Planning Timeline Below is a month-by-month guide to help you prepare for Colorado’s biggest day of giving.

MAR Sign Up

Mark December 5, 2017 (Colorado Gives Day), on all calendars. Learn about winning an Early Bird Cash Prize by submitting your profile on March 31, June 30 or July 31--months before the official 2017 deadline of August 31. (Log in to ColoradoGives.org as a nonprofit and visit the dashboard for prize details.)

New Nonprofits Only Read eligibility requirements and register for an Intro Session webinar to begin the process of joining the online giving program, ColoradoGives.org. Attend an Intro Session (last session is July 31). Review Overview of Process to Create a Profile to understand the entire process for featuring your nonprofit on ColoradoGives.org. Current Nonprofits Only Use the Profile Update Process to start updating your ColoradoGives profile.

APR Notify Internally

New Nonprofits Only After attending an Intro Session and receiving your login, begin profile.

MAY Develop Your Goals

Develop goals, a strategy and a timeline. (Sample goals: 1. Acquire 20 new donors, 2. Raise $5,000 in donations, 3. Re-engage 20 lapsed donors.) Build your social media audience and outreach plan. Colorado Gives Day, December 5, 2017, officially announced. Start spread the word about your participation using social media. May 31: $1,500 Early Bird Drawing deadline. (See March, above.) Inform board, staff and volunteers of your participation in the year-round ColoradoGives program and the 24-hour Colorado Gives Day event. Share Data and Reports to illustrate the statistics that matter to your organization.

New Nonprofits Only After attending an Intro Session, completing the contact form, and receiving your login, work on completing your profile. Current Nonprofits Only Use the Profile Update Process to continue updating your profile. 1

JUN Visit the Toolkit

Familiarize yourself with the promotional materials located on the Colorado Gives Day Nonprofit Toolkit page on ColoradoGivesDay.org. Watch, and share with key staff, the Intro Videos, FAQs, press release and Key Messages. Consider using ColoradoGives Fundraising Pages as a way for your supporters to help raise money for your nonprofit. June 30: $1,000 Early Bird Drawing deadline. (See March, above.)

New Nonprofits Only After attending an Intro Session, completing the contact form, and receiving your login, work on completing your profile. Current Nonprofits Only Per the Profile Update Process, update the critical parts of your profile.

JUL Finalize Profile

Incorporate the Colorado Gives Day logo and other branding materials into your promotions. Announce your participation on social media. Read the Social Media Guidelines & Sample Copy document on the Nonprofit Toolkit page. Schedule time to watch Colorado Gives Day intro videos or attend the webinars. See Nonprofit Toolkit for dates and recordings. July 31: $500 Early Bird Drawing deadline (see March, above). July 31: Last Intro Session of the Year; Enrollment Ends.

New Nonprofits Only Prepare for the August 31 deadline: finish profile and submit for review. Use the Profile Completion Schedule for guidance. Current Nonprofits Only Prepare for the August 31 deadline. Finish profile and submit update for review. Use Profile Update Process for guidance.

AUG Last Chance to Submit Profile

August 31 at 5 pm: Deadline to submit profile for review and complete required updates. Fine-tune your strategy to reach your goals. Share with board members, staff and volunteers. Ensure they understand their roles. Include pre-made, branded Colorado Gives Day ad in your print newsletters, emails and website (located in Nonprofit Toolkit). Promote Colorado Gives Day Fundraising Pages (see Nonprofit Toolkit).

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SEP Amp Up Social Media

Begin an email and social media campaign, starting slowly and building in frequency during November and December. Use content you know will resonate with your audience. Include images, videos, and links to stories on your organization’s website, blog and other channels.

OCT Increase Outreach

Begin increasing outreach efforts using your website, print materials and word of mouth. Promote that Colorado Gives Day donations can be scheduled on ColoradoGives.org early, beginning November 1.

NOV Promote at Maximum

Scheduled donations for Colorado Gives Day begins November 1. See Nonprofit Toolkit for sample verbiage for donors. Share “I Gave Early” badge on social media. Community First Foundation’s media outreach begins. Promote #GivingTuesday. In Colorado, the way we participate in GivingTuesday is by scheduling our Colorado Gives Day donations. GivingTuesday is November 29. See the Nonprofit Toolkit for suggested verbiage. Participate in Colorado Gives Day Rally on GivingTuesday, November 28! Increase social media posts. Review Best Practices video and Social Media Guidelines & Sample Copy on the Nonprofit Toolkit.

DEC All Hands On Deck!

Promote your organization’s chance to win FirstBank cash prizes with the help of your supporters. Learn more. Tuesday, December 5, is Colorado Gives Day! Send reminders about Colorado Gives Day. Share your goals. Let supporters know how close you are to goal throughout the day. After Colorado Gives Day: Thank your supporters. Share your results on your website, newsletter and social media networks. Execute donor retention plan for new donors.

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