Special Giving Days: Saints' Giving Day or Giving Tuesday.

A dedicated giving day is a powerful way to rally your community and raise funds for a meaningful project at your school. Whether you participate in the national Giving Tuesday or choose a more personal occasion—such as the feast day of your patron saint—you have a unique opportunity to inspire generosity and make a lasting impact on your students.

Why a Special Day of Giving?

Your school has a rich tradition of faith, service, and community.

Many schools are named after a patron saint or were founded on a specific mission. What if you could harness that spiritual and historical connection to inspire generosity?

A Saints' Day of Giving or another special day of giving is an opportunity to rally alumni, parents, and parishioners around a specific need at your school by tying it to a special date—such as the feast day of your patron saint or a significant anniversary. Like Giving Tuesday, but local and personal, this day can create a strong sense of identity, purpose, and shared mission while raising essential funds.

This guide will walk you through how to plan, promote, and execute a successful Saints’ Day of Giving, with ready-to-use email templates, social media strategies, and best practices.

Download a sample plan

Step 1: Planning Your Special Day of Giving

Choose Your Giving Day

Select a date that holds special meaning for your school, such as:

Your patron saint’s feast day
The anniversary of the school’s founding
Another school-specific milestone

Set a Fundraising Goal

What are you raising funds for? Be specific! Examples:
- "Help us renovate our science lab."
- "Support tuition assistance for families in need."
Consider a matching gift from a donor to double the impact.
Use a clear, achievable goal to inspire participation (e.g., “Help us raise $25,000 in one day!”).

Identify Your Audience

Current families (parents, grandparents)
Alumni & past families
Parishioners of affiliated parish
Local businesses & community supporters

Step 2: Preparing Your Messaging & Outreach

A strong campaign includes multiple touchpoints before, during, and after the event.

1-2 Weeks Before the Giving Day: Build Anticipation

📢 Email #1 – Announcement
Subject: Mark Your Calendar – Our Special Giving Day is Coming!
Body:

Introduce special day of Giving and why it matters.
Explain how contributions will support the school.
Encourage early gifts and ask supporters to help spread the word.
Call to Action: "Save the date and consider making an early gift at [donation link]."

📢 Social Media Teasers

“Something special is coming… stay tuned!”
Share a short video from a student or teacher expressing excitement.
Countdown graphics: “1 week until St. [School Name]’s Saints’ Day of Giving!”

📢 Physical Letter to Alumni & Supporters

Personalize with the school’s history and impact.
Include a QR code or website link to donate.
Make it feel invitational, not transactional—connect to the spiritual mission of giving.

Step 3: The Day Before – Last-Minute Push

📢 Email #2 – Reminder
Subject: Tomorrow is Our Saints’ Day of Giving!
Body:

Reinforce the goal and impact of the campaign.
Share a testimony from a student or family.
Encourage supporters to be the first to give when the campaign launches at midnight.
CTA: "Join us tomorrow! Make a difference at [donation link]."

📢 Social Media Post

"Tomorrow is the day! We can’t wait to celebrate St. [School Name]’s mission and come together to support our students!"

Step 4: Giving Day Execution

📢 Email #3 – Today’s the Day!
Subject: Today’s the Day! Let’s Make a Difference Together!
Body:

Announce the start of the Saints’ Day of Giving.
Provide a link to donate and mention any matching gifts or challenges.
Share a progress bar or live updates if available.
CTA: “Make your gift now and help us reach our goal: [donation link].”

📢 Social Media Schedule
✅ Morning Post: “Today we celebrate our Saints’ Day of Giving! Every gift counts. Join us: [donation link]”
✅ Midday Update: “We’re halfway there! Can you help us reach our goal? [donation link]”
✅ Evening Push: “Time is running out! Last chance to make a difference today: [donation link]”

📢 Text Message Reminder

"Today is Saints’ Day of Giving at St. [School Name]! Help us reach our goal: [link]"

Step 5: The Day After – Gratitude & Follow-Up

📢 Email #4 – Thank You!
Subject: Thank You for Your Generosity!
Body:

Celebrate the success of the day!
Share total amount raised & impact stories.
Include a student or teacher thank-you message (video or photo if possible).
Offer one last chance to give (for those who missed it).
CTA: “Still want to give? Our donation page is open for a limited time: [donation link].”

📢 Social Media Thank You Post

“Wow! Our St. [School Name] community is amazing! We raised [$ amount] for [project]. Thank you for your generosity!”
Include photos of students or classrooms that will benefit from the gifts.

📢 Follow-Up with Major Donors

Send handwritten notes from students or a personal call from the principal.

Bonus Ideas for Engagement

📌 Host a School-Wide Event – A Mass, pancake breakfast, or fun run to celebrate.
📌 Student Participation – Classroom competitions or thank-you cards for donors.
📌 Parish Involvement – Announce the giving day during Mass the Sunday before.
📌 Matching Challenges – Encourage a challenge gift from alumni or a local business.