Tips and Tricks to Make Your 2020 Fundraising Event a Success

Fundraising events are great for your company for so many reasons. Not only do they help raise money, but they can also help raise awareness for a cause or for your business. Whether you manage a large non-profit or are just someone looking to make a difference, these tips are sure to help make your 2020 fundraiser a success.

The First Steps 

 

• KNOW YOUR CAUSE – Be well educated on the event, cause, or business that you are fundraising for. If attendees ask you anything about the fundraiser, you want to be sure you are able to provide them with ample information. Be knowledgeable about your fundraising event and be sure you are able to explain the event and the cause thoroughly.

• TARGET AUDIENCE – Decide on who is going to be the target audience for your event. Once your audience is established, it will be much easier to figure out a budget, choose a theme, book a venue, etc. 

 

How Will You Pay For Your Event? 

 

• SPONSORS – Ask local businesses, big and small, if they would be interested in sponsoring your event. 

• CREATE A BUDGET – Within your budget, you will want to consider the funding you plan on receiving through sponsorships and donations. You will also want to include all of the expenses you foresee for the event in your budget. It is sometimes easier to stay on budget when you overestimate the price. 

• DONATIONS – Ask for donations from attendees and businesses in the area. Do not make anyone feel pressured into donating and always keep in mind that no amount is too small. 

• MOBILE DONATION PLATFORM – Set up a mobile donation platform, such as GoFundMe, for your event. This gives people easy access to donating. This is also an easy way to track donations as well as show supporters your progress. Not only will this help generate funds, it can also help to get the word out about your event. 

 

Securing Attendees

 

• SELLING POINT – Determine what is one-of-a-kind about your event and advertise it. Make people want to come and join in on the fun. 

• CAUSE – Using the cause of your event as a way to get attendees is another good idea. If people know what your cause is and support it, they are more likely to attend. 

 

*Offer incentives like discounted ticket prices or gift bags to people who register early. 

Social Media Can Help 

 

• VIDEOS – Make short videos to raise awareness about your event, yield donations, or thank donors. Post these videos to sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or Snapchat. If the app allows for it, make sure that supporters are able to share, like, and comment on the videos. This will help to get the word out about your event even more. 

• HOST ONLINE EVENTS – Using platforms like Facebook and Instagram Live or Google Hangout, hold events online leading up to your event and invite followers to join in. This will help supporters see what is to come at the event. This gets people excited for what is to come. 

• HASHTAGS – Create hashtags that have to do with your event and use them regularly. Use them leading up to the event, at the event, and after as well. Using the hashtag leading up to the event will help followers and supporters to become familiar with it. Include the hashtag on advertisements for your event and encourage attendees to use the hashtag when posting about your event. 

 

The Day Of Your Event 

 

• PRACTICE – Have any emcees or speakers run through their presentations on the morning of your event. Also test all of the technological equipment you will be using that day. Plan on something going wrong, the more prepared you are, the better.

• PAY ATTENTION – Pay attention to the way that your crowd is reacting. Talk to attendees during the event and get feedback. Keep a list of all compliments and suggestions made that way you have it on hand for the next event you host.

 

Whether you are new to the fundraising scene or a well-established philanthropist, these tips and tricks are sure to help your event run as smoothly as possible.