For many nonprofit organizations, the money received from your supporters is the lifeblood of your organization. And events are a vital component of meeting your budget goals, just as much as fund drives and capital campaigns.
Putting on a successful event takes a lot of time and planning. With that in mind, you’ll want to be sure that not only is the event well attended, but that it also encourages people to give generously, in order to reap the rewards of all of your hard work.
So what are the elements that help drive attendance and donations at nonprofit fundraiser events? Targeted marketing and creating ways to make giving easy are just a few of the things that can help make a nonprofit fundraiser successful.
Here at Legacy Stables & Events, we’ve had a lot of experience helping local nonprofits design, plan, and host successful fundraising events. We’ve compiled a list of some of the elements that drive attendance and donations and help make nonprofit fundraising events a success.
- Host your event at a place people will be excited to go. When it comes to choosing a venue, there are plenty of things to consider. You need to find a place that is the right size for your expected guests, that can also accommodate the type of entertainment you’re planning as well as any food or catering. But above that, what if you choose a venue that is a place people have been hoping for a chance to visit? A place that has a great reputation or isn’t always open to the public can be a way to encourage people to make attendance a priority. Legacy Stables & Events is positioned to be just that place. Not only do we provide turnkey support for event planners, but our beautiful estate is an inviting place for people to spend time to support a great cause.
- Think about timing. With any event, selecting a date is equally as important as finding a venue. Consider the calendar and avoid dates around major holidays so people will be more likely to attend. And realize that no matter what date you choose, there will be conflicts, so be sure to offer ways to donate that don’t require attendance.
- Make giving easy. Whether it’s at the event or people looking to donate even if they can’t attend, a seamless way to accept money is key to driving up donations. Look at online options and create a QR code to make giving easy.
- Craft communications carefully. To get attendance numbers up, you’ll not only be sending out invitations to your core supporters, but you’ll also most likely be getting the word out for anyone to attend. Consider personalized invitations through the mail to your list of donors or people who attended your last event. Phone calls to long-time donors are also an option. And supplement that with a social media marketing campaign and even a spot on the local news.
- Make attendance affordable. If you’re planning to raise money at the event through an auction or a casino night, consider making the ticket price to attend more in line with what a typical night out might cost. Or you could do other options such as tiered pricing for admission, or discounts for groups or early RSVPs.
- Have something unique or entertaining at your event to encourage attendance. Once you’ve gone through all the planning and marketing, you want to create an event that people will enjoy. And if it’s a successful theme, you can repeat it the next year, and have a little less planning to do. Think about something that will provide entertainment while also encouraging giving, like an auction or a casino night. Our staff at Legacy Stables & Events has helped bring many of these types of events to life, and we can help you brainstorm to find the right one for your nonprofit.
- Be sure to communicate your mission clearly. From the invitations to the event itself, it’s important to make sure everyone understands what they’re supporting with their donations. Have a clear message, and be sure to communicate it well in a way that connects and encourages people to be as generous as possible.
At Legacy Stables & Events, we love partnering with nonprofits to help host events that serve our community. We not only provide a beautiful venue for your donors to gather, but we can also help with planning and setup and make it a seamless event for you. Call today to learn more about our turnkey event services and how we can help you plan your next nonprofit fundraiser.
