On the morning of Friday, August 29, 2025, while browsing articles from VolunteerHub about GivingTuesday, I was struck by a notable idea: how did the world manage to transform an ordinary day into the largest collective giving movement, supported by precise statistics and clear follow-up and measurement strategies? The numbers alone suffice to show the magnitude of the impact: billions of dollars, millions of volunteers, and initiatives that spread across more than 80 countries.

This content led me to think about a local occasion that carries a much greater sentimental value: Saudi National Day. Every year on September 23, the feeling of pride and belonging is renewed, along with thousands of congratulations and greetings circulating on the platforms.

But the question is: is it enough to restrict the celebration to words?

What is GivingTuesday?

The GivingTuesday initiative was launched in the United States in 2012 as a simple idea: to dedicate the Tuesday following Black Friday and Cyber Monday to giving instead of consumption.

The goal was to create a balance between the wave of shopping and consumption during the holiday season and the values of generosity and community participation.

Within just a few years, the idea evolved into a global movement for giving in which millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations participate in over 80 countries, raising billions of dollars annually. Participation is not limited to financial donations, but extends to volunteering, community initiatives, support for environmental, educational, and health-related causes.

The secret to the success of GivingTuesday is that it proved that one day can become a renewed symbol of giving if invested in proper planning, media motivation, and impact measurement.

Upon reviewing the national identity profile for the year 2025 under the slogan "Our Pride is Our Nature"Identity Link, I found an accurate description of the essence of the Saudi character: generosity, kindness, solidarity, ambition, and authenticity. These are not just qualities, but practical tools that can be transformed into qualitative campaigns on National Day, where associations, individuals, and the private sector translate those values into actions: donations, educational initiatives, health programs, and voluntary and environmental campaigns.

Just as the GivingTuesday initiative has done globally, the Saudi National Day can become a national platform for sustainable giving, instead of remaining just a space for fleeting congratulations.

National Day: From a Celebratory Occasion to a National Opportunity for Development

The Saudi National Day is an annual milestone where the community recovers its rich history and renews feelings of belonging and pride in its identity. While the manifestations of celebration often dominate this day, an important opportunity emerges to transform these feelings into practical actions that contribute to promoting sustainable development. Celebrating the homeland is not limited to songs and flags but extends to initiatives that translate the spirit of citizenship into measurable impact within the community.

Why Benefit from the Global Experience of GivingTuesday?

Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has been able to transform an ordinary day after consumption seasons into the largest global movement for giving. Its power lies not only in the volume of donations but in the ability to mobilize people around the world on one day under the banner of "collective generosity." This experience provides an important lesson: the National Day in the Kingdom can have the same effect, by designing national initiatives for giving that unite institutions, individuals, and the private sector, transforming the occasion from a celebration into a sustainable season for giving.

The Difference Between "Momentary Emotion" and "Sustainable Impact"

National feelings on National Day are strong, but they are often momentary and quickly fade away once the occasion is over. The real challenge is to transfer this emotion into a "sustainable impact" that can be built upon later. The difference lies in the planning: momentary emotion reflects joy, while sustainable impact reflects responsibility. Hence, the importance of this guide, which provides associations and institutions with a practical roadmap to make National Day a national platform for giving, not just a fleeting memory.

First: The Philosophy:

Giving is Part of the Saudi Identity (Historically and Culturally)

Since the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its name has been associated with giving, whether through support for Islamic and humanitarian causes globally, or through national initiatives that enhanced the values of solidarity and mutual support. Giving in Saudi culture is not an incidental act, but rather an extension of values deeply rooted in religion, history, and customs. The proliferation of endowments, charitable donations, and hospitality initiatives are live evidence that "giving" is not merely a social practice but part of the Saudi identity.

GivingTuesday: How Did it Transform an Ordinary Day into a Global Movement?

In 2012, the idea of GivingTuesday was born as a response to the wave of consumption following "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday." The idea is simple: a day dedicated to giving instead of buying. Over time, this day transformed into a global movement involving millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations in over 80 countries, raising billions of dollars to support charitable causes. The strength of the idea lies in turning a specific day into a global symbol of giving through digital mobilization and community partnerships.

National Day: A Fertile Ground for Identity and Giving

The Saudi National Day is not merely a political or historical occasion, but rather a collective space for feelings of pride and respect for the homeland. This emotional foundation can be transformed into a practical platform for national giving, where the efforts of individuals and organizations converge to affirm that love for the homeland is not limited to celebration, but extends to become support projects for education, health, and development. Furthermore, the National Day, with its symbolism and widespread attention, provides an ideal environment to translate belonging into actions that contribute to enhancing national identity through tangible impact.

Second: Preparation (Before National Day)

Preparation is half the success. As the experience of GivingTuesday has shown, wide impact cannot be achieved without a clear and comprehensive plan. The Saudi National Day offers associations and organizations an opportunity to launch initiatives of a national character, but this requires precise preparation weeks or even months ahead of the occasion.

1. Setting Goals: (Donations, Volunteers, Awareness, Partnerships)

Before launching any initiative, one should answer a fundamental question: What do we want to achieve on this day?

  • Financial Donations: Is the goal to raise donations for a specific project (a well, a school, a health program)?
  • Attracting Volunteers: How many volunteers are needed? And what type of activities?
  • Raising Awareness: Is the goal to raise community awareness about a specific issue (environmental, health, educational)?
  • Building Partnerships: Is the organization seeking to form alliances with government or private entities to enhance sustainability?

Setting clear and measurable goals (SMART Goals) ensures that efforts will not dissolve in the celebratory momentum.

2. Designing the Message: Linking National Pride to Giving

It’s not enough to say "Donate" or "Participate"; the message must be connected to the spirit of National Day:

  • Creating slogans like: "Our Giving for Our Nation is an Extension of Our Belonging" or "We Celebrate the Nation Through Giving".
  • Telling short stories about beneficiaries that highlight the impact of giving in strengthening the nation.
  • Using motivational language that evokes feelings of pride and responsibility simultaneously.

3. Building the Visual Identity: Merging National Symbols with Giving Symbols

National Day is associated with an annual identity, often drawn from the flag and national emblem. Here, a clever blend of these symbols with symbols of giving can be achieved:

  • Designing campaign logos that include the identity of National Day and the symbols used alongside a heart or an outstretched hand.
  • Producing video clips or images that reflect national participation in giving, such as scenes of planting trees or distributing meals while raising the Saudi flag.
  • Unifying the visual identity across all platforms (advertising, social media, reports).

4. Technologies and Tools: Tracking Codes, Donation Platforms, Media Campaigns

The technical aspect is just as important as the creative one:

  • Tracking Codes: Creating special links for each campaign or partner using tools like Google Campaign URL Builder to identify the source of interactions.
  • Donation Platforms: Choosing approved and user-friendly platforms, linking them directly to digital payment methods.

  • Media Campaigns: Preparing a publishing plan before, during, and after National Day that includes:

    • Digital content (videos, images, inspiring stories).
    • Live coverage of activities.
    • Activating unified hashtags (for example: #OurPrideThroughOurSupport).

Third: Execution (Day of the Occasion)

The day itself is a moment of harvest. After planning and prior preparation, comes the time to turn plans into tangible reality that people can see and participate in. Successful execution depends on combining field initiatives with digital activities, effectively creating a unified national impact.

1. National Donation Campaigns: Supporting Education, Health, Environment, Youth Projects

  • Education: Launching a national campaign to support a scholarship fund or equip schools in villages and remote areas.
  • Health: Providing support for hospitals or early disease detection programs.
  • Environment: Funding tree planting initiatives and water conservation efforts.
  • Youth: Supporting entrepreneurial programs or volunteer youth clubs.

The idea: Linking each campaign with an inspiring national title, such as "A Generation Learns… A Nation Progresses" or "The Health of the Nation is the Strength of Its Children".

2. National Volunteer Campaigns: Field Activities – Cleaning – Planting – Community Support

  • Cleaning Public Spaces: Organizing youth teams to clean parks and beaches.
  • Planting Trees: The "We Plant for the Nation" initiative aims to plant thousands of trees in one day.
  • Community Support: Visiting orphanages or caring for the elderly and providing national gifts.
  • Creative Activities: Workshops for children about the meaning of citizenship and giving.

The idea: These activities make citizens feel that they are actively participating in serving their nation, rather than just being spectators.

3. Digital Communication

Giving is not complete without narrating it and sharing it with others. Social media is the platform that conveys what is happening on the ground to the awareness of the entire community.

  • Official Hashtag for National Giving: Such as #NationalDayGiving, to compile all efforts in one digital space.
  • Short Inspiring Stories: Sharing videos or images from volunteers and donors with impactful personal testimonials.

  • Digital Billboards and Awareness Messages: Using roadside screens and smart billboards to highlight brief messages like:

    • "Our nation deserves our giving"
    • "Giving is the most beautiful form of celebration"

The idea: Making National Day appear on platforms as if it is a comprehensive national wave of giving, parallel to other manifestations of celebration.

Fourth: Follow-up and Measurement

The success of any initiative is not measured by the effort alone but by the ability to transform it into tangible, measurable, and analyzable impact. Through the experience of GivingTuesday, it becomes clear that follow-up and measurement are not just a subsequent phase but are an essential part of the campaign cycle from planning to post-execution.

How Do We Measure Success?

Success of National Day events can be measured across four main axes:

  • Amount of Donations: The total funds raised compared to the pre-defined goal.
  • Number of Volunteers: How many volunteers participated, and what activities did they execute?
  • Digital Engagement: Number of views, shares, and interactions via hashtags and digital platforms.
  • Partnerships Established: What alliances were formed with government, private, or non-profit entities to support sustainability?

Proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

To ensure accurate evaluation, it is recommended to use specific performance indicators such as:

  • Percentage of the financial goal achieved (e.g., 85% of the target).
  • Percentage increase in the number of volunteers compared to the previous year (e.g., +20%).
  • Retention rate of new donors or volunteers.
  • Digital reach through the official hashtag.
  • Media coverage value or number of partner entities that joined the campaign.

Using Analytics as in GivingTuesday

Analytics tools help transform raw data into actionable insights:

  • Social Media Platforms: To identify which content achieved the highest engagement and which age group responded most.
  • Google Analytics: To track the number of visitors to the website or donation page, how they arrived, and where they dropped off.
  • Live Dashboards: To display data in real-time during National Day, enabling teams to quickly adjust strategies.

The idea: Follow-up is not just numbers, but a gateway to learning and continuous improvement. Every campaign on National Day builds on the successes and lessons of the previous ones, making giving during this occasion more impactful and sustainable year after year.

Fifth: After National Day

The impact of National Day does not end with the conclusion of its events, but rather the most important phase begins afterward: Capitalizing on the momentum and transforming it into a sustainable path. The emotions ignited in hearts, the efforts spent on the ground, and the stories told by digital media must all transform into a long-term asset that enhances the place of giving as part of national identity.

Capitalizing on Momentum

  • Turning Donors into Permanent Contributors:

    • Following up with donors after the event with personal thank-you messages.
    • Inviting them to join monthly programs or permanent endowment funds.
    • Highlighting the impact of their contributions with figures and stories to keep the motivation alive.

  • Keeping Volunteers Engaged with Ongoing Programs:

    • Opening registration for future volunteer initiatives.
    • Providing training and development programs for volunteers to enhance their capabilities.
    • Honoring them publicly to enhance their belonging and loyalty.

Documentation: Success Stories + Visual Reports

  • Preparing a visual report that includes donation numbers, volunteer count, digital engagement levels, and partnerships.
  • Sharing short human stories that showcase the campaign's impact on beneficiaries.
  • Distributing the report with partners and supporters to build trust and attract greater future support.

Planning for the Next Year

  • Holding an internal evaluation session to extract lessons learned: what worked? And what needs improvement?
  • Setting preliminary objectives for the upcoming National Day, leveraging data and analytics.
  • Considering new creative ideas that make each year a renewed milestone for national giving.

The result: After National Day, a new journey begins where the "one day" transforms into a continuous giving cycle, reflecting that celebrating the homeland is not limited to an occasion but is a daily and sustainable commitment.

In conclusion: National Day: From a Day of Celebration to a Day of "Sustainable National Impact"

The Saudi National Day is not just an annual occasion where we celebrate with flags, anthems, and lights; it can be a renewed national platform that reflects the reality of belonging. The true celebration of the homeland is manifested in transforming pride into giving, emotions into initiatives, and a fleeting moment into a sustainable impact that promotes development and serves future generations.

An Open Invitation to Associations, Individuals, and the Private Sector to Adopt This Approach

This guide is nothing more than a practical roadmap that every association, every individual, and every institution in the private sector can adopt. The idea is simple and profound: to add the spirit of giving to the manifestations of celebration. If efforts are integrated, National Day will transform from a mere memory into an annual season of national giving, leaving an unforgettable mark on society and making love for the homeland a living act renewed year after year.