Whether it’s providing support for hospitals and schools, reaching out to young people with enrichment programs or helping with housing and food insecurity, nonprofits do so much good in our community of Winston-Salem and all across the United States. This vital work happens in part due to generous giving of people in the community, and fundraising events are an important component of successful budgeting for nonprofits.
Our team at Legacy Stables and Events can help you create the perfect fundraising event to boost your nonprofit’s image and bottom line. We guide you through the process to create an event that not only will encourage giving but also have your attendees talking about the event with their friends for months to come, helping pave the way to future successful events.
When it comes to creating a fundraising event, there are a few different avenues to explore.
Auctions. Nice items on the auction block, a talented auctioneer and the excitement of bidding against each other to be the “winner” make auctions a fun and successful event tool for nonprofits. Many organizations in our area hold auctions as fundraisers, letting people bid on items ranging from wine and vacations packages to artwork and items donated by community businesses.
Concerts. You don’t have to pay for someone like Paul McCartney or Willie Nelson to attract people to a fundraiser concert event. Take advantage of the local talent in the Winston-Salem area and around the Southeast to host an event that gets people up on their feet dancing. One of the benefits of using local talent is they bring an audience of fans and friends along with them, helping boost your numbers for ticket sales.
Galas. It’s always fun to dress up and go out on the town, and when the money spent on that night out goes to support your favorite nonprofit organization, it’s even better. Creating a successful gala can take many different forms, from a three-course meal and big band to heavy hors d’oeuvres and dancing.
Making it a Success
- Define your goals. Before diving into creating a fundraising event, it’s important to have clear goals. Decide how much money you want to raise, and use this to create your budget, set the ticket price and manage expectations.
- Think through the ticketing process. There are a lot of things to do surrounding the ticket process other than just setting a price. Plan out how you will distribute tickets, how you will track attendees, and how you will collect money. Think about going green and doing the ticketing through email and online apps.
- Make a plan. Once you have a budget to work with and know how you will get tickets accounted for, it’s time to make a plan for the event. It’s never too early to start working on setting a date for the event, finding entertainment, and organizing the details such as catering and decorations.
- Promote! Of course, you’ll send information out to your list of donors inviting them to your event. You can also take advantage of social media and other outlets to reach out to others who might want to purchase tickets or even people who make a donation without attending the event.
- Use your resources wisely. In most nonprofit organizations, everyone is busy with their existing responsibilities. Adding on something such as a new fundraiser can deplete your already limited resources. That’s where working with a team such as Legacy Stables and Events can come into play. We take care of the details of the event planning so that you can focus on the bigger goals.
If you’re looking for a new venue for your next nonprofit fundraising event, come tour Legacy Stables and Events to see what we have to offer.
