Planning and executing a successful fundraising gala or community event requires time, energy, and resources. For many nonprofit and humanitarian organizations, it can serve as a golden opportunity to not only attract prospective donors and turn them into lifelong, loyal supporters but also reactivate donors who may have been faithful and consistent in their giving at one point but have lapsed in their contributions to your cause. Hosting a fundraising event is a great way to generate buzz about your organization and cast the “vision” for the cause/project you are raising money for.
While there are several core components that are key to a successful turnout, these are a few to keep in mind as you plan and prepare for your upcoming function:
- Create an unforgettable user experience. From the time your guests walk in to the time they leave, they should feel welcomed and excited to be in attendance. Coordinate a welcome/check-in team whose sole responsibility is to greet your guests and provide them with a brief overview of the event timeline and programming. They should never feel confused as to why they are there in the first place or what is happening throughout the event.
- Develop an engaging and interactive presentation. Your schedule of events for the day or evening should, of course, include opening remarks from the president/CEO of your organization. But where do you go from there? Invite prominent figures who are well-known in your community or even nationally to say a few words during your program. These individuals should have a clear connection to your mission and share your heart for the cause at hand. Oftentimes, they can reinforce the importance of investing in your cause/project and encourage urgency for people to give. Also, highlighting a testimonial of someone who has been impacted by your organization can significantly increase the likelihood that your attendees pledge to give a one-time or ongoing monthly gift. If that person is available to personally share their story from the stage, that is the icing on the cake.
- Secure sponsors. A great way to help fund your event and make it possible is to secure sponsorships from individuals, businesses, and entities on a local or global scale in exchange for “free mentions” and advertising space at your event. As part of their sponsorship package, you can also include exclusive seating for them to attend and participate during your event. While this can sometimes be overlooked, sponsorships have the powerto establish partnerships and leverage your credibility within your community.
- Promote your event. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it is so critical to utilize as many marketing channels as possible to spread the word about your fundraising event. If you allocate a portion of your event budget for advertising, you can maximize your exposure and reach prime candidates for your guest list. Traditional media advertising such as TV commercials and radio spots are more likely to reach the Boomer and Gen X demographic groups, while digital and social ads on Google and Meta-owned platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) are more likely to engage younger audiences. There are also no-cost sources of advertising you can tap into (posting fliers in local businesses and churches or guest speaking at civic groups or associations).
- Incorporate a silent auction or raffle basket prizes. This activity is always a crowd pleaser at fundraisers and offers your attendees a chance to win big-ticket items and support your cause on the spot. You can even get creative and promote additional tickets or access to exclusive prizes to guests who bring a friend (or two, or three) to your event. Be sure to remind your guests that all proceeds from the auction or raffle tickets go directly to your cause/project.
Let Infinity Concepts help you with your next fundraising gala or community event!
CLICK HERE or call us today at 724-733-1200.
Client Success Manager at Infinity Concepts
Laura vitally serves Infinity Concepts as a Client Success Manager. She comes with a background in higher education, communications/marketing, and special event planning.
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