Communication Guide

Social Media

Click one of the social media icons above to see tips, tricks, and sample posts to get you well on your way to mastering being a social Champion

Instagram Tips

Looking to harness the power of visual communication? Take advantage of the ability to communicate with potential supporters with impactful images and catchy captions.

Follow @LindenwoodUniversity on Instagram.

Connect your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Make sure that your Instagram posts are automatically posted on Facebook. Connecting Facebook and Instagram harnesses the power of both social media platforms at once and allows you to reach a wider audience.

Find powerful images. People-centric, positive images will help you draw in new followers. Focus on sharing images that speak to your organization’s mission and your target audience. Canva.com is a great way to take your own photographs or a stock image to the next level. If you want to include important dates, statistics, or quotes, Canva lets you add text right on top of the image as well as provides you with a suite of photo editing tools.

Socialize! Like other supporters’ posts, and consider re-sharing posts that stand out and speak to your cause. Showcasing the stories and individuals that propel the mission of Giving Week will help you gain more followers, recognition, and traction in advance of Giving Week.

Use #LindenwoodGivingWeek, in addition to other creative hashtags. 2-3 hashtags per post is the sweet spot. Start with a branded or specific hashtag - like a tagline or fun phrase. Follow this with the name of the fund that you support, then a broader hashtag tied to the cause (i.e., #spreadingthelove). Having a succession of hashtags helps with branding!

Create a regular schedule for posting. We recommend posting at least 2-3 times per week to stay in your followers' feeds! If you integrate your Instagram posts with Facebook, you’ll want to consider how your Instagram posts will fit in with your other scheduled Facebook posts. Consider making posts that show a chronological history of Lindenwood University, if applicable.

Have fun! Instagram is a really playful platform, and the perfect opportunity to let the unique personalities, humor, and convictions of Lindenwood University shine through your photos, captions, and hashtags! Instagram is a fantastic opportunity to relate to your supporters, showing them who you are and what you stand for.

Twitter Tips

Want to quickly engage donors and share information about your fundraising efforts? Twitter is instant and efficient!

Below you will find a few tips to help you have success.

Follow @lindenwoodu’s Twitter account.

Tell your followers that you are fundraising for Giving Week. Tell your followers about the specific area that you support and begin to build a story around that. Use some of the suggested tweets provided below.

Use #hashtags and @handles. Whenever you share information include the @lindenwoodu handle and #LindenwoodGivingWeek to further spread the word. Show that you are a part of Giving Week by using the hashtag in all of your tweets.

Don’t just follow! Become a part of the conversation. Let people know that you are out there and engaged. Respond to tweets like you are holding a conversation. You never know where this may lead.

Share pictures, videos and interesting content. Twitter is not just about your ‘words’. Pictures and videos draw people in, and sharing interesting articles about what you and others are doing shows that you are part of a community.

Tweet, retweet and tweet again (especially during Giving Week)!

Sample Twitter Posts

  • Are you ready to be a part of Giving Week? It’s a day to celebrate all the good going on for Lindenwood University! #LindenwoodGivingWeek

  • Mark your calendars for {{dog-date-short}}. It will be a day for everyone to support Giving Week. You can find my fundraiser page at [LINK TO FUNDRAISER PAGE]! #LindenwoodGivingWeek

  • On {{dog-date-short}}, help us celebrate Giving Week by supporting my fundraiser at [LINK TO FUNDRAISER PAGE]! #LindenwoodGivingWeek

  • Get pumped for Giving Week! Join the conversation by following @lindenwoodu and retweeting any #LindenwoodGivingWeek posts!

  • Get ready to get up and give for Giving Week on {{dog-date-short}}! Follow @lindenwoodu to stay updated on the giving movement!

  • A little can go a long way when we get together and give together on {{dog-date-short}} for Giving Week! [LINK TO FUNDRAISER PAGE] #LindenwoodGivingWeek

Facebook Tips

Looking to get the word out with Facebook? This guide will help you get started and on the road to creating a successful strategy.

Below is a list of ways you can begin engaging your community for Giving Week!

Talk it up! Post interesting information to engage your followers in dialogue. Remember to keep posts brief! You don’t want to lose your audience by presenting lengthy updates.

Create a Facebook event. Invite your constituents to be part of Giving Week so that they can be reminded as the day gets closer AND see who else is participating. Also, tell people to invite others. It doesn’t matter whether or not you are hosting an event onsite; the whole event is worth celebration!

Sample Facebook Posts

  • Save the date: Giving Week is {{dog-date-short}}! You can be part of the celebration by giving to your favorite area of Lindenwood. Visit lugivingweek.lindenwood.edu/ to find out more.

  • The real success of Giving Week will not be how much money we raise but the tremendous impact those dollars will have when Lindenwood University puts them to work! Join the giving on {{dog-date-short}} at lugivingweek.lindenwood.edu/.

  • Let’s show Lindenwood University that we are full of generosity! On {{dog-date-short}}, help us celebrate Giving Week and continue [EXPLANATION OF MISSION]

  • I'm so excited to support Giving Week! You can support our AREA by visiting my fundraiser page at [LINK TO FUNDRAISER PAGE] and donating on {{dog-date-short}}.

  • On {{dog-date-short}}, give where your heart is! To support my fundraiser for Giving Week, go to [LINK TO FUNDRAISER PAGE].

Email Templates

Click the icon above to see sample emails to send to your network before, during, and after Giving Week

You can use these email templates to reach out to your personal network and spread the word about your fundraiser. Just copy and paste the text below into your email client and add some personal flair to make it your own!


Before Giving Week

Subject: Join me in Supporting Giving Week

Hi [FIRST NAME],

I am excited to announce that I am supporting Lindenwood University during Giving Week by taking on the role of a champion. Learn more about Giving Week at lugivingweek.lindenwood.edu/.

[YOUR FUNDRAISER STORY: Why are you fundraising? What impact has this fund had on you?]

Thank you for supporting me and Lindenwood

Subject: I Need Your Help!

Hi [first name],

Giving Week is only [DAYS UNTIL Giving Week] days away. I am participating in this celebration and I want to support them on {{dog-date-short}}. I need your help to make a difference!

Your contributions can make a big impact:

[EXAMPLE 1]
[EXAMPLE 2, ETC.]

Together we can make a difference. Visit [LINK TO FUNDRAISING PAGE] to support me and Lindenwood!

Thank you!


During Giving Week

Subject: Giving Week is here!

Hi [first_name],

TODAY is the day! It’s {{dog-date-short}}, so the time to give is now. My goal is to raise $[YOUR FUNDRAISER GOAL] in support of [NAME OF AREA YOU SUPPORT], but I can’t reach my goal alone.

Please join me in helping [NAME OF AREA YOU SUPPORT] to [OBJECTIVE OF AREA YOU SUPPORT] by visiting my fundraising page at: [FUNDRAISING PAGE LINK].

If you’ve already donated, thank you so much for your support! I hope you’ll consider sharing my fundraising page with your friends and family on social media to get the word out about [NAME OF AREA YOU SUPPORT] and the difference they make to our community!

Thank you!

Subject: Only a few more hours left to give!

Hi [first_name],

Can you believe Giving Week is almost over? With [$ AMOUNT YOU’VE RAISED SO FAR] already raised for [NAME OF AREA YOU SUPPORT], I am proud of my impact as a champion!

I am so thankful for the support of my community throughout this day - but the giving isn’t over yet! Visit my fundraising page at [FUNDRAISING PAGE LINK] and make a contribution to help me reach my goal.

You can also show your support by sharing my fundraising page with your friends and family on social media!

Thank you again!


After Giving Week

Subject: Thank you

Hi [first_name],

Thank you so much for all of your support during Giving Week. Because of you, I was able to raise $[AMOUNT RAISED IN YOUR FUNDRAISER] for [NAME OF AREA YOU SUPPORT]! Together, we made a difference.

You rock!