While each event is unique, successful fundraising usually comes with a few foundational elements. These components can help you plan an engaging event, reach your target audience, solidify relationships with donors and sponsors, and achieve your goals. With some thoughtful planning and these four elements, you can boost your chances of success at your next fundraiser.
1. Creative Ideas
One of the most important components of any event is creativity. Getting someone to donate to your cause means standing out amidst a sea of other worthy charities. Creative concepts help you get seen. These ideas include everything from themes and decor to your method of fundraising.
Crowdsource some ideas from your team and look for input from volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Designate a planning leader, such as a committee or chairperson, to help keep things organized and make executive decisions that align with your event’s goals.
Here are some creative fundraising ideas to get you started:
- Hold a themed event:Themed fundraisers give people an excuse to do something unique. Whether they’re dressing up for a casino night or finding their best masquerade costume, themes are a great way to gather interest.
- Make it interactive:Add some games,like a ring tossor trivia, or host an experience, such as a mixology class. Get people involved during the event to keep them entertained and encourage further donations, which may be needed to buy tickets to play. If you’re hosting a virtual event, your activities will look a little different but should still encourage engagement.
- Host a silent auction or raffle:Brew up some friendly competition with a silent auction or raffle. These activities give your guests a chance to go home with a fun prize, and the process adds energy to the event, which can help drive donations and bidding wars. You canuse mobile bidding systemsfor in-person and virtual events to ramp up the excitement and pace.
Spend some time brainstorming to make a truly memorable event.
2. Solid Marketing
You can’t raise money if no one knows about your event. A good marketing strategy is crucial for any successful fundraiser, but the approach will vary for different organizations, audiences, and events. Throughout your communications, tell your guests what makes your event so special, why you need their support, and how you’ll use their funds.
The channels you can use for marketing a fundraiser include:
- Email:Agood nonprofit email campaignis a must-have, keeping donors informed throughout a fundraiser. Start with your invites, then tease your big ticket items. You can send a reminder before the event, and follow it up with your thank-you message and post-event survey. Don’t bombard your readers with emails, but use them thoughtfully to keep your event on their radar and build anticipation.
- Social media:Today’s successful fundraisers use social media to advertise and engage guests. Create a Facebook event, encourage sharing among followers, and post about the event. You could promote your entertainment or some of your auction items, for example.
- Website updates:Add information about the fundraiser to your organization’s website. You might add a banner to your homepage and connect a registration page built specifically for the event. Highlight the event’s purpose and, if possible, add photos from other fundraisers you’ve held.
- Press releases:Press releases tell media outlets exactly what to include when writing about your fundraiser. Create a thorough press release that describes your cause and the event, complete with all necessary details. Seethese guidelines from the Berkley Centerto make an informative press release.
- Paid ads:Paid online ads can put your fundraiser in front of the right people, but they can get expensive. See if they fit in your budget, orcheck out Google Ad Grants, which gives nonprofits access to up to $10,000 in search ads each month.
- Printed materials:Flyers, banners, and direct mailers can all help spread the word. Ask local businesses to display your materials for more reach.
- Texts:Texting is another great way to communicate. You can invite people to your event, send registration confirmations, and accept donations before and during the fundraiser.
3. Expressions of Gratitude
Saying “thank you” is key to maintaining good relationships with your donors, volunteers, and sponsors. After the event, show your appreciation while emphasizing the ongoing efforts of your organization. Use this opportunity to share how much you raised and tell donors how their funds are being used.
Many nonprofits use emails to follow up with their donors and sponsors. If appropriate, consider writing personalized thank-you notes or giving shoutouts on social media. These methods work well for volunteers, too. You can also hold a small party or get-together with your team to celebrate your hard work.
However you thank people, focus on building long-term relationships, and cultivate loyalty and trust. Chances are, your fundraiser will not be the last time you ask for support.
4. A Clear Focus
Every task related to planning and executing a successful fundraiser should relate back to your main goal. Develop a clear focus to guide your decisions from the beginning. Do you want to raise a specific amount of money, or would you also like to expand your reach or raise brand awareness? Is there a specific cause you’re fundraising for? Answering questions like these can help youset your fundraising goalsand plan the event.
Some aspects to consider include:
- Budget:Outline all anticipated expenses and potential revenue sources to create a realistic budget.
- Strategy:What methods will you use to achieve your goals? For example, you might focus on selling or auctioning items with high profit margins instead of asking for cash donations. Select your strategies based on your overall event goal.
- Audience information:Research your audience demographics. Whether you’re inviting guests from a specific demographic or the general public, audience information can help you determine what they might like to see and how you can support their donation habits.
- Previous performance:If you’ve held events before, use that information to your advantage. The data can offer useful benchmarks to help you estimate budgets, expected donations, etc.
Armed with this information,create a SMART goal, which is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. These details and your clearly defined goals can guide your decisions throughout the event for a well-aligned, more successful fundraiser.
Ace your next fundraiser with GiveSmart
While we don’t have a universal answer for how to have a successful fundraiser, these four components can make a dramatic difference. Get creative, focus on your marketing, show your appreciation, and stay focused.
Another crucial aspect of successful fundraisers is technology. Today’s tech-savvy donors expect digital features for registration, donations, and communications. GiveSmart’s fundraising and donor management platform helps nonprofits meet their goals with streamlined, easy-to-use tools that provide a great experience for everyone involved. Whether you’re hosting a live, virtual, or hybrid event, GiveSmart supports silent auctions, mobile bidding, ticketing, campaign and event websites, peer-to-peer fundraising, data analytics, and much more.
Put your new fundraising knowledge to work with the help of GiveSmart’s capable platform.Request a demo todayto learn more!
