It’s that time again! Time for #GivingPack. CALS will be a part of the NC State Day of Giving on March 24, 2021.

On this page, you’ll find assets and information for the CALS community’s use in creating official Day of Giving communications. Make sure you’re familiar with the NC State brand before developing any Day of Giving communications.

Use the links below to navigate through the toolkit.

• Social Media Challenges
• Hourly Giving Challenges
• Communications Assets
• CALS Comm Workshop: Day of Giving Social Media Planning
• Emails
• Department Fund Pages
• Recommendations and Guidelines
• Department Follow Up (Stewardship)
• Links
• Contact Us

Changes to Social Media Challenges for 2021 

• Twitter and Instagram Stories will be the two primary platforms for social media challenges.

○ Entries will still be eligible on the Instagram grid, but opening challenges up for eligibility on Stories should encourage users who don’t want to leave their posts up for more than a day.

• Facebook will only be eligible for entry in pre-Day of Giving challenges to help raise awareness for the day.

How should you participate as a college/unit? 

• The challenges were all designed to have easy and low barriers to entry. We wanted to create challenges that people could participate in with photos or media on their camera rolls if they didn’t want to create anything new.
• We recommend that you choose a photo or piece of media that fits the specific challenge and that you announce it on the hour as the challenge begins. This will also be an eligible entry for your college or unit, so make it an example for your fans and followers to look to so they can participate, too.

○ Encourage them to jump into the game.

• Just because a challenge isn’t on a specific social media platform doesn’t mean you shouldn’t promote it there. Let everyone know what’s going on and which challenges you really want to shoot for, and go from there. The more people that know, the better chance you have to win.

Other things to consider if we get additional budget: 

• Some kind of fun care package for our curated ambassadors
• Gamification where our ambassadors “pay-it-forward” and tag at least two other people asking them to donate or do a challenge.

Day of Giving Video Share Challenge — March 17

Note: This challenge begins Wednesday, March 17, as a pre-Day of Giving challenge.

NC State Day of Giving ​aims to help make sure everyone can adapt in difficult circumstances while meeting urgent and ongoing needs, expanding opportunity, honoring what makes us different and providing meaningful space for all.

Help us spread the word of this event by sharing the NC State Day of Giving video from the @NCStateCALS Facebook page. The college, program or fund whose video post receives the most shares before March 24 will win an additional ​$2,000​, so spread the word and get ready to share.

Show us Your Wolfies — March 23

Note: This challenge will be all day on Tuesday, March 23, as a pre-Day of Giving challenge.

Take a photo of yourself holding up the Wolfies/Wolf Ears and help spread the word about Day of Giving.

Post on Twitter and Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of your choice. Also eligible to post to Facebook by posting the photo publicly and tagging the NC State University Facebook page, mentioning the college, program or fund of your choice in the copy, or by posting the photo as a comment on the NC State University Facebook page’s post about this challenge.

Winners will be selected at random at the end of each day and announced early the following day.

• Time: All-day
• Amount to Win: $2,000

#GivingPack Hashtag Match Challenge — All day March 24

Challenge is on until 600 tweets are hit and the $6,000 threshold is reached.

You’ve been resilient, but it hasn’t been easy. There are still so many unknowns ahead, but one thing’s for sure — the Wolfpack will always have each other’s backs.

We know there are members of our Wolfpack who are struggling. And we also know there are members of our Pack who want to help — and your participation in this social media challenge will make a financial impact without making a separate donation.

Here’s all you have to do:

Tell us something you love about NC State — why you chose it, a favorite memory, a shout-out to a friend, your favorite campus spot, etc. — and tweet using the hashtag #GivingPack. Mention the college, program or fund of your choice in the copy and $10 will automatically be given to that area in your honor! It’s that easy.

RULES:

• Keep your entries positive to be eligible for this challenge. Focus on the good and help spread positivity on Day of Giving.
• Limit five tweets per account.
• Colleges and units are not eligible to participate in this challenge. Tweets must come from personal accounts.
• This is a Twitter-only challenge

NOTE: If this challenge still has funds while other social media challenges are happening, entries into those will count towards this one, too, meaning that entries into the social media challenges outlined below also create a financial impact.

##GivingPack Hashtag Match Challenge Champion — All day March 24.

But wait — there’s more! The college or unit that has the most eligible tweets tweeted (phew, that’s repetitive) when the challenge threshold is reached or when Day of Giving is over will also when an additional $2,000.

If for any reason the original threshold isn’t reached, this college or unit that wins this challenge will also take home the leftover reward from the original challenge. For example, if 80% of the threshold is reached, the college or unit with the most eligible entries will win this challenge AND the final 20% of the leftover funds.

The second part of this challenge is obviously contingent on whether or not the threshold is reached. Tweet a lot and get there on your own so we don’t have to get to this place ;).

Emoji Challenge — 8 a.m.

Describe anything you love about NC State in emojis! This can be your time as a student, stories or what it means to be a part of the Pack. Get creative and do your best to bring out your inner-emoji-artist.

Users are eligible to submit on Twitter with the hashtag #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

• Time: 8 – 9 a.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

Pack Pets — 11 a.m.

Our pets are part of our NC State family, and they often bring smiles during difficult times. Whether they’re decked out in Wolfpack gear, running wild or interrupting your daily Zoom call, they’re here for us when we need them. Show us your Wolfpack pets!

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: 11 a.m. – Noon
• Amount to Win: $2,000

One Wolfpack Challenge — Noon

We’re all One Wolfpack. Post photos of yourself or your Pack in your NC State gear and use the hashtag #GivingPack. Get creative and tell us the story of your photo.

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

Don't Give Up Challenge — 2 p.m.

Inspired by Jimmy V.

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” — former NC State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano. We take these words to heart every day, and maybe now more than ever.

Record a video, take a photo, or write a message copy that gives a shout-out to someone or something in your Pack who inspires you or keeps you motivated — friends, family, a goal, a dream — anything that helps you move forward through it all.

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: 2 – 3 p.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

RED Photos - Last red photos in your camera roll — 6 p.m.

We know that the RED from NC State fills up more of your life than just game day. Post the last RED photo on your camera roll and use #GivingPack. Be honest and have fun with this one. Let’s see what you got!

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: 6 – 7 p.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

Wolfpack Throwback Challenge — 8 p.m.

That haircut? Cargo shorts? They *totally* looked good at the time. It’s the memories that matter, right? Post your best throwback photos and show us that pre-glowup style.

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: 8 – 9 p.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

#Wolfpack Wildcard Challenge — 10 p.m.

Social media changes on an hourly basis. We want to leave one challenge open to trends happening closer to Day of Giving in March. We’ll announce exactly what this one will be within the final week of Day of Giving — so stay tuned.

Eligible to submit on Twitter, Instagram with #GivingPack and tagging the college, program or fund of the user’s choice. Also eligible to post to Instagram Stories by tagging @NCState and

using the hashtag #GivingPack along with tagging or writing out the college, program or fund of the user’s choice.

We’ll choose one winner in Twitter and one on Instagram/IG Stories.

• Time: 10 – 11 p.m.
• Amount to Win: $1,000

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Additional Funds 

There is a total of $100,000 up for grabs for colleges and units.  There is no Red and White Divisions, but instead, a single leaderboard for all colleges and units.

• $40,000 awarded to college/unit with the highest total of dollars raised
• $40,000 awarded to college/unit with the highest number of gifts 

Power Your Pack/ Beat Your Best Challenge:

• $20,000 will be awarded to college/unit with the highest gift percentage difference from previous Day of Giving

Rules

• Award money will be distributed to the VC/Dean level vs the fund/department level – Unit will be responsible for distributing down
• All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time
• Only gifts made via the dayofgiving.ncsu.edu website on March 24 are eligible for challenges

Challenges by the Hour

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In this section, we will share assets specifically created for Day of Giving, as they become available.

University Day of Giving Assets

• Lock-ups and Usage Guidelines – Please follow the university’s guidelines when using the Day of Giving lock-ups. Between now and March 24, you must use the lock-up with the date. Do not alter it to remove the date. You can only use the lock-up without the date ON the Day of Giving (March 24). (CALS specific mock-ups)
  • The NC State logo, the Campaign wolf logo, the date and the name of the day combine to form the Day of Giving lock-up.
  • Don’t group logos and lock-ups together; this much wording in a logo format is overwhelming. Place logos in complementary locations in the layout.
  • Don’t group other lock-ups together; this much wording in a logo format is overwhelming.

• Social Media – Easily add Day of Giving flair to your social media accounts with these assets. Note: CALS will also create college-specific social media images and load them in the Employee Portal Media Library.
• Print Collateral – Departments and units can use these assets for direct mail and print promotions for Day of Giving.
• Key Messages – The key messages for NC State Day of Giving build on last year’s success, reiterating that every gift makes a difference and that we achieve more together. View NC State’s content calendar for sample posts and messaging.
• Email Signature – You can update your email signature to include the Day of Giving lock-up, which links to dayofgiving.ncsu.edu.

To download these assets and for complete information on how to use them, visit the Day of Giving toolkit website.

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Annual Giving is dividing the colleges and units into two groups to email our constituents. This is intended to mitigate users from receiving multiple emails on a single day from several different colleges or units. CALS will send a mass email on behalf of the college on the following dates:

• March 13
• March 22

According to Advancement Services rules, all Day of Giving emails must be sent through the Email Mass Distribution System (EMDS), and not through channels owned by our college, units and departments.

You are allowed to send separate email communication to your current email newsletter subscribers informing them about Day of Giving. This can be a “Save the Date”-type email or a reminder email of the Day of Giving event. However, you cannot include a specific “ask” for donations or any type of “Make a Gift” call-to-action language. Please contact Kristin Sargent or Lindsay Skinner if you have questions about approved language.

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NOTE: As of Feb. 10, these links are NOT YET LIVE. Please do NOT start promoting with these links. We will contact you once they’re ready for use.

Below are the go links to your department’s Day of Giving fund pages. Please use ONLY THESE LINKS for social media promotion on the Day of Giving to drive traffic and gifts to your specific department funds. 

• Agricultural and Human Sciences: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-ahs
• Agricultural and Resource Economics: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-are
• Animal Science: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-animal-science
• Applied Ecology: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-applied-ecology
• Biological and Agricultural Engineering: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-bae
• Crop and Soil Sciences: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-crop-soil
• Entomology and Plant Pathology: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-depp
• Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-fbns
• Horticultural Science: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-horticulture
• Molecular and Structural Biochemistry: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-biochemistry
• Plant and Microbial Biology: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-pmb
• Prestage Poultry Science: https://go.ncsu.edu/give-prestage

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Creative Ideas

There is no limit to your creativity for Day of Giving (as long as it’s on-brand!). Here are some ideas on how to promote DoG using your department’s communications platforms, if applicable:

• Social Media Platforms — Day of Giving is a social media-driven campaign event, so your department’s social media accounts will be the primary tool for communicating about Day of Giving. 
  • Update cover and profile pics. Visit the NC State DoG Toolkit for assets to download. (CALS departmental design assets)
  • Schedule posts for publishing on Day of Giving 
• Department Website 
  • Create a department news post about Day of Giving and how your department is participating and how faculty/staff/alumni/friends can support your department on March 25.
  • Add a Day of Giving graphic on your homepage (Contact CALS Communications, and we can help with this.)
• Departmental Calendar — Add Day of Giving to your department website calendar. 
• Newsletters — If your department publishes a weekly or monthly newsletter, consider adding the Day of Giving logo and some language about the Day as a spotlight in the newsletter. 
• Email Signature — You can change your email signature after Feb. 27 to promote Day of Giving. 

Do’s and Don’ts

Do

• Start promoting as soon as possible. We recommend starting as early as Wednesday, Feb 25 (30 days out – but you can start earlier!), with a “Save the Date” post announcing your department’s participation in Day of Giving.
• Bookmark and check this webpage. We will update this page as we receive information.
• Use social media. Day of Giving is a social media-driven campaign. Most of the communications/appeals will be happening on social media channels during the day.
• Use the right hashtag AND tag in ALL posts. When creating posts (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook), remember to use both the #GivingPack hashtag and tag the CALS account (@NCStateCALS) in the post. This is how CALS Communications will monitor and track mentions and challenges.
  • Hashtag: #GivingPack
  • Tag: @NCStateCALS on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook posts

Also, please encourage ambassadors, students, alumni and influencers helping to spread the word on behalf of your department to use the #GivingPack hashtag AND tag the @NCStateCALS account in ALL social media posts.

Don’t

• Don’t send mass emails. Departments are not permitted to send mass emails. CALS will send emails to alumni and donors on the departments’ behalf.
• Don’t post too much. Consider the regular cadence of posts you normally publish. Consider a slight increase, but don’t go over overboard. 
• Don’t use the no-date version of the Day of Giving lockup until March 25. The no-date version of the Day of Giving lock-up should only be used on the actual Day of Giving. On this day, spotlighting the date will no longer be a priority and it can be dropped. Visit the NC State Day of Giving Toolkit page for more information on the proper use of Day of Giving lockups. 

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• University Day of Giving Toolkit
• Day of Giving Website
• Day of Giving Frequently Asked Questions
• NC State Brand Site
• NC State Photos
• Imagery Guidelines
• Editorial Guidelines
• NC State Voice and Tone
• Approved General NC State Digital Assets

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