Here’s a helpful calendar that tells you when you should be doing what in order to do the very best in the India Giving Challenge.

August 24 – August 31: Prepare your iGive page

Even though you cannot raise funds till September 1, we strongly advise you to go ahead and set up your page ahead of time. This will give you time to sort out any problems you have while setting up the page or correct any mistakes BEFORE the pages go live. Don’t waste valuable days of the competition dealing with setting up your page; be ready to go on September 1.

Another way to prepare is get your first appeal letter ready to go out.

September 1: Send your first appeal

Yes, the India Giving Challenge is officially underway now, so launch your collection drive

Send out your prepared first appeal letter to all contacts on your list urging them to get your NGO off to a great start.

September 7 – 12: Monitor the response

Once you have sent out your first appeal, watch the response on your iGive page and update your Excel sheet accordingly.

Prepare your second appeal letter to go out the following week.

September 15 – 17: Send the second appeal letter

It’s time to send out the second appeal letter. Make sure it contains

The amount of money raised so far
Your NGO’s ranking as on the date of sending
Decide on one more event for the coming week.

September 22 – 24: Send thank you notes

This week send that you emails to all the people who have already donated. In this note, ask them if they will help by forwarding your appeal to their friends and family.
Prepare your third and final appeal letter.

September 27 – October 2: Final appeal letter

It’s crunch time! Send out your final appeal letter only to people who have not donated yet. In addition to the amount of money raised and the ranking, tell people that time is running out and if they want to win the competition, they need to act now.

October 5 – 20: Tie up the loose ends

Make sure all the commitments people have given you have been honored. Make sure any cash amounts received have been converted into cheque or credit card transaction on your iGive page. Try and get key fundraisers and volunteers to send out their own last minute appeals and then….

WAIT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF WHO WINS THE SECOND INDIA GIVING CHALLENGE!!