The 2023 Season of Giving is here. Nonprofits can see up to 30% of their entire year’s donations come in during November and December. It truly is the season of giving. By sharing stories of impact, you can help OHSU and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital continue to create positive impact across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
The season’s success relies on people like you – people who are willing to speak up and spread the word about the importance of donating to OHSU, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and more. Whether you’re a patient, donor, parent, volunteer, long-time friend and or first-time supporter, you have the power to make a real, lasting difference.
This toolkit contains ways for you to become a social media champion for OHSU throughout December. We’ve curated a list of stories, prepared tips and drafted sample language for you to use on your preferred personal, professional or community social media channels.
We are so grateful to you for sharing YOUR stories and the messages below with your online communities in support of OHSU and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Here are some ways you can spread the word:
1. Share stories of impact with your personal networks
Inspiring stories happen at OHSU every day. Here are a few of them for you to share with your personal networks across social media, email, text or simply word of mouth! You can also browse our Story Hub to find even more stories to share.
Nolan
Julia and Nate Fuller’s son Nolan was diagnosed with a critical congenital heart defect shortly after he was born in 2021. Dr. Ashok Muralidaran and his team at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital stepped in to perform heart surgery to correct the issue. Today, Nolan is a rambunctious and active toddler who loves dogs, gardens and water play.
Kiara
Second-year OHSU School of Nursing student Kiara Morelli learned early in her upbringing that life is uncertain and fragile. Her heart for people and ability to forge ahead has led her to OHSU, to be elected president of the Oregon Student Nurses Association and to the OHSU All-Hill Student Council.
David
David Brockman was referred to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute for a rare form of lymphoma. He received a round of CAR-T cell treatment, which has significantly reduced his cancer. Now, David is optimistic, and his positive experience at OHSU inspired him to make a gift during the OHSU Foundation’s Give Day last May.
John and Zoe
Wherever their music takes them, John Gourley and Zoe Manville of the Portland-based band Portugal. The Man are devoted to supporting children’s hospitals. Their daughter, Francis, who has a rare genetic mutation of the neurodegenerative disease DHDDS, is seen at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, among other hospitals.
Hugo
“Everyone is different, and being different is awesome,” says Hugo Covarrubias Molina, whose appointments with assistant professor of pediatrics Melinda Wu, M.D., M.C.R., encourage and inspire him to embrace himself as he is. Hugo has Kilppel-Trenaunay syndrome, a rare disorder that causes large birthmarks, abnormal blood vessels and overgrowth of bone and soft tissue.
Rhonda
When Rhonda Stranz’s breast cancer came back a month after she was declared cancer free, she was given a year to live. Stranz put her care in the hands of OHSU and oncologist Shivaani Kummar, M.D., FACP. After undergoing an experimental early-phase clinical trial, Stranz’s tumors have shrunk, the sores on her skin have healed and she is hopeful for a positive outcome.
2. Share YOUR story
Human health touches all our lives, and most of our donors and supporters have a personal reason for supporting their area of passion at OHSU. Sharing your personal connection to OHSU — your personal why — is the most powerful way to encourage others to give.
We invite you to post your own story to your social media account(s). Be sure to use a photo! Social media posts with pictures get more views and more engagement on every channel. Don’t forget to tag us so we can see your story and engage with you.
3. Follow the OHSU Foundation and OHSU social media accounts
These accounts will be sharing stories of impact and ways to get involved all season long. Be sure to follow the accounts that connect to your area of passion and then share those posts with your networks!
Follow, set up notifications (if desired, so you don’t miss a post!), engage and share. It’s really that easy.
Here are a few of the many OHSU-affiliated social accounts:
Sample messaging by social platform
Instagram requires a picture for you to post. You can post a selfie, a picture of your donation or use any of the images provided above. On Instagram, you can use as many hashtags as you like, so if there’s one that’s really meaningful to why you donated, be sure to include it.
Sample posts for Giving Tuesday (Nov 28)
- Proud to support Doernbecher Children’s Hospital this #GivingTuesday! giveday.ohsufoundation.org
- This #GivingTuesday I’m donating to @OHSUKnight in honor of [insert name of loved one.] Please consider making a donation so we can create a world free from the burden of cancer: giveday.ohsufoundation.org
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- @OHSUDoernbecher is one of the best children’s hospitals in the world and it’s right here in Oregon. I’m grateful to them because _____. You can join me in supporting them at give.ohsufoundation.org #seasonofgiving #doernbecher
Twitter (now X)
This platform has a limit of 280 characters, but the algorithm helps spread messages with hashtags.
Sample post for Giving Tuesday (Nov 28)
- This #GivingTuesday I’m making a gift to @OHSUDoernbecher. Please join me in supporting life-saving care for kids and their families when they need it most: giveday.ohsufoundation.org #doernbecher
Sample tweet for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- It’s the Season of Giving! Please join me in making a gift to the @ohsuknight. I want a world freed from the burden of cancer. give.ohsufoundation.org
Facebook doesn’t have a character limit, but the most effective posts tend to be concise. Posts that have a “See more” button don’t get as much engagement. You can use hashtags on Facebook, too. Be sure to tag the organization you’re donating to so others can learn more about it!
Sample post for Giving Tuesday (Nov 28)
- It’s Giving Tuesday and today I’m proudly donating to @OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Please consider joining me in giving a gift to this organization. Every gift makes real impact on the lives of those battling cancer: giveday.ohsufoundation.org.
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- This Season of Giving, I’m supporting @OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Join me by giving a gift to this amazing hospital. Your support helps save the lives of kids and keeps families together over the holidays. #seasonofgiving #doernbecher
LinkedIn is most effective for reaching professional connections. This is a wonderful way to spread the word about the OHSU Foundation and the difference your connections can make for Doernbecher and the Knight Cancer Institute.
Sample post for Giving Tuesday (Nov 28)
- This #GivingTuesday I’m making a gift to @Oregon Health & Science University. Please join me in supporting OHSU’s mission to transform human health for all: giveday.ohsufoundation.org #ohsu
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- Giving back to the community makes all the difference. I’m choosing to create the change I want to see by donating to @Oregon Health & Science University this #seasonofgiving. Please join me in supporting OHSU’s incredible impact across Oregon. From finding new cancer treatments to treating rare pediatric diseases, I’m proud to support their work. I hope you’ll do the same. give.ohsufoundation.org #ohsu #doernbecher
Suggested hashtags
#OHSUGiving
#seasonofgiving
#ohsu
#doernbecher
Other ways to rally your network
Text: Send a message to five friends about where you’re donating and why. Be sure to include the donation link! give.ohsufoundation.org
Email: If your network prefers email, you can use any of the above sample posts, minus the hashtags and @ tags, to spread the word.
Have fun with video: Whether it’s Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels or Facebook Live, video is the most popular form of media right now. You can share your personal reasons for supporting OHSU this Season of Giving and encourage others to learn more and donate.
Best practices
Always include an image
Studies show that social media posts with pictures get more views and more engagement on every channel! If you aren’t comfortable posting a selfie or personal picture, you can use any of the images below.
Keep your post short & sincere
People are less likely to read long posts. Keep your message simple, succinct and sincere. The goal is to get people reading your story and inspire them to give.
Be authentic
Do you have a personal story that inspired your giving? This is the perfect time to share it. People who connect with a cause personally are more enthusiastic about giving – and that enthusiasm is contagious.
Engage with questions
After you post, it’s important to check back on your post to see if anyone has asked you a question via reply (Twitter), comment (Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn) or private message (any.) They may want to know why you’re donating or how to learn more. Take a couple minutes to respond to them; it could make all the difference!
Tag us!
We check our social media accounts regularly, but we won’t see your post unless you tag us. Here are a few of the many OHSU-affiliated social accounts:
