Is a Nonprofit Fundraising Event Right for You? A Roadmap to Planning a Successful Event
So you want to throw a fundraising event. Sounds fun! But before you dive into your event (and hopefully start raking in donations) hit pause: fundraising events are not magic bullets...they take a lot of planning and hard work, and the return on investment can be pretty low. So, while we're big fans of a good party, it’s important to ask yourself some questions so that you can create an event that is successful for your organization.
Have a Clear Plan
What’s the purpose of your event? What are you trying to achieve? This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to have a clear goal for your event before you start planning. Otherwise, you'll likely end up with an event that doesn't quite fit your needs.
Some examples of fundraising event goals:
Increase awareness of your organization
Engage potential donors
Raise money for a specific project or campaign
Thank existing donors or volunteers
Once you have your goal, you can start planning the event itself.
Pro tip: Keep your audience in mind when you’re setting your goals. Who are you trying to reach with this event? Existing supporters, or new ones? Potential donors, or clients? Keep your target audience front and center as you plan so that you can create an event that appeals to them.
Know the Reason For Your Event
Your event might have more than one purpose, but it’s important to be clear about the main reason for your event. That way, you can make sure that all of your planning and marketing efforts are focused on achieving that goal. If you are planning a fundraising event, raising money and securing donations needs to be your main focus - and the main message you share with attendees!
Planning a community event? Make sure that your marketing and outreach efforts are focused on getting members of the community to come and participate.
Of course, you can (and should) market your event to multiple audiences - but understanding the main reason for your event will help you focus your efforts so that you can achieve your goal.
Set A Budget with Expenses and Fundraising Goals
You can’t have a successful event without a budget. And when you’re planning a fundraising event, it’s important to think about both your expenses and your fundraising goals.
Start by estimating your expenses. What will it cost to rent a venue? Hire staff or volunteers? Provide food and drink? Promote your event?
Then, set a fundraising goal. How much money do you hope to raise through this event? Once you have a goal in mind, you can start thinking about ways to achieve it.
For example, if your goal is to raise $5000, you might:
Sell tickets to the event
Have a silent auction
Host a raffle
Ask for donations at the event
You’ll also want to think about how you’ll track your progress. Will you have someone responsible for counting money as it comes in? Keeping track of auction items? Make sure you have a system in place so that you can easily see how much money you’re bringing in (and how close you are to your goal).
Bring In Corporate Sponsors
Corporate sponsors can be a great way to offset the cost of your event and make it more successful. Look for businesses that align with your mission and audience, and reach out to see if they’d be interested in sponsoring your event.
In exchange for their sponsorship, you might offer them:
Logo placement on event materials
A booth or table at the event
An opportunity to speak at the event
Exposure to your audience through marketing and promotional materials
Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you get something in writing so that there are no surprises later on. A sponsorship agreement should outline the benefits that the sponsor will receive, as well as any obligations they have (like providing a certain amount of money or promotional materials).
Have a Plan for Saying Thank You
Whether your event is a success or not, it’s important to take the time to thank everyone who was involved. Think of your event as the start of a relationship with event attendees or donors. If they had a good experience, they’ll be more likely to come back (or give again in the future).
A handwritten thank-you note is always a nice touch. But you can also send an email, make a phone call, or even post a video online. Just take the time to express your appreciation - and let them know how their support made a difference.
Have you ever planned a nonprofit fundraising event? What tips would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Ready to start planning?
Grab our free Event Planning Workbook - It’s packed with tips, templates, and checklists to help you every step of the way.