)
Lean into AI-driven design tools like Canva (free accounts for nonprofits!) that bring social media visuals to the next level
Set up automatic thank you messages or answers to commonly asked questions about your cause or Giving Tuesday campaign through your Instagram DMs so donors feel connected even when you’re busy juggling everything else
Giving Tuesday works best when it feels like a movement and when small nonprofits pair up with micro influencers who already have a large following on social media, the potential is endless. Trusted voices such as local leaders, businesses, and community pages can amplify your message, bringing new donors into your circle and helping you raise more from each post.
How to take action on Giving Tuesday:
Recruit Giving Tuesday ambassadors over the summer, providing them with simple social media sharing kits that include sample posts and graphics to post through November.
Ask board members, volunteers, and loyal donors to share their own Giving Tuesday “why I give” stories, adding a personal touch while linking back to your mobile donation page.
Partner with a few local creators or community leaders to spread your campaign to new audiences in exchange for a shoutout to commend their generosity.
5. Interactive and immersive donor engagement
Donors don’t just want to give on Giving Tuesday, they want to feel part of something bigger. You can help create a less transactional feel by thinking ahead to donor engagement and experiential social posts or stories that allow them to connect more deeply.
How to take action on Giving Tuesday:
Launch a live Giving Tuesday “telethon-style” stream with goal updates and Q&A.
Add polls, countdowns, and donation stickers in Stories throughout the day.
Encourage donors to share their own giving stories using your campaign hashtag and reshare them to demonstrate momentum.
What should I post on Giving Tuesday?
If you’re thinking, “Well, all of that sounds great, but how do I even know where to start when I’m posting?” you’re not alone. This is one of the top questions for nonprofits starting a Giving Tuesday strategy or looking to refresh their approach from years past.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all template, the best Giving Tuesday posts share some common characteristics. Below is a checklist with real nonprofit and brand examples to show you how it works in practice.
Don’t rely on just one format. Experiment with video, carousels, static posts, stories, and even live updates to keep things engaging. That might look like sharing a heartfelt video in the morning of Giving Tuesday, then adding in updates through stories mid-day and a thank you graphic that goes out in a carousel at night.
State your goal clearly
Tell people exactly what you’re raising funds or awareness for with enough detail that someone who has no idea about your cause can fully grasp. That can sound like, “Help us raise $5,000 to provide winter coats for 100 students of the Park Valley Middle School as they continue to recover from the recent disaster that struck their community earlier this year.”
Show the impact
Using voice-overs and text are great in your Giving Tuesday posts, but having a visual representation of key stats or fundraising milestones can help communicate impact even more. People are scrolling fast and if your posts don’t stand out on their feed or stories, they won’t stop to look.
Consider using bright colors, bold numbers as video post cover images or in your stories as you go throughout the day. You can choose a specific Giving Tuesday brand to stick to so everything looks consistent and people can begin to associate certain colors, fonts, and graphic styles to your nonprofit.
Use real people and stories
There is nothing like an emotional appeal, especially when you’re asking donors to give to a cause. Things like showing human faces that aren’t stock images go a long way in building trust and helping people visualize the challenge your campaign sets out to support.
The same can go for audio from community members who’ve benefited from donations in the past, telling their stories and bringing impact to life right on the screens of so many in seconds. You could also consider having team members jump on social for real-time updates or vulnerable sharing about how they got involved and what the cause means to them.
Include a direct call-to-action (CTA)
Now that you’ve got a beautiful story unfolding and hooked your audience, you want to be sure social media users know exactly how to help. That means having a very clear call to action and making it as simple as possible to give or take action in the way you want them to.
For example, you can add buttons to your donation pages on your stories, or offer a direct action such as “share this post today to help us spread the word” depending on your goals. The most important thing is not to have an interested donor who doesn’t take action because they can’t figure out how to.
Giving Tuesday is naturally time-bound and that’s what makes the exhilaration of the movement so impactful. You may be running your campaign for one day or several, but your posts should always include language about the timeline you’re accepting support.
As you remind people why their help matters now and that this is a short-term opportunity to get involved, you drive more action. You can also bring in countdowns or milestones that inspire their generosity such as “only 12 hours to go” or “help us raise our last $1,000”.
Use the hashtag #GivingTuesday
If you’re able to tap into the global power of GivingTuesday’s reach, why not do it? This is a game changer for smaller organizations who can simply add the hashtag to their posts and get their name in front of bigger audiences.
Who knows, you might even get featured on the GivingTuesday.org account if you tag them regularly!
Keeping up with new social media features
With more and more changes happening every year, we thought we’d recap some of the newest social media features by channel as a little cheat sheet to reference as you’re maximizing your Giving Tuesday potential.
TikTok
Donation Stickers & Profile Links: Nonprofits can now add donation stickers to videos and include donation links in their profiles, making it easier for users to contribute directly within the app.
Fundraising Pages: Nonprofits can customize their fundraising pages with titles, descriptions, background images, and goal amounts, providing a personalized experience for donors.
LIVE Fundraising: Engage audiences in real-time with LIVE sessions, featuring interactive features like Q&A and donation prompts.
Instagram
In-App Donation Button: Instagram introduced a direct donation button on posts and Stories, streamlining the giving process for users and especially for nonprofits.
Profile Layout Updates: Profiles now feature a centered name and bio with bold action buttons, improving visibility and user engagement as nonprofits can share campaigns and website links that matter most around Giving Tuesday.
Facebook
AI-Driven Campaign Suggestions: Facebook offers nonprofits AI-generated recommendations for campaign strategies, helping nonprofits optimize their outreach efforts.
Enhanced Event Features: Improved event tools enable better promotion and management of GivingTuesday events, including seamless integration with donation platforms.
X (formerly Twitter)
Pinned Campaign Tweets: Organizations can pin campaign-related tweets to their profiles, ensuring maximum visibility.
Enhanced Polling Features: New polling options allow for interactive engagement with followers, gathering feedback, and increasing participation.
Snapchat
Custom Geofilters: Nonprofits can create location-based filters to encourage local participation and awareness.
Interactive Lenses: New augmented reality lenses allow users to interact with campaign messages, increasing engagement.
YouTube
AI-Generated Shorts: Nonprofits can use AI tools to create highlight clips from longer videos, making it easier to share impactful moments.
Improved LIVE Streaming: New features include rehearsal modes, interactive games, and real-time mobile reactions, enhancing the live streaming experience.
Giving Tuesday is unlike other days, where a supporter may be more active than usual. To strategically post on social media that day, you can also look at your analytics per platform your nonprofit plans to use so that you can identify peak giving times, days, and hours.
You can also use social media scheduling apps to gain deeper insights. Sprout Social shares more general posting times when audiences are engaged on various platforms, noting that between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, are peak posting times.
Timeline: Social media posts for Giving Tuesday
Aside from the exact times and days to post your Giving Tuesday campaign updates, we outlined a timeline to prioritize content around below.
One month before Giving Tuesday social media post: Pre-launch, your campaign, share that you are participating, and build excitement around what’s to come with sneak peaks.
The week before Giving Tuesday social media post: Share your goal for the global day of giving this year, and showcase the impact it could have to help people envision their “why” for getting involved. You can also share a “save the date” or use the countdown features on various channels to remind people when to tune back in and give.
Thanksgiving day social media post: Offer gratitude early on to any donor who has brought you to this point in the year, and how much each donor means to your organization. This can remind your community why they donate and help potential donors see how they might be valued by deciding to participate.
The day before Giving Tuesday social media post: This is a great time to officially launch your campaign, share links to give directly, and discuss what this year means to your nonprofit. Your posts should encourage people to take direct action and feature graphics or messaging that they can share with their family and friends to increase participation.
Giving Tuesday social media post: The big day is here, and you can maximize your reach by posting several times throughout the day. Consider building excitement, sharing progress updates, recognizing donors, and engaging with your community in real-time.
These samples show how your GivingTuesday posts might look across the timeline we discussed. They include storytelling, outcome focus, authentic visuals, clear CTAs, and platform-specific features you can leverage.
Sample TikTok video for Giving Tuesday
Message: “Meet the Simpson family. Just $25 provides a week’s worth of meals for them. This #GivingTuesday, we’re bringing joy to over 100 families ahead of the holidays, and you can help make that happen!”
Interactive Element: Comment below with a heart if you’re ready to make this kind of impact!
CTA: Join our email list (link in bio) to get early access when the campaign goes live
Visuals: Video footage of families connecting over meals, volunteers packing boxes, and candid behind-the-scenes moments
Sample Instagram carousel for Giving Tuesday
Message / Slides:
Slide 1: Save the date for GivingTuesday!
Slide 2: We’re gearing up for a day of impact: This year, your gift sends 50 students to school across the country for enhanced STEM education as part of our scholarship program.
Slide 3: Mark your calendar for December 3rd, 2025 and let’s get ready to change lives together! Share this post to help us spread the word and crush our goal of $5,000 raised on Giving Tuesday.
Interactive Element: Use Instagram’s Reminders/Countdown Sticker so followers can get notifications 24 hours, 15 minutes, and at launch
CTA: “Save the date” button that links to your campaign landing page
Visuals: Photos of smiling students, candid classroom moments, and volunteers helping with authentic, human-centered imagery
Timing: One month before GivingTuesday
Sample Facebook post for Giving Tuesday
Message: “Today, we’re overflowing with gratitude for every donation, volunteer hour, and event attendee. Together, you helped us reach 80% of our annual fundraising goal! That means clean water for all nine of the communities we serve.
This Thanksgiving, we celebrate YOU, and the families abroad who feel your generosity every day. Stay tuned for our #GivingTuesday push to hit 100% of our goal and get all 11 of our communities feeling the impact of clean water and a loving team of support around them ahead of the holidays!”
Interactive Element: Tag someone who inspires you to give or volunteer, so we can do this together
CTA: Include a link to an impact video or email sign up page to stay in touch ahead of Giving Tuesday
Visuals: Thanksgiving-themed campaign graphics, combined with authentic volunteer and beneficiary photos
Timing: Thanksgiving Day
Sample X (Twitter) video update for Giving Tuesday
Message: “Set your alarms! Our goal is $5,000 in 24 hours and every single dollar donated can help us reach it”
CTA: Link to your Giving Tuesday campaign page
Visuals: Campaign branding or Giving Tuesday visual of your goal that pops out on the feed
Timing: The day before Giving Tuesday
Sample Instagram story for Giving Tuesday
Message: “DOUBLE your impact! 💛 For every $1 you give, a generous donor will match it. We’re only $4,000 away from our goal…let’s make this #GivingTuesday count!”
CTA: Swipe-up link (or sticker link) to your Giving Tuesday campaign page
Visuals: Animated fundraising thermometer + live goal tracker. Include behind-the-scenes clips or volunteer reactions for authenticity
Timing: Giving Tuesday
The true impact of Giving Tuesday as a social media movement
For small nonprofits, every dollar, share, and moment of visibility counts and GivingTuesday is a chance to amplify your mission like never before. By combining authentic storytelling, clear outcomes, platform-specific features, and interactive elements, even organizations with limited resources can make a life-changing impact.
These strategies don’t just drive donations. They build lasting connections with supporters, strengthen community trust, and showcase the heart of your work. In a crowded digital world, thoughtful, human-centered campaigns help your small nonprofit stand out and turn every post into a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact and change lives.
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Keep reading :
Nonprofit guides
What is Giving Tuesday? The Complete NonProfit Guide
Giving Tuesday is a global movement that inspired millions of people to celebrate generosity around the world. Find out what is it and how to make an impact.
Look for people who attend related events, follow relevant Facebook groups, or subscribe to aligned newsletters.These aren’t just potential donors—they’re your future advocates.
Look for people who attend related events, follow relevant Facebook groups, or subscribe to aligned newsletters.These aren’t just potential donors—they’re your future advocates.
