Giving Day Resources

Communicating with Your Audience: Inform, Inspire, Direct, Thank 
In any communication with your audience, via any medium, consider this formula:  
> Inform the audience by giving the date and a brief overview of the initiative. 
> Inspire by giving reasons to support the initiative through showing how students will benefit from the generosity of the donor. 
> Direct to the location of the initiative. Put the link in the bio of the account. 
> Thank the audience for their generosity.

Conduct a Social Media Campaign 
> Share at least once a week, beginning the week of October 6. 
> Post the day before, and a few times throughout the day to kindly challenge audience to support.  
> Sharing regularly during this period will prepare the audience for the ask to support. 
> Content can be fun, but appropriate for the university. 
> Show/quote students and how they will benefit from the support.

Sample Posting Schedule
October 6: “Giving Day 2025 is November 6! . . .”  
October 13: “For Giving Day 2025, we are raising support to _______.”  
October 20: Student perspective on how it will impact their education experience  
October 27: Student perspective on how it will impact their education experience 
November 5: “Giving Day is tomorrow! . . .”  
November 6 x 3:  
8 a.m.: “Today is Giving Day!. . .”   
2 p.m.: Provide an update on giving thus far 
5 p.m.: “Thank you for all who have given so far! There is still time to support our initiative!” 
November 10: Thank you and give an update on the total given. 
 
Conduct a Phone, Text and/or Email Campaign 
Many past initiatives had success in increasing their donations via personal calls, text messages, and/or emails from student ambassadors. The successful campaigns followed a simple roadmap: Inform–>Inspire–>Direct–>Thank. These tasks were accomplished through brief, intentional, and thoughtful communication.

Text/Direct Message Sample
“Hey there! Today is Vanguard Giving Day. As an official Vanguard Giving Day Ambassador, I’m trying to get folks to support <<CAMPAIGN>>. Here’s the link: <<LINK>> I’d love it if you could help us reach our goals by making a gift!” *Consider including an image.

Email Samples
Week Before Giving Day: 

“Hello <<NAME>>, 

Next Thursday, November 6, is Vanguard Giving Day. I’m emailing because I’m so excited about a campaign that I’m helping out with, <<CAMPAIGN>>, and I’m hoping you’ll join me in supporting it! Funds raised on Giving Day will go to support <<APPLICABLE INFO FOR CAMPAIGN>>. Anything you can contribute is appreciated! Here’s the giving link in anticipation of next week. If you know anyone who might also be interested in participating, please spread the word! <<Add link>>.” 

Day of Giving Day:

“Hello <<NAME>>, 

I hope you’re doing well! I’m reaching out because today is Vanguard Giving Day and we’re trying to inspire 1,300 donors in 24 hours. I’ve already made my gift to support <<CAMPAIGN>>. I’m hoping you’ll join me in supporting what you love at Vanguard too. Any amount you contribute is appreciated – this day is all about collective support and participation! In fact, we have <<MATCH/CHALLENGE INFO>>. Here’s the giving link: <<LINK>> Vanguard Giving Day ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight!” 

At your request, the Office of University Advancement will provide a list of your initiative’s previous year’s Giving Day donors with their email and/or phone number for you to contact.

We Appreciate Your Efforts
Anything you can do to spread the word about Vanguard Giving Day is appreciated. Below, we’ve outlined some things you can do leading up to and on the day of Giving Day to help us have a successful Giving Day! 

 Before Giving Day

• Follow and like @VanguardU and @VanguardAlumni on Instagram.
• Email, text, or Facebook message your contacts about Vanguard Giving Day .
• Post a Save-the-Date the week before Giving Day. 
• When the campaign goes live, make a gift! 

On Giving Day 

• Post a “Today is the day!” message on social media including your unique Ambassador link or your campaign link. 
• Email, text, or Facebook message your personal contacts.
• Link and comment on Vanguard Giving Day content from your social media.
• Share a mid-day progress report on social media about dollars raised and number of gifts.
• Like and comment on Giving Day content on the main Vanguard social media channels.
• Post a countdown message with your unique Ambassador link.
• Celebrate when we reach our goal!