Day of Giving Volunteer Toolkit

List of 3 items.

• TIPS FOR SPREADING THE WORD

  BEFORE WE BEGIN, REMEMBER…
  

  • Always use your personal donation link in your communications or via the social media sharing buttons on the Day of Giving page!
  • Don’t forget to include the hashtag #WeAreHawken

  Email: Make a list of extended contacts you would like to email. Draft those emails now so they are ready to go when you wake up and have your morning coffee.
  
  

  Text: Are there classmates you haven’t talked to that you would love to catch up with? Fellow parents in your child’s grade? Now is an easy time to connect! Mobile donations are quick and easy.

  
  Social Media Posts: Create your own posts leading up to the day and on the day of to show others you’ve participated! Posts with images, videos, emojis, and other multimedia typically attract more attention than text-only.
  
  

  Be sure to Share and Like anything you see on Hawken’s Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads!
  
  

  Personal Plea: A Personal Plea is a video in which an Advocate tells their community why they’re getting involved with the campaign and why others should step up, too. Tell your Hawken story and inspire others!

• CONTENT EXAMPLES—feel free to copy & paste!

  SEND A TEXT:

  Today is Hawken’s annual Day of Giving! Show your love for the Hawken by making your Hawken Fund contribution today. <your personal donation link>
  
  

  SEND AN EMAIL:

  Email Example: To Parent/Guardian
  Hi [NAME] or [Class of XXX], 

  Today is Hawken’s Day of Giving! Every year, On Day of Giving, the entire Hawken community comes together to make an enormous impact for Hawken. I hope you will join me in making a gift of any amount today to show what Hawken means to your family. Your contribution directly impacts the Hawken experience for our children and the faculty who support them every day.

  <your personal donation link>
  Thank you. GO HAWKS!
  [YOUR NAME]

  P.S.–There are a TON of matches and challenges running, so your gift will go farther than any other day this year.
  
  

  Email Example: To Alumni
  Hi [NAME], 

  Today is Hawken’s Day of Giving! Every year, On Day of Giving, the entire Hawken community—in Cleveland, across the country, and around the globe—comes together to make an enormous impact for Hawken. I hope you will join me in making a gift of any amount today to show what Hawken means to you. Your contribution directly impacts the Hawken experience for the current generation of Hawks and the amazing faculty who support them every day.

  <your personal donation link>
  Thank you. GO HAWKS!
  [YOUR NAME]

  P.S.–There are a TON of matches and challenges running, so your gift will go farther than any other day this year.
  
  

  POST TO SOCIAL MEDIA (Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter):

  Example Posts/Captions:
  

  • I might be [x] miles from Hawken, but it’s never far from my ❤️! Join me in giving back today. <LINK> #WeAreHawken
  • To me, being a Hawk means… That’s why I made a gift today to the #WeAreHawken Day of Giving. I hope you’ll join me. <LINK>
  • A 1,915 minute celebration of Hawken spirit. Turn one gift into 365 days of impact by participating in #WeAreHawken Day of Giving. <LINK>
  • Join the #HawkenSchool community to make a powerful impact on a single day - #WeAreHawken Day of Giving. <LINK
  • I’m excited to support #HawkenSchool every day, but especially today on #WeAreHawken Day of Giving! <LINK>
  • Hawken gave me the skills and confidence I needed to succeed. For #WeAreHawken Day of Giving, I’m giving back to help provide the same opportunity for current students. <LINK>
  • A small act of kindness can make a big impact. Join me in helping Hawken School reach 700 donors on #WeAreHawken Day of Giving! <LINK>
  • Have you supported the #WeAreHawken Day of Giving? Join in and see the leaderboard at <LINK>.
  • Current Hawken School students, the alumni community has your back. You got this. 🤗 <LINK> #WeAreHawken

• CREATING A PERSONAL PLEA

  Inspire your friends, classmates, teammates and family to give!

   

  Post a Personal Plea Video on GiveCampus

   

  A Personal Plea is a video in which an Advocate tells their community why they’re getting involved with the campaign and why others should step up, too. The most popular format for Pleas is simply a short selfie video recorded on a cell phone! Personal Pleas can be uploaded via the campaign ‘Advocates’ tab. After you upload your Plea, the Advancement team will review, approve and post! A button to watch the video will appear next to your names on the campaign’s Advocates tab.
  
  CONTENT TIPS:
  

  • Introduce yourself: Tell viewers who you are and your connection to Hawken.
  • Make it personal and tell a story: Tell the viewer why you are passionate about Hawken and why they should be, too.
  • Make an ask! Ask the viewer to contribute to the Day of Giving and to share it with friends.
  • Keep it snappy: People have short attention spans. We recommend that videos last no more than 60 seconds.
  • Let your excitement shine through! Bring some energy!
  • Keep Bright the Red & Gray! Include Hawken spirit wear or colors if at all possible.
  • If uploading to social media, tag @HawkenSchool and/or #HawkenSchool in your posts.

  TECHNICAL TIPS:
  

  •  Use good light: Natural light is best, so go outside if you can. A cloudy day is perfect for filming outside. If filming inside, light up the room as much as possible or film next to a sunny window. The more light, the less grainy your footage will be.
  • Audio is important: Choose a quiet location to film so that listeners will hear your voice, not distracting background noise.