Ithaca Gives Business Fundraiser's Toolkit

The support of local businesses and the amplification of their support via their employees and their customers is critical to the success of Ithaca Gives ! Not only does your participation help ensure a successful day of fundraising for our nonprofits, but your dedication to their important work will be recognized throughout Ithaca. For the Ithaca Gives , we're offering your business an opportunity to engage your employees and customers to donate to causes they're passionate about, and in turn, bring invaluable visibility to your business.

How can I be successful in spreading philanthropy to my employees and customers? Check out the Business Toolkit below for ideas on running a successful fundraiser. We've supplied marketing resources, communication templates, and ideas around incentives and celebrations to really engage your employees and customers in giving, and how they can further spread your message to their networks.

Want to see who else is involved in the Ithaca community? Find your favorite participating nonprofits here, and participating businesses here.

Interested in learning more about Ithaca Gives and the value to your business? Contact info@ithacagives.org.

How do I run a successful fundraiser for my business?

The number one recommendation for running a successful fundraiser for Ithaca Gives is that you are truly celebrating and encouraging the act of philanthropy - big and small! Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas on how to encourage you employees and your customers to rally around philanthropy, and the single largest fundraiser in the Ithaca community!

What incentives can I offer or celebrations can I plan to my employees or customers?

As you hit your giving day milestones or to just celebrate the giving spirit of Ithaca Gives , plan some fun and excitement in at your business or office on May 5th. We have some ideas below, but the sky's the limit in how you can engage your employees and customers, and encourage philanthropy on Ithaca Gives !

Sample Communications

Use some of these sample communications below to start spreading the word about your business's involvement in Ithaca Gives . When sharing on social media, make sure you're always using the official hashtag, #GivingisGorges to be included in the conversation!

Facebook and Twitter

Facebook is the most popular form of social media to share about participation in giving day - so make sure you're using it leading up to and on May 5th! You can use Facebook to share with employees and your customers how you're participating in Ithaca Gives and amplifying the giving efforts.

  • Announce your participation: We are excited to announce our participationg in #GivingisGorges on May 5th! Find out why we're participating on our page here: [YOUR BUSINESS LINK] and mark your calendars for May 5th to give to your favorite nonprofit!
  • If you're offering a match: Today, our business is focused on improving on community by matching all our employees' gifts made to nonprofits through #GivingisGorges! There are over [X] number of nonprofits participating to improve the lives of our community members. Find your cause and give today, May 5th, at {{dog-url-short}}.
  • If you're offering an incentive to employees or customers: [Business name] is supporting #GivingisGorges on May 5th and offering a gift basket to any customer that gives today. Stop on in today after you give through {{dog-url-short}} and show us your receipt to be eligible!
  • Celebrate the success you achieved for the day: Wow. We are in awe of the amazing employees and customers we have. Collectively, we were able to raise $X with X donors for the nonprofits participating in #GivingisGorges. We couldn't do this without all of you, and your amazing support of our community and the nonprofits you all chose to give to on Ithaca Gives . Thank you.

Instagram

Share pictures of your business, employees, and customers participating in Ithaca Gives on Instagram. If your having a dress down day in the office, offering a raffle, or hosting (or encouraging attendance at) an event, share all of these events on Instagram! Make sure you're using the hashtag so people can keep up: #GivingisGorges!

Emails

Social media is a great tool for spreading the word to people that follow you on social media, however, there is no substitute for a direct, targeted email to your employees, customers, or even personal network. Consider sending emails that correspond to your social media activity, as well as direct targeted asks. Here is a sample email to get you thinking on how you want to spread the word!

Subject: Help us support the nonprofits who make this community great! Join [BUSINESS NAME] for #GivingisGorges


Dear [employees/customers/person],

On May 5th businesses and individuals across our Ithaca community will come together to support our local nonprofits during Ithaca Gives . We are so excited to be part of this exciting giving event as a business fundraiser to show everyone in the community how philanthropic our employees and customers are.

Haven’t heard about Ithaca Gives ? It is Ithaca's 24-hour giving day supporting the nonprofit agencies who help make our community such a great place to live! [Stats about previous year results]. You can head to {{dog-url-short}} now to learn more about this amazing giving event.

[IF OFFERING MATCH]: Your donations to local nonprofits at {{dog-url-short}} will be amplified because we are offering bonus dollars as an incentive to give. [Describe program here i.e. dollar for dollar, up to a certain amount, lump sum to reach goal etc.]

There are so many ways to participate - spread the word about this amazing event, become a fundraiser for your favorite nonprofit, donate on May 5th. Make supporting your favorite cause unique to you!

To make sure your gift [is matched / is counted in our business's totals], follow these steps:

  1. Find your favorite nonprofit! Visit {{dog-url-short}} to search hundreds of participating nonprofits in our community.
  2. Commit to a nonprofit. You can start donating as soon as the site opens on May 5th. Remember to select [Business Name] at checkout!
  3. Spread the word! Let your network know about Ithaca Gives and who you are supporting. Use the hashtag #GivingisGorges to be part of the conversation.

For questions about Ithaca Gives and how you can get involved please visit {{dog-url-short}} or contact [Business Name].

Regards,
[Business Contact]