5 Tips on How to Create a Successful Fundraising Event
All nonprofits and charities strive to create memorable and successful fundraising events. This happens when you reach or exceed the donation goals, increasing ROI and strengthening your relationship with supporters.
How do you achieve this? This guide outlines five tips to help you create unforgettable, meaningful and profitable fundraising events.
- Form a Team That Will Execute the Plan
Fundraising events are always different, but they all need one essential thing to succeed: a concrete plan in place. Our first tip is to gather a wonderful group of motivated people early on. The team will complete these tasks:
- Planning and logistics of the event, as well as any other requirements.
- Establish your targets and how to reach them.
- The brainstorming sessions for potential income streams and how best to approach them.
- Work out what benefits/rewards may come in addition to the initial target income.
- Decide where and how you will recruit sponsors, obtain in-kind donations and what reward packages you can offer.
Recruit a fundraising committee early in the planning stages of your event. Keep overhead costs at a minimum, set realistic goals and stick to your plan.
2. Define Your Audience
You must define your target audience’s needs and preferences to get the most out of your fundraising event. In addition, you must remember that they have various levels of engagement in the group and different levels of ability to donate. You should also consider their demographics before promoting the event and decide what activities will engage them.
Demographics
These are the indicators that will give you valuable insights:
- Age
- Gender
- Employment
- Income
- Life Stage
- Geographical Location
Engagement History
Understanding your target audience’s needs and their history of engagement with your cause or organisation is vital. Consider the following questions:
- What motivates them? What do they like and dislike?
- Do supporters have a history of donating to your cause or organisation
- How did they find out about this cause?
3. Find Charity Event Sponsors
One way to build excitement for your event is to create sponsorship packages or donation tiers for sponsors. Sponsorship tiers make it easy for sponsors to know how much exposure to expect at different donation amounts and what reward they will receive from their payment.
Nonprofits are now looking for ways to incorporate their brand into the event experience. If you can help brands and nonprofits benefit from your event through marketing or more exposure, your fundraising success will be limitless.
4. Make Donating and Participating in Your Fundraiser Easy
Use a platform that provides an easy-to-use, seamless experience on both mobile and desktop. The platform should also allow donors to donate easily, track their donations in real-time, see the impact of their contribution, adjust their donation amounts, and review the event timeline.
5. Consider Hybrid and Virtual Options for All
Offer hybrid and virtual participation options to everyone. Those alternative models will help ensure your registrants don’t miss out on anything they’ve signed up for. More people participate also increase your chances of exceeding your fundraising goals.
Conclusion
With these tips, you now have a clearer idea of planning successful fundraising events. You’ll also be able to keep your audiences engaged while targeting your revenue goals. By keeping your target audience’s and your potential sponsors’ needs in mind, they will surely come back for more events in the future.
Are you looking into starting a partnership with a fundraising consultancy expereinced in supporting charities and nonprofit organisations? Craigmyle Fundraising Consultants is here to help charities, churches, museums, arts organisations, schools and universities achieve their fundraising goals. Contact us today to learn more.
