Giving Tuesday for Small Booster Clubs and PTAs: A Simple Plan

Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which is December 1 this year. Large charities plan for months. A small booster club or PTA can take part with a handful of volunteers and a few weeks of preparation. The key is to keep it simple.

Pick one goal and one story

Choose one specific need, such as new percussion equipment or a field-trip fund, and attach one number to it. A single clear ask works better than a list of things you'd like. Tell the story in two or three sentences: who benefits, what's needed, and what a gift makes possible.

A simple plan, working back from December 1

1. Three weeks out (around November 10): Decide the goal, choose how people will give, and assign roles.
2. Two weeks out: Draft your messages and gather a photo or two. Tell your board what's coming.
3. One week out: Send a "save the date" note to families and past supporters.
4. Giving Tuesday: Post, email, and send your reminder in the morning, share progress at midday and again near the end of the day, and thank people publicly as gifts come in.
5. The days after: Thank each donor personally within a couple of days, and share the final total and what it will fund.

Make giving easy

Use one link that works on a phone and can be found in a single tap. Choose a way of collecting gifts that your treasurer can reconcile afterward, and avoid making people create an account if you can.

Consider a match

If a local business or a generous family is willing to match gifts up to a set amount, say so plainly. A match gives people a reason to act on the day. Only announce one after it's confirmed in writing.

Ask more than once, and change the message

Not everyone will see your first post. Share the ask through several channels, update people on progress as the day goes on, and keep the tone warm and specific rather than repeating the same request.

Thank people quickly and specifically

Tell donors what their gift will do, and do it within a couple of days. Ask before listing names or amounts publicly, since some people prefer to give quietly.

Check receipts, tax details, and school rules

Whether gifts to your organization are tax-deductible depends on its tax status, and not every booster club or PTA has the same status. Confirm yours with your treasurer before you say anything about deductibility, and follow your organization's process for acknowledgments and record-keeping. A tax professional can tell you what your donors should receive. It's also worth checking whether your school or district has rules about online fundraising and how it can be promoted.

Your turn: is your group taking part on December 1? Tell us what you're planning.