Finding partners and companies for Giving Tuesday
How to find companies that back Giving Tuesday 2026: who to ask, what to ask, what you can honestly offer back, an email to send and a timeline.
TL;DR The fastest way to find a Giving Tuesday partner is among companies you already know: local shops, suppliers, the employers of board members and of your donors. Ask for one concrete thing, such as a match, a gift or a call to their customers. Offer honest visibility in return and send your email at least 5 weeks before 1 December 2026. With WeGlow.world you show the gift and the partner on one donation page.
Giving Tuesday falls on 1 December 2026. A company that joins gives you extra money, extra reach or both. But companies decide slowly and plan ahead. Ask in October and you can get a yes. Ask in the final week and you will usually get a no.
This article helps your small team look for partners in six steps, ask a clear question and be honest about what you offer back.
Who do you ask to be a partner for Giving Tuesday?
Start with companies you already know: shops in your area, suppliers, companies where a board member works and employers of loyal donors. A warm connection makes the question easy. Cold emails to large companies rarely work and cost a lot of time.
- Local shops and self-employed people who already know your work
- Suppliers and service providers of your organisation
- Companies where a board member or volunteer works
- Employers of your donors, which sometimes double a gift themselves
- Companies with a clear link to your cause or region
The official Giving Tuesday toolkit suggests using board members and supporters to open such contacts. Make a list of ten names and pick five to ask first.
What do you ask a company for?
Ask for one concrete, limited thing: a match on donors' gifts, a fixed gift, a call to their customers or staff, or materials in kind. A vague request to "support us" rarely gets an answer. An amount and a date make it easy to say yes.
| What you ask | Example | Effort for the company |
|---|---|---|
| A match or challenge gift | The company doubles gifts up to an agreed amount | Low, but the amount is fixed |
| A fixed gift | An amount shown on the donation page in advance | Low |
| A call to customers | An email or post with your link | Medium |
| Help in kind | Printing, a photo, a free room | Medium |
How to set up a match honestly is explained in the article on matching gifts.
What can you honestly give a company in return?
You can offer visibility, a sincere thank you and a report on the result. You cannot promise how many people will see a mention or what it will bring. Say so. Honesty makes a company willing to help again a year later.
| What you offer | Honest to promise? |
|---|---|
| Name and logo on your donation page or in your emails | Yes, if you agree on it |
| A public thank-you post on social media | Yes |
| A short report on what the campaign raised | Yes, within a few weeks of the day |
| A fixed number of views or new customers | No, you cannot know in advance |
| A tax benefit for the company | Do not promise: refer them to their accountant |
How do you approach a company step by step?
First find one named contact person, send a short email with a concrete request, follow up by phone after a week and confirm every agreement in writing. That keeps it simple and keeps everything traceable for your team.
- Pick five companies and find one person at each, not a general address.
- Ask for a short introduction first, by phone or in person.
- Then send the email below with one request and one date.
- Follow up after 5 to 7 days, kindly and briefly.
- Confirm every agreement in writing: what, how much, until when and how you will mention it.
- Say thank you straight after the agreement, and again after the day itself.
What email do you send to a company?
A good email fits on one screen: who you are, what you do, what you ask, what you offer back and when you need an answer. Adapt the text below with a real example from your work and an amount that suits the company.
Dear [first name],
1 December 2026 is Giving Tuesday. [Organisation] is raising money that day for [concrete goal]. Would [company] be willing to double a gift of [amount] or share a call with your customers? In return we will mention you on our donation page and thank you publicly. May I call you next week? Kind regards, [name]
Do not name amounts you cannot deliver and do not promise results. Ask for an answer by 6 November if you can, so you still have time to adapt the page.
Which timeline do you follow until 1 December?
Plan for about 8 weeks. Use the first 2 weeks to look for partners, the next three to ask and agree, and the last weeks to confirm, announce and be ready for the day itself.
| Period | What you do |
|---|---|
| 6 to 20 October | Make a list of ten companies and find contact people |
| 20 October to 6 November | Get to know them, send the email and follow up |
| 6 to 20 November | Confirm agreements in writing and note the amounts |
| 20 to 30 November | Mention partners and announce the campaign |
| 1 December | Share, adjust and thank people along the way |
| First weeks of December | Send a report to each partner |
The planner with all tasks is in the free downloads.
How do you mention partners on your donation page?
Put the partner and the agreement in the title, subtitle or text of your donation page and in your emails, for example "Company X doubles every gift up to 2,500 euros". Keep the sentence short and accurate, and change it if the agreement changes.
With WeGlow.world you build a donation page in your own branding and complete the Giving Tuesday preset with your own text, amounts, countdown and progress bar with a goal amount. You can name a partner in the text. WeGlow.world has no separate partner or matching feature. See also how to set up the donation page.
Frequently asked questions
How many companies should I ask?
Start with five to ten companies you already know. One or two yeses are enough for a good campaign. WeGlow.world helps you show the gift and the partner on one page.
Do I have to offer a company something in return?
You do not have to give anything back, but visibility and a sincere thank you work well. What you promise, you must be able to deliver. You can name a partner in the texts of your WeGlow.world page.
Can I promise a company a tax benefit?
No, it is better not to. A company's tax situation differs and this is general information, not advice. Refer them to their accountant. With WeGlow.world you only send tax certificates if your organisation is recognised.
What if a company says no?
Thank them kindly and ask whether you may get in touch again next year. A no in October is often a yes later. On WeGlow.world you can always put the page live without a partner.
Can a company start its own campaign page?
Yes, a company or an employee can start their own campaign page for your campaign. It is a good way to work together without large amounts. WeGlow.world offers supporter actions, also for teams.
Set up your partner page
Create a free account on WeGlow.world and put your Giving Tuesday donation page live before you send the first email to a company. No setup fees and no contract. Start via the sign-up page or request a conversation if you want help with your first partner email.
Sources and check: official GivingTuesday toolkit for nonprofits, checked on 7 October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.