November has arrived—hello, holiday season! Between turkey prep and year-end campaigns, it’s a whirlwind of pies, plans and philanthropic cheer.
Use this momentum to your advantage: National Philanthropy Day on November 15 is the perfect launchpad for a “Season of Giving” that carries straight through GivingTuesday to your final year-end appeals. Here’s how.
1. Frame the Day as a Celebration of Legacy
National Philanthropy Day is a perfect time to:
- Celebrate the season by planting the seed for a future gift.
- Reflect on how today’s generosity creates lasting impact.
- Thank your legacy donors for their support and vision.
- Share inspiring stories of donors whose gifts make a difference.
- Show how planned giving strengthens your mission and the people, places and causes donors care about.
- Invite supporters to think about their own legacy and the impact they can leave behind.
- Highlight milestones and achievements made possible by past planned gifts.
Messaging Tip:
“On National Philanthropy Day, we celebrate those who give—not just for today, but for tomorrow as well. Every planned gift helps [ABC Nonprofit] create lasting impact, ensuring our mission continues for generations to come.”
2. Educate Without Pressure
Present a planned gift as a thoughtful, forward-looking choice, and weave these themes into your messaging:
- Philanthropy isn’t about fame or fortune—it’s about heart. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, anyone who gives their time, talent, or treasure to create positive change for humanity is a philanthropist, regardless of wealth or status. We are all equally worthy of being philanthropists.
- No matter the size, nearly everyone has an estate. Talk about gifts in a will, beneficiary designations, percentage or blended giving. Bonus: Some gifts, like a charitable gift annuity, can also provide the donor with an additional source of income after they retire.
Set these three words to memory and use them when talking with donors, both in person, in print, on social media and in your digital outreach:
- Simplicity. “Just one sentence in your will can spark transformational change.”
- Flexibility. “You can change your plans at any time to reflect life’s twists and turns.”
- Versatility. “You have options. You can donate a specific amount of money, an item, a gift contingent upon certain events or even a percentage of your estate.”
Most donors want to feel competent and connected. Use simple tools to help them take the next step, such as:
- A checklist of documents to gather before meeting with an advisor
- A short article or video explaining the basics of a will
- A reminder to update beneficiary designations on insurance or retirement accounts
These resources remove intimidation from the process and help donors feel empowered.
3. Grab Our Ready-To-Use Content
Need a jump-start? We have images and email copy ready to help get your NPD campaign up and running.
Social Images and Caption Copy
Celebrate the generosity that makes your mission thrive! Download our graphics—no copyright needed—and share a message of thanks with your supporters.
To save the images: Click on an image to enlarge, then right-click on the image and choose Save Image As. To move to the next image, click the arrow to the right of the enlarged image.
Instagram images:
Facebook and LinkedIn images:
Tips for posting:
- Add a heartfelt caption. Pair each image with a message of gratitude or a reflection on how legacy giving strengthens your mission.
- Include a gentle call to action. Invite followers to reflect on how they want to make a difference. Link your planned giving page so they can learn more about gift options.
- Stay consistent. Use the same hashtags, tone and visuals across platforms to build recognition and reinforce your Season of Giving theme.
Sample caption copy:
Your kindness sustains our mission today—and secures it for the future. This #NationalPhilanthropyDay, we celebrate every act of generosity that keeps our work alive for years to come. ❤️ #SeasonOfGiving #LegacyGifts
Philanthropy is more than a gift—it’s a story of love carried forward. Thank you for helping us build a lasting legacy of hope and care.🌟 #NationalPhilanthropyDay #PlannedGiving #GiveForTomorrow
Targeted Email Copy
We’ve also written customizable email copy you can use to reach out to your supporters. Short and personal is best—emails between 50 and 125 words get the strongest response rates (about 50% or higher, according to Boomerang). And, adding a name in the subject line or greeting makes an email 26% more likely to be opened.
Small touches like these make a big difference—and we’ve done the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your donors.
4. Pick Up the Phone for a Personal Touch
Sometimes the simplest gestures make the biggest impact. Calling or texting donors is a meaningful way to show appreciation, strengthen relationships and celebrate their support on National Philanthropy Day. Choose your top prospects, long-time donors or even a random sampling of supporters you’ve been meaning to connect with.
Enlist other team members to help, even if for just 15 minutes—it all adds up to more personal connections with the people who matter most.
Phone Call Starter Script:
“Hi, Joseph! This is [Name] from [ABC Nonprofit]. I just wanted to reach out and say how much we appreciate you. Today is National Philanthropy Day, and it felt like the perfect time to thank you for the difference you make.”
Text Message:
“Hi Joseph! This is [Name] from [ABC Nonprofit]. Just wanted to say thank you on National Philanthropy Day for all you do to make a difference. We’re so grateful for you!”
Speaking of all you do … Thank you, from us.
Your work as a connector—as someone who grows love—is vital in improving the world’s people, places, animals and natural spaces, and for that you have our deep admiration and gratitude.