Posts Tagged: Big Dig Day

Dig into the Big Dig Campaign-In-A-Box toolkit

Your Campaign-In-A-Box toolkit is available to begin promotions for Big Dig Day, ANR's statewide giving day, on June 4. 

Check out these resources in the Campaign-In-A-Box:

• Save-the-date flyers for each program
• Peer-to-peer templates: Want to invite your friends/family/colleagues to support you and donate to your campaign, but don't know how to ask? Use a template to send a personal email or social media post!
• Press release template: Send to your local media outlets for additional promotion

Happy McGivins is our Big Dig Day mascot. You will find a "Flat Happy" cut out in the toolkit. Take Flat Happy with you to your garden, workplace, virtual club meetings, etc. and snap a selfie! Then post it on social media with a message that says, "I dig (INSERT PROGRAM NAME) because...(FILL IN THE BLANK!") #BigDigDay #GiveBack

Webinar recordings: 

ANR: "Big Dig Day & Social Media: Strategies for Success"

4-H: "Big Dig Day & Social Media: Strategies for Success"

Master Gardener: "Big Dig Day & Social Media: Strategies for Success"

If you have questions, contact Emily Delk, director of annual giving, at eddelk@ucanr.edu or (916) 564-4862.

Start planning for Big Dig Day June 4

Big Dig Day is June 4. The 24-hour online fundraising campaign is an opportunity to collect supplemental support for UC ANR programs and research. 

In an effort to better communicate campaign plans and resources with participants, UCCE offices, RECs, programs and clubs are asked to register. Registered Big Dig Day participants will receive The Scoop e-newsletter with campaign updates and links to webinars and tools.

Register by filling out this 3-minute survey.

On May 3, the Big Dig toolkit will be available on Box.

Happy McGivins is our Big Dig Day mascot. You will find a "Flat Happy" in the toolkit that can be printed. Take Flat Happy with you to your garden, workplace, virtual club meetings, etc. and snap a selfie! Then post it on social media with a message that says, "I dig (INSERT PROGRAM NAME) because...(FILL IN THE BLANK!") #BigDigDay #GiveBack

On May 5, at 12 noon, there will be a Master Gardener webinar "Big Dig Day & Social Media: Strategies for Success."

If you have questions, contact Emily Delk, director of annual giving, at eddelk@ucanr.edu or (916) 564-4862.

Donors dig deep to give UC ANR $99,000 for Big Dig Day

BIG congratulations! Together we raised over $99,000 in new support across the state with our second annual Big Dig Day campaign. This is an increase of more than three times the individual giving tally from last year. In these unprecedented times, this show of support demonstrates the impact UC ANR is having in our communities and the value that donors place on our work.

More than $82,000 of support was designated to 50 counties and research and extension centers. We received 843 gifts from 738 donors.

We thank all of our donors for their participation, which extends our reach and helps us fulfill our mission for a healthier California. Please view our thank you video and share it with your contacts!

The following are the top recipients of Big Dig donations.

Top 5 counties:

1.   San Luis Obispo

2.   Sonoma

3.   Contra Costa

4.   Orange

5.   Sacramento

Top 5 programs:

1.   UC Master Gardeners

2.   California 4-H

3.   UC ANR

4.   UCCE

5.   California Naturalists

Find your 2020 gift reports by county and by program at https://ucdavis.box.com/s/opup3bdtb98nrntqzzxs6s5pjb6h3b6r.

Happy McGivins thanks you for sharing your Dig Deep messages! With several outstanding entries in these counties, Happy is sending gift cards to these winners!

1.   Lauren Hull, UC Master Gardeners

2.   Ventura County, 4-H

3.   Stanislaus County, MG

4.   San Mateo/San Francisco, 4-H

Show your UC ANR pride on Big Dig Day, June 5

Greetings! I'm reaching out to you in preparation for our UC ANR divisionwide, online fundraising event: Big Dig Day on June 5.

In times of crisis, and beyond, it's important to share that the work of UC ANR is critical; Big Dig Day is an opportunity to highlight our work and seek philanthropic support from the community. If you need examples of the impact ANR has, see the recently completed 2019 Annual Report, Working for the Benefit of All Californians, produced by Program Planning and Evaluation. 

I'm asking you to join me and do three things to help support this unique campaign:

1. Save-the-Date: June 5—follow UC ANR on social media channels for updates and share what makes you proud to be part of the UC ANR team.
2. Consider making a personal gift on June 5 to your favorite statewide program, county or REC at ucanr.edu/bigdig
3. Invite your friends, family and network to join in supporting you and the work of UC ANR by making a gift. Donations of any size will have an immediate impact.

I've been so encouraged by the can-do spirit of our colleagues and volunteers in the face of adversity and uncertain times. The worst of circumstances often brings out the best in people. I know Big Dig Day will be another example of how together we can rise to the challenge.

Thank you,  

Glenda

P.S. – Download and print “Flat Happy McGivins,” our Big Dig Day mascot! Take Flat Happy with you to your garden, workspace, virtual club meetings, etc. and snap aselfie! Then post it on social media with a message that says, "I dig (INSERT PROGRAM NAME) because...(FILL IN THE BLANK!") #BigDigDay #DigDeep —and earn the chance to win a $50 gift card in a raffle.

ANR launches third annual Giving Tuesday Nov. 28

On Nov. 28, ANR will again participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving, powered by our social networks. Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season. For ANR, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to raise funds for UC Cooperative Extension county programs, research and extension centers and statewide programs. As a result of the ongoing effects of the drought, recent wildfires and persistent pockets of poverty, California's needs in the coming year will be great, and year-end giving is an opportunity for donors to assist.

“UC Cooperative Extension professionals have a deep passion for their work and a dedication to the communities they serve. While most deliver their research and programs quietly every day, it is especially incredible to witness their response to disaster; for example, recent wildfires saw local UCCE offices responding immediately with vital information for coping with the fires, care for livestock and pets, as well as service in food banks and other volunteer needs,” said VP Glenda Humiston.

UC Cooperative Extension staff and 4-H members helped rescue livestock in Sonoma County as people evacuated. The UC Master Gardener Program connected volunteers throughout the state who wanted to provide relief to the 17 UC Master Gardener volunteers who lost their homes in Solano County.

“UC Master Gardener volunteers are true to their generous nature and have offered tremendous support to fellow volunteers who have lost homes in the fires. With compassionate hearts, they have offered lodging, supplies and words of support,” said Missy Gable, UC Master Gardener Program director. “In the future, we will look to replant what was lost and find healing in the care and establishment of new landscapes and wild spaces.”

“Giving Tuesday gives us an opportunity to talk about our research and outreach to enhance food systems and create thriving communities, as well as all the other positive things everyone in ANR is doing to make life better for Californians,” Humiston said.

For UC ANR stakeholders, Giving Tuesday presents an opportunity to support the many programs and services that strengthen California communities each day and more importantly, during times of crisis. Last year, over $64,000 was raised on Giving Tuesday to support UC ANR programs including the 4-H Youth Development Program and UC Master Gardener Program.

“Last year, the 4-H Foundation recorded a 430 percent increase in donations over the previous fiscal year, raising over $30,000 in one day from 37 counties!” said Mary Ciricillo, director of annual giving for UC ANR. This was due in large part to a match challenge from an anonymous donor.

“This year, I'm excited to share that we will have two match challenge funds. One supporting the California 4-H Foundation and one for all UC ANR.” said Ciricillo.

A website is being created with links to all of ANR's programs, Research and Extension Centers and UCCE offices: ucanr.edu/givingtuesday. It invites donors to designate programs or locations to which they wish to donate.

As of Nov. 1, the website will contain a toolkit for county offices and programs to participate. It will include:

• A customizable letter to send to stakeholders
• Templates for “unselfies.” Donors may take photos of themselves holding an unselfie sign and share on social media how they are giving.
• Sample tweets and social media posts
• Sample thank you note

The UC Master Gardener Giving Tuesday website is at http://mg.ucanr.edu/givingtuesday.  

The 4-H Youth Development Program also has its own website at http://4h.ucanr.edu/GivingTuesday. Last year, 4-H programs in 17 California counties participated. 

Although not as well-known as the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday appeals to people who are swept up in the spirit of giving at the end of the year. 

This year Development Services has set a goal of collecting a total of $60,000 for 4-H and UC ANR from 300 or more donors on Giving Tuesday. Last year UC ANR and 4-H received 224 gifts.

“The #GivingTuesday campaign is a fun way for people in all ANR programs to supplement their funding with private donations,” said Andrea Ambrose, acting director, UC ANR Development Services. 

 

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