How to run a pledge celebration event
By celebrating and officially marking our commitments, we affirm them, recognise their significance, and inspire others.
A pledge celebration can take many forms. It can be an event where:
- People gather to sign the pledge and celebrate their new commitment
- New pledges (that happened in the last year, the last six months, the last month, etc.) are celebrated ... such as within a local group
- You celebrate your recent pledge signing by hosting a gathering/party
- Pledgers' anniversaries (1 year of pledging, 5 years of pledging, etc.) are celebrated
- A combination of the above!
PISE (Positive Impact Society Erasmus) have had success hosting Pledge Celebrations in the past. In 2022, PISE facilitated a pledge signing and celebration event where 10 people took the pledge together:
“The event started with a song challenge and the winners won a book in the end.
Afterwards, [event participants] signed the pledge and to celebrate, they went to a restaurant. Everyone had a good time and they were all happy to be able to celebrate and pledge together.”
Photo from the PISE Pledge Celebration!
Organising pledge signings/celebrations for your group
If you organise a group that includes Giving What We Can members (such as an effective altruism group or GWWC local group) you can easily integrate pledge signings/celebrations into other events such as the first group meeting of the year, a Pledge Panel, or a Giving Game. Another alternative would be to organise a formal dinner. Signing the pledge is an important and significant decision, and a formal dinner or event is a great way to mark the occasion (or its anniversary) as you might with other important moments in your life.
Let your members know you're running the event and that now is a great time to let you know if they've pledged or are considering doing so. If you're not sure who's pledged, you can also check your members' names against the public members page.
Feel free to get in touch with us (community@givingwhatwecan.org) and we can invite other members who live nearby and give you a list of pledge anniversaries for the event.
Celebrate your own pledge
Just taken a pledge yourself? Consider marking the occasion.
Two married members reported that they started off with a Try Giving pledge on their first anniversary and have been increasing their joint pledge by 1% every wedding anniversary and celebrating it each year.
Physical pledge certificates
A physical pledge is normally mailed to members within the first 2 months; if you hold a celebration event, consider having new pledgers sign their physical pledge certificates at the event. If you need a paper pledge earlier, contact community@givingwhatwecan.org and we can either expedite the mailing and/or provide a print-at-home template.
Taking photos of the signed pledges and sharing this on social media, alongside some member quotes, is a great way to inspire others and build awareness about the pledge.
How to host a pledge celebration: step-by-step
1. Set a date and time for the event. Consider choosing a date that may have some extra significance, such as New Year’s Day or Giving Tuesday.
2. Invite your guests. This might be a mix of people who have pledged in the past, people who are planning to take the pledge at the event, those who are considering the pledge but aren't yet ready to sign it, and those who don't know much about the pledge at all.
- GWWC are happy to email existing pledge members to attend the party or speak on a panel; just reach out to community@givingwhatwecan.org and let us know!
3. Plan the activities. This could include a brief introduction to the Giving What We Can Pledge and its goals followed by a group signing of the pledge. Consider having a guest speaker or panel discussion on effective giving, or hosting a fundraiser for a charity of your choice.
Tips:
- Provide refreshments and snacks. This could be a potluck-style gathering where you ask people to bring a plate, some light tea and coffee, or a meal at a cafe or restaurant.
- Don't forget to celebrate! After signing the pledge, you might like to take some time to celebrate your commitment to giving with music, games, or other fun activities.
- Make the pledge signing process as easy and convenient as possible. This could involve providing pens and pre-printed pledge forms, or setting up a computer or tablet where guests can electronically sign the pledge. (Don’t forget to take photos once the pledges are signed and share them on social media and with us at GWWC!)
- Consider providing information and resources on effective giving. This could include sharing information with your guests on how to research charities, make informed giving decisions, and maximise the impact of their donations. Providing copies of Doing Good Better or The Life You Can Save may be helpful.
- After the party, follow up with your guests. See how they are doing with their pledge and provide support and encouragement as needed. You could also plan additional events or activities to help your guests continue to engage with the Giving What We Can Pledge community. Pledgers to get in contact with the GWWC staff at community@givingwhatwecan.org
Need help?
The GWWC team is excited to help support you in running a Pledge Celebration. If you need help with resources, materials or funding for books or frames for pledge certificates, please let us know (community@givingwhatwecan.org)!