Please, Not Another Event!
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with leadership or your Board discussing fundraising strategy and the first response is, “Why don’t we host another event?” Yeah, us too. Unfortunately, events seem to be the go-to answer when non-profits want to raise more money even though they have extremely low ROIs compared to other fundraising strategies! (Think a 2-3:1 ROI versus 10-12:1 in major gifts.)
So, what’s the right approach? Are events even worth it? And if you do them, how do you make sure they are functioning as they’re meant to?
Fundraising Events… Let’s Talk About Them
There’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to the purpose of an event. In reality, events are about Public Relations. They get the word out about your organization, strengthen brand awareness, and provide you with a great marketing opportunity.
Additionally, events can be a fantastic way to cultivate your donors and possibly acquire new donors if done strategically.
However, it’s important to recognize that events are not likely to drive a significant net revenue for the organization. If you read that and think, “Well, we raise a lot of money at our event!”, then we challenge you to make sure you have truly taken into account the full cost of the event. Did you allocate the expense of staff time? Did you also take into account what the staff could not do as a result of focusing on this event? You might find that you spend much more in time and resources than you realize…
If you’re ready to learn more about how to maximize your fundraising events and reframe them to function as they’re meant to, then get your copy of our FREE White Paper:
Time to Move Out of an Events-Based Fundraising Model
Events can be a valuable tool and tactic for your fundraising work, but it can also create a system that doesn’t support the donor journey and gets in the way of the donor giving to their full potential.
If you’re stuck in an events-based fundraising model, watch this short video about how to strategically move your donors into a more mission-focused mindset.
Want More Support in Your Work?
We’re proud to offer a free online Community Hub designed to support non-profit fundraisers by connecting you with your peers, providing valuable discussion spaces, and sharing resources to help you thrive. If you’re looking for a community of fundraisers to grow with and learn from, we hope you’ll join the community today.