35 Hours of Giving Board Kickoff Guide

1. Introduction of 35 Hours of Giving

You can pull all this information from the 35 Hours of Giving FAQ page here before your kickoff!

• What is it?
• When is it?
• Who is hosting it?
• What communities does it serve?
• Why is your organization participating?

2. Overview of Past Achievements

Have you participated in a Giving Day in the past? Take some time to reflect on your past experiences and remind your team of the lessons learned!

• How much have you been able to raise?
• How many donors have you engaged? Have you acquired new donors?
• Did you obtain any matching funds? Sponsors?
• Did you utilize any new tools or platforms?
• What did you learn? How can you improve?

3. Specific Goals for 35 Hours of Giving 2023

Before you jump into strategy, think about what you’d like your organization’s internal 35 Hours of Giving goals to be. Starting here will help your team strategize for 35 Hours of Giving!

• How much do you hope to raise?
• How many donors do you hope to reach? How many new? How many recurring?
• How do you plan on communicating with your supporter base?
• How much in sponsorship matching dollars, prizes, and challenge incentives does your organization hope to secure?
• What are your top internal goals? What will be your top external goals?

4. How Your Board Members Can Help with 35 Hours of Giving

One of the most important aspects of preparing for 35 Hours of Giving is making it clear to your board members why their support is important and how they can help your organization make a difference. Providing several clear calls to action will make it easier for your board members to actively participate and help you achieve your goals!

• Serve on a 35 Hours of Giving specific committee
• Board Sponsored Matching Dollars or Challenge Incentive
• Leverage their connections in the community to solicit financial or social partnerships around 35 Hours of Giving
• Serve as Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers and fundraise on behalf of your organization during 35 Hours of Giving
• Enlist social ambassadors to help your organization expand their reach on social media by spreading the word to their networks
• Act as donor stewardship liaisons to help thank your 35 Hours of Giving supporters and begin fostering relationships
• Assist in hosting a special event for your organization and its supporters during 35 Hours of Giving

5. Next Steps and Communication Plans for 35 Hours of Giving

After you’ve kicked off 35 Hours of Giving with your board members, you’ll likely have lots of great ideas flowing. Don’t lose that momentum! Make sure your organization has a clear communication plan for how you’ll stay in touch with your board members as you prepare and plan for 35 Hours of Giving.

• Send a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter focused specifically on your 35 Hours of Giving planning. Share your goals, exciting announcements, and provide clear opportunities and action steps your board members should take to help you succeed.
• Continue to include 35 Hours of Giving in your regular board meetings as you prepare for the event.