#GiveBigE
4 • 14 • 21 Social Media Toolkit for Ambassadors
#GiveBigE is Eastern Kentucky University’s giving day, a 24-hour online challenge to increase giving participation among the entire EKU community. Also known as EKU Giving Day, the event’s goal is to receive support from 1,000 donors on 4/14/2021. To succeed, we need your help spreading the word to all our loyal alumni and friends. Join us as we let people know that their donations can truly make a difference at EKU. If enough people give, their impact increases — groups from across the University community have set forth several challenges that will provide thousands of dollars of additional support once specific milestones are met.
we cannot do it
without you. go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 1
#GiveBigE key dates TODAY: •
Read through this guide and familiarize yourself with the communication timeline, language, and social media posting guidelines.
•
Make sure to follow Eastern Kentucky University and EKU Alumni & Friends on Facebook and Twitter (@EKU and @EKUalums).
APRIL 7: •
Announce EKU Giving Day! Promote the campaign by sharing the University’s Facebook and Twitter posts and campaign video on April 7.
•
Tag your former EKU classmates, EKU colleagues, and friends to extend your reach even further.
•
Email the video to your contacts.
APRIL 13: •
Change your Facebook/Twitter profile picture and Facebook/Twitter cover photos by downloading the available images in the Ambassador Toolkit: go.eku.edu/givingday-ambassadors
•
Make a post letting your followers know about EKU Giving Day and how they can help on April 14.
•
Share the official EKU Giving Day event from the EKU Alumni & Friends Facebook page.
APRIL 14: •
Don’t forget to wear your #GiveBigE shirt or any EKU shirt!
•
Make your gift at go.eku.edu/givingday
•
Post throughout the day. Share the University’s social media posts/Tweets. Tag your friends and encourage them to make a gift on EKU Giving Day.
•
If you know someone who made a gift, thank them.
APRIL 15: •
Thank your followers for participating. We couldn’t have done it without them!
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 2
giving day
facts to know
•
EKU Giving Day will be held on Wednesday, April 14. Also known as #GiveBigE, it is a 24-hour celebration of the EKU spirit of giving back and our collective commitment to the University’s future.
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Donors will be able to support one or several areas of the University including, but not limited to: The Eastern Fund; University General Scholarship Fund; College greatest needs funds; and more!
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EKU has set a goal of 1,000 gifts for Giving Day 2021. There were 748 donors on EKU’s last Giving Day, which greatly surpassed the original goal of 424.
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The EKU social media accounts will be posting updates throughout the day on Wednesday, April 14, and preliminary results will be shared on Thursday, April 15. go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 3
quick facts Feel free to use some these facts in your posts to help illustrate just how impactful EKU is, both to its students and Kentucky: •
75% of EKU degree holders are employed in Kentucky, the highest percentage of any public university.
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EKU conferred 2,365 degrees in spring 2020 and nearly 1,300 degrees in fall 2020.
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Contributions from the Commonwealth of Kentucky account for less than 25% of the University’s operating budget, which means that private support is essential to providing an outstanding education to its approximately 16,000 students.
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90% of EKU students qualify for federal and state-based assistance.
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There are nearly 4,000 students enrolled whose families are unable to financially contribute to their education.
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Nearly 60% of EKU students are the first in their families to attend college, low-income, or both.
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Degrees awarded to low-income students have increased by 58% in the last 10 years.
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 4
spread the word
JOIN THE DIGITAL CONVERSATION Join other ambassadors and supporters to promote EKU Giving Day by using and following the hashtag #GiveBigE. Also, follow and share content from the official Giving Day platforms on Facebook and Twitter.
BE LOUD AND PROUD ON APRIL 14 Keep your own networks in the loop by sharing updates throughout the day on April 14. Don’t want to overwhelm your followers? See the FAQ section for a tip on how to limit your audience on Facebook to EKU fans only.
UPDATE YOUR SOCIAL PROFILES Download the free Facebook and Twitter cover and profile images from the visual toolbox (go.eku.edu/givingday-ambassadors) and update your accounts to show your school pride.
PROMOTE THE EVENT Let your networks know you’ll be participating by sharing the event on your social media platforms. Promoting the event raises awareness for your personal contacts who also have a connection with EKU.
LET PEOPLE KNOW WHY YOU SUPPORT EKU Share a personal testament. Tell the world how EKU has impacted your life.
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 5
social media
accounts
The EKU and EKU Alumni social media accounts will be your primary source for news, updates, and exciting content during April through the duration of EKU Giving Day. How to use these accounts: • • • •
Follow these accounts for the latest EKU Giving Day news and information. Check back in to find content to share with your own followers. Use the handles to tag these accounts in your own posts. Add the website URL to your own posts about EKU Giving Day to direct followers to the site.
https://go.eku.edu/givingday
Eastern Kentucky University
@EKU
EKU Alumni & Friends
@EKUalums
USE THE HASHTAG The EKU Giving Day hashtag, #GiveBigE, allows our community to track the digital conversation by searching for the hashtag on each platform. Use the hashtag in each of your posts to help followers stay on top of the latest Giving Day news and content.
#GiveBigE go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 6
social media
Facebook sample posts
On April 14, consider posting a selfie while wearing your #GiveBigE shirt (or any EKU shirt!) with a sentence or two about why you choose to support EKU. Below are sample social media posts to get you started! Remember to include the #GiveBigE hashtag and go.eku.edu/givingday website in you posts.
before
• On April 14, members of the EKU community will join together for an extraordinary day of giving back. #GiveBigE, a 24-hour giving day, is a chance for Colonels everywhere to come together to show pride in their Alma Mater and provide essential funding to support students and shape the University. Together, in just one day, we can make a difference for current and future EKU students. Mark your calendar and make your gift on 4/14/21 at go.eku.edu/givingday. • One day, one big goal, and a long lasting impact — that’s the opportunity waiting for you on EKU Giving Day. Save the Date for Wednesday, April 14. • Save the Date! EKU Giving Day is Wednesday, April 14, and we need your help to reach 1,000 donors in 24 hours. • What is #GiveBigE? It’s a chance to make a difference in the lives of EKU students. Generous donors are challenging alumni and friends to make a gift to support EKU. In return they will match our gifts. Join me and be one of the 1,000 donors to make a gift on 4/14/21.
during
• I gave — will you? Be part of #GiveBigE today! Make a gift to benefit EKU and its students and help us reach 1,000 donors on 4/14. • It’s EKU Giving Day! Today is your chance to make a lasting impact on the future of EKU. Join me in supporting our current and future students at go.eku.edu/givingday. • I am helping EKU meet its goal of 1,000 donors for #GiveBigE on April 14. Will you join me in supporting current and future Colonels? If 1,000 donors make a gift today, EKU will secure thousands of dollars in challenge match gifts from groups across the University Community. Please consider making your gift today. • Post a photo or video telling why you give to EKU! • The clock is ticking! Head over to go.eku.edu/ givingday to make your gift as part of EKU Giving Day #GiveBigE.
after • Thank you to everyone who made #GiveBigE a success. Together, we proved that we can make a difference. Thanks to the collective support of alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students for their gifts. #GiveBigE. • We did it! Thank you to those who celebrated EKU by giving back and making EKU Giving Day a success! #GiveBigE.
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 7
social media
Twitter sample posts
On April 14, consider posting a selfie while wearing your #GiveBigE shirt (or any EKU shirt!) with a sentence or two about why you choose to support EKU. Below are sample social media posts to get you started! Remember to include the #GiveBigE hashtag and go.eku.edu/givingday website in you posts.
before
• #GiveBigE, EKU Giving Day, is April 14. Together WE CAN make a difference! Will you join me in making a gift? • Save the Date! #GiveBigE Giving Day is Wednesday, April 14 and @EKU is setting its sights on 1,000 donors in 24 hours and we need your help to reach our goal. • The countdown is on — EKU Giving Day, #GiveBigE, is almost here! Will you join me in making a gift?
during
• It’s EKU Giving Day! Join me in making an impact at EKU by giving at go.eku.edu/givingday. #GiveBigE • I made a gift to @EKU for #GiveBigE. Did you? Together we can make a difference. • Only XX hours left to show your support for @EKU on #GiveBigE Giving Day! Visit go.eku.edu/givingday to give now. • Only one day and one big goal — join the #GiveBigE movement and make your gift today!
• #GiveBigE is a one-day celebration of @EKU. Find out how your gift can make an impact at go.eku.edu/givingday.
after • Thank you to everyone who helped make #GiveBigE a success. We proved that together we can make a difference. #GiveBigE • That’s a wrap! Thank you to everyone who participated in making EKU Giving Day a success! #GiveBigE
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 8
visual toolbox Below you will find downloadable graphics that will help you tell the EKU Giving Day story online.
go.eku.edu/givingday-ambassadors Profile Pictures & Social Media Posts
Eastern Kentucky University
EKU Alumni & Friends
@EKU @EKUalums
4 • 14 • 21
4 • 14 • 21
go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 9
FAQ
WHERE SHOULD I POST? Post on your personal social media accounts and on any EKU pages or groups to which you belong. EKU and EKU Alumni & Friends will be sharing messages on Facebook and Twitter.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I POST? That’s up to you. Start by posting at least once on the three key dates: April 7, April 13, and April 14. We recommend posting at least one to three times before EKU Giving Day to promote the event and at least three times on Giving Day.
WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO POST? When in doubt, go to @EKUalums (Twitter) or EKU Alumni & Friends (Facebook) social media accounts and share or retweet content. Add your own comment or just share the post to help the University spread the word.
#GiveBigE WHEN SHOULD I USE THE #GIVEBIGE HASHTAG? In every post! Hashtags work on nearly every platform. You can use the hashtag as part of your post (i.e., Excited for #GiveBigE!) or add it to the end (i.e., Excited for EKU Giving Day! #GiveBigE).
WHAT IF I’M WORRIED ABOUT SPAMMING MY FACEBOOK FRIENDS? That’s understandable and we have an answer. Although we do recommend sharing at least one to three posts with all of your followers, we recognize you might not want to annoy your friends who aren’t connected to EKU. To limit your audience for your post, select the gray box located under your name on your mobile device, choose “See All”, and select any EKU affiliated groups. From your desktop, the globe icon is located in the bottom right corner of the “Create Post” box, click “More” then “See All”, and choose any EKU affiliated groups. This process limits your post to your friends who have EKU on their profiles. The audience setting will stay, so be sure to remove any restrictions before posting again.
More questions? Contact the Office of Annual Giving at giving@eku.edu or 859-622-GIVE. Thank you for being a #GiveBigE Ambassador! go.eku.edu/givingday – Page 10