Does your fundraising event feel tired, old and in need of a facelift? If so, then here are a few pro tips to help you bring life back to your fundraising event — and raise more money!
Pro Tips:
- Keep your event short and to the point. Most fundraising events leave their guests feeling tired and worn out. You don’t want that. You want them to leave feeling refreshed and feeling good after they make their charitable gift. For banquet style events try to keep the entire event to less than 90 minutes.
- If the main goal of your event is to raise money, it is very important to put all of the typical business items at the beginning. Then get to the storytelling and fundraising portion of your event. The “typical business items” I’m talking about include announcements, introducing board members, having a program staff member talk, etc. Put another way, anything that has little to do with the problem you are asking the donor to solve with their gift should be done quickly and right way.
- Create a great fundraising offer for your event, then weave your offer throughout the event from start to finish. You fundraising offer should clearly communicate the problem you are asking the donor to solve and how much it will cost to solve it. For example, “$60 provides a night of safety to a homeless Mom and her kids.” Mention your offer throughout the night, building a case for it, so that when you come to the Ask it all makes sense to the people in the room.
- Ask! I have attended way too many fundraising events where the organizers are afraid to ask the donors in the room to make a donation. Be specific. Tell the people in the room exactly what you want them to do and how to do it.
Use these pro tips to improve your next fundraiser. If you can make your Ask simple, clear and bold, your donors will leave feeling great about you, the event and the donation they made to make the world a better place.
