Beginners Toolkit

Whether its your first time with an SD Day of Giving Campaign or you want to start fresh for the new year, this set of tools is designed to take you from beginning to end and beyond for your South Dakota Day of Giving Campaign. Best Part? If you get turned around, lose momentum, or need a hand, Betty the Giving Buffalo and the entire SD Gives team is always here to help! Just drop us a line at hello@southdakotagives.org and we’ll be there! *cue catchy theme song*

  • First things first - Register for the day! If you haven’t officially registered for the 2026 South Dakota Day of Giving - what are you waiting for?! It’s fast, easy, and completely free to participate.

    Whew! Now that’s done, let’s discover what a giving day is, how SD Day of Giving works, and how you can get involved. You can find the A, B, Cs and Ds of SD Day of Giving in our 101 Training Video.

    Each year we will host a live 101 Training as well. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on online and in person trainings.

  • Everybody’s SD Day of Giving campaign will look different and be unique to the goals of your organization. So, the first stop on your SD Day of Giving journey is to set our goals!

    Don’t do it alone! A key to a successful giving day is to create a team to help you celebrate. Who can you enlist to help with this? Board Members? Staff Members? Volunteers? Clients?

    Watch our video on creating the perfect goals for your day of giving campaign and then check out our handy dandy worksheet to lay out your SD Day of Giving Campaign!

    AND don’t forget about the PRIZE POOL! The SD Gives prize pool can be a great way to engage your supporters in the day. Find the contests that fit with your Day of Giving campaign and maybe you’ll lasso in a few extra dollars courtesy SD Gives!

  • Now that you know your goals and have a plan for your campaign, it’s time to get the word out!

    Whether you are on social media, mail out a newsletter, have an active email list or all of the above, letting your supporters know about your SD Day of Giving goals is essential.

    Check out this video on how to think about social media and the SD Day of Giving. Check out these ideas on articulating your campaign to your audience. And check out the SD Gives Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram (@southdakotagives) pages and the #ForSouthDakota hashtag page to see some examples of previous campaigns.

    We also have a SD Gives Planning Blueprint that will help you keep track of your to-do list!

  • Get your team together, make a plan, and go all in on SD Day of Giving!

    Whether you are raising dollars, recruiting volunteers, or finding new community champions, the Day of Giving is a time to come together and celebrate all the amazing work nonprofits are doing in communities across the state.

    The 2026 South Dakota Day of Giving is Dec 1, 2026. We want YOU to join us in celebration as we all show up #ForSouthDakota.

SD Day of Giving Building Blocks

Plan with Purpose

Create a goal that is achievable, tangible, and is easy to articulate. Make sure you’ve got teammates working with you whether that’s volunteers, board members, staff members, or even clients!

Collaborate Openly

Find other organizations who are running campaigns. Find a business who wants to match a gift or host an event for you. Locate similar organizations to your own across the state and plan to share each others posts during the day!

Check out those already registered HERE!

Pay Attention to the Prizes

The SD Day of Giving Prize Pool is not only an opportunity to snag some dough. It also is a great way to brainstorm ideas, engage your supporters in the day, and participate in the excitement of the movement!

Ask for Help!

SDGives is always here to answer questions. Just drop us a line at hello@southdakotagives.org.

We also host trainings during the year to give you all the tools you need for a successful campaign.