Ideas from nonprofits on #GivingTuesday

The good people at #GivingTuesday collected ways nonprofits chose to participate in the giving day. Check out these ideas if you’re looking for inspiration.

OPERATION HOMEFRONT HEROES AT VETERANS RESORT (BOZEMAN, MT) 
On #GivingTuesday, Operation Homefront Heroes provided Backpacks for Heroes to U.S. military veterans filled with new boots, clothing, jackets, snacks/food, and hotel vouchers. Backpacks were distributed at a Thanksgiving Style Dinner at a local hotel, where veterans were offered a complimentary stay, hot shower, and comfortable bed.

HENRY VILAS ZOO (MADISON, WI)
Henry Vilas Zoo set a specific goal on #GivingTuesday to raise $20,000 to bring an endangered male Amur tiger to their zoo in 2018. In the lead up to #GivingTuesday, the zoo gave hints about what animal they would be raising funds for and announced “the cat’s out of the bag” that they would be bringing a new male tiger to accompany Callie, a female Amur tiger. Overall, Henry Vilas Zoo raised over $32,000 and brought Yuri, the new Amur tiger to the zoo safely by spring of 2018.

HILLCROFT SERVICES, INC. (MUNCIE, IN)
Hillcroft Services, set a specific goal to raise $3,900 to purchase three heart defibrillators for each of their three buildings. With a DIY photo booth station, supporters could take photos, use fun props, and write their own #UNSelfie about why Hillcroft is important to them. Hillcroft Services highlighted different community members, employees, and patients in the photo booth on social media. Their quick and easy DIY campaign allowed them to raise over $4,000 and engage the community in sharing personal stories about Hillcroft Services.

HUGS - HELP, UNDERSTANDING & GROUP SUPPORT (HAWAII)
HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support), a nonprofit that supports families with seriously ill children in Hawaii, spread the giving spirit with the power of hugs. In celebration of #GivingTuesday, Usborne Books & More delivered four boxes of the "Cuddle Bear" book and plush animal gift set to HUGS families in need. The reaction from recipients was captured on social media and encouraged the community to support HUGS financially through their #Hugs4HUGS campaign happening throughout the fall.

SHADY HOLLOW ASSISTED RIDING (READING, PA)
Shady Hollow Assisted Riding is a non-profit horse farm that provides a supportive equine environment for individuals with physical, cognitive and/or emotional challenges to ride and work with horses. Starting on #GivingTuesday, the farm set up a ‘Giving Tree’ for people to pick a paper ornament from and pledge to provide the items listed. The ‘Giving Tree’ remained up for supporters to ‘stuff a horse’s stocking’ throughout the holidays.

SITRIN HEALTH CARE CENTER (NEW HARTFORD, NY)
Sitrin Health Care Center hosted a Facebook Live variety show & telethon to engage the community in live conversation and entertain Sitrin Health patients on #GivingTuesday. The Facebook Live event featured local entertainers and stories from service veterans, adaptive sports athletes, and NeuroCare advocates from Sitrin Health.Entertainers donated time, equipment, and their talents to inspire giving.

THE ORINDA ASSOCIATION (ORINDA, CA)
The Orinda Association, a nonprofit that manages a Seniors Around Town program, embraced the spirit of #GivingTuesday by collecting gifts and writing letters to victims of the catastrophic fires that devastated Northern California in 2017. Over 60 residents of the Orinda Senior Village came together to write words of encouragement, thoughts of compassion, and friendly support. The Association gathered gifts to accompany the notes and sent the packages on #GivingTuesday.

CAMP TO BELONG (VICTOR, ID)
Camp to Belong reunites brothers and sisters who have become separated in foster care through a week of summer camp at one of their 11 locations in the U.S. and Australia. On #GivingTuesday, Camp To Belong used the power of social media to encourage families to share a favorite moment between siblings with the hashtag #SiblingsAreTheBEST. The campaign celebrated sibling relationships, raised awareness, and funds to open 2 new camps in the next two years.

WELLSTAR HEALTH (GEORGIA)
WellStar Health, a nonprofit dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare, took a digital approach to #GivingTuesday. Through social media ads, boosted posts, campaign videos, a campaign website, text-to-give options, and e-blasts, WellStar Health strove to gain donations for their programming. In addition, the American Medical Response (AMR) doubled donations on #GivingTuesday up to $10,000.

JEVS HUMAN SERVICES (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
In an effort to encourage their donor base and the greater community to engage in a hands-on way, JEVS Human Services created #DoingTuesday. Throughout the day, JEVS gathered volunteers for a variety of service activities, including assembling and delivering over 150 care packages to JEVS families, holding interview and networking prep sessions for clients, and mock interviews with leaders in the IT community in Philadelphia.

FOOD BANK FOR WESTCHESTER (WESTCHESTER, NY)
Ten community groups from Westchester County faced off in a spirited battle at Food Bank for Westchester for the first-ever #GivingTuesday “Community Scoop-aThon”. The groups were challenged to repack the most food into deliverable packages in 45 minutes. A community group called the "Harrison Hurricanes” won the competition by packing 2,548 lbs of apples! A total of 19,980 lbs of apples and pears were packed into deliverable bags and went towards the organization's Senior Grocery Program, which distributes fresh foods to senior centers and programs.

PROJECT YOGA RICHMOND (RICHMOND, VA)
On #GivingTuesday, Project Yoga Richmond used the hashtag #PYRyogathon2017 to raise funds for 10 yoga mindfulness community programs. Project Yoga Richmond invited people to participate in yoga classes and special events throughout the day and used social media to highlight progress towards meeting their goal. With a special match for funds raised from 12-3pm on #GivingTuesday, Project Yoga Richmond was able to raise a total of $12,687.

COOL EFFECT (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
Cool Effect, a crowdfunding platform that provides individuals the opportunity to support carbon emissions reductions, offered free ice skating at a rink in California all day on #GivingTuesday. Skaters were encouraged to post selfies with snowman props on social media to extend the message of giving back to the planet beyond San Francisco. On social media Cool Effect encouraged supporters to watch their mockumentary, contribute to the cause, and share their own snowman selfie.

WILLIAMSTON THEATRE (WILLIAMSTON, MI)
Williamston Theatre focused on thanking its donors on #GivingTuesday by presenting a full season's worth of play readings all in one day! The free, public play-a-thon featured local Williamston actors and celebrated the local community’s support of the arts. Food Bank for Westchester Cool Effect Case Studies National Nonprofits

TREVOR PROJECT
In 2017, the Trevor Project matched every dollar raised with a one minute of crisis intervention assistance to respond to calls, texts and chats with LGBTQ youth. Trevor Project counselors, who provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services were highlighted on social media dressed up like the real life superheroes they are. The successful campaign was able to provide increased support to LGBTQ youth over their busiest season.

ASPCA
On #GivingTuesday the ASPCA invited supporters to join a “Giving Hope Facebook Live-a-thon”. The ASPCA’s star-studded and fur-filled day featured hourly livestreams with a behind-the-scenes look at their lifesaving programs and featured the thousands of animals they help to rescue. During the event, hosts and guests prompted viewers to donate. As a bonus, Animal Planet promoted the event digitally and on-air throughout the day.

WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
In countries affected by conflict and war, Women for Women International supports marginalized women to earn and save money, improve health, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support. On #GivingTuesday Women for Women International set a specific goal of providing 500 baby “chicks” to women in need. Raising poultry is a lifeline to steady income for women in war torn countries. Women for Women International met their goal and sent over 500 baby “chicks” to hundreds of women around the world.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL (LA, CA)
St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles is a Catholic volunteer organization that serves the poor and homeless of any religion in the Los Angeles area. SVdPLA launched #GivingBREWday on #GivingTuesday and encouraged supporters to donate the price of one cup of coffee or one beer to SVdPLA. They held an event with a local brewery the night of #GivingTuesday where a portion of every pint sold was donated to SVdPLA to keep families housed and fed during the holiday season.