Winning Strategies; Amplified Impact: The Big Give 2024
The Nonprofit Council has been a cornerstone of the San Antonio community for over 20 years, empowering local nonprofits with vital resources, leadership training, and meaningful connections. Their mission? To fortify the nonprofit sector and nurture a culture of philanthropy throughout South Central Texas. Perhaps their most notable initiative, The Big Give, is a 24-hour online giving event that unites thousands of donors with more than 400 local nonprofits. In their first decade, The Big Give raised an incredible $45 million, becoming one of the nation’s most successful giving days. In 2024, the goal was to raise the bar even higher, boosting participation and driving more donations to ensure these nonprofits can continue their essential work.
We were thrilled to partner with The Nonprofit Council on this year’s Big Give to develop a fundraising campaign strategy that would not only drive donations but also ignite passion for local causes. Our mission was to raise awareness, encourage participation, and fuel the fundraising efforts of the nonprofits they champion. With a deep understanding of the community’s philanthropic spirit, we crafted a strategic plan that blended digital outreach, targeted messaging, and media strategy to elevate the event and reach even more donors. Our approach began with a thorough analysis of donor demographics and past event performance, helping us identify the most effective channels and messaging. Meta and YouTube emerged as prime platforms for targeted digital ads, while traditional media would help expand the reach to a broader audience. The campaign unfolded in phases—starting with awareness, building momentum for early donations, and driving contributions during the 24-hour event.
We launched the campaign in September, sparking interest with a series of digital and outdoor ads designed to boost visibility and stir excitement. By mid-September, our focus shifted to encouraging early donations, urging supporters to get involved before the main event. On the day of The Big Give, which took place on September 18-19, we kept the energy high by celebrating milestones, match minutes, and key donations as they came in. We also made real-time optimizations to the digital campaign, shifting funds between platforms based on performance to maximize impact. Throughout the campaign, we kept the community engaged with compelling content and strategic media outreach. Social media posts across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn highlighted moving stories, videos, and visuals that resonated with potential donors. Our PR team secured earned media coverage, including a live segment on Great Day SA, further increasing the event’s visibility. Digital ads on Meta and YouTube, combined with broadcast and print placements, helped amplify our message for mass reach, while email campaigns kept the urgency alive.
The results were nothing short of impressive. The Big Give 2024 raised a remarkable $5.8 million—surpassing last year’s total—and drew in nearly 23,000 donors. The campaign reached an astounding 168 million people across various channels, thanks to a well-executed, multifaceted strategy. This year’s success demonstrated the immense power of community-driven fundraising and underscored the importance of thoughtful, targeted advertising and marketing to make a lasting impact.
If you’re ready to take your next campaign to new heights, Noisy Trumpet can help you develop an impactful fundraising campaign strategy that drives real results for your cause. Reach out today!