There are many different ways to raise money, but nothing engages supporters and inspires a feeling of connectedness like the time-tested fundraiser. However, creating a memorable event takes careful planning and hard work, as you will not only need to get people to show up, but you’ll also need to maximize the amount of money raised. While you’re planning your fundraising event, it can feel like there are millions of details to take care of. Today we have compiled a list of unique ideas to help you create a memorable fundraising event and ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Determine Your Goals
To host a memorable fundraising event, you’ll first need to determine what this means for your organization. You may have to establish exactly how much money you want to bring in from the event, as this can help you create your planning strategy. It’s important to identify your fundraiser’s purpose, whether acquiring new donors or gaining publicity. Many charitable events have more than one goal, so you’ll need to figure out your event’s details. Make your goals specific and measurable, as this will allow you to evaluate how well you did and what you can improve in the future.
Design Custom T-Shirts
Fundraiser t-shirts can be used as promotional tools for your event and sponsors. However, the impact of a quality custom t-shirt can last much longer after the event has finished. Therefore, if you want to get the most out of your custom t-shirts, you should visit boltprinting.com. At Bolt Printing, you can expect affordable and fast t-shirt printing for all of your needs. They’re a custom t-shirt wholesale brand, which provides high-quality customized embroidery styles in a wide range of colors. Alongside cheap t-shirt printing, they also offer a variety of accessories, such as caps, beanies, and bags to help you create special edition merchandise.
Establish Your Budget
Don’t forget that you’ll need to invest some of your own capital to make the event happen. This is why you should create a detailed budget before you start spending, as this will help you stay on top of all costs. Each event has different requirements, but there are a few key elements that you will need to think about in most cases. For example, you’ll need to look at the event space and venue, consider catering and refreshments, and send out invitations. In addition, you may need to take care of sound and lighting equipment, if they’re not already provided.
Create A Leadership Team
Most people talk about the different aspects of event planning, but you’ll also need to specify who is taking care of all the logistics to make the event a true success. For example, you may want to hire an executive director, who can help you develop different fundraising ideas and take care of the budget. The executive director will be responsible for managing the big picture ideas and assigning roles to staff and volunteers. Having a leader means that employees will know who to direct questions to, which will bring you closer to accomplishing your fundraising goals.
Utilize Video To Inspire Action
Without a doubt, video marketing is a unique tool, that can capture your audience’s attention and bring your cause to life. Using photos and videos to promote your fundraising event can make it compelling to donate or sign up as a recurring donor. Moreover, videos are versatile, which makes them easy to use on almost every marketing channel. To create a great video, be sure to record footage of your team, show stories of the impact you have on your beneficiaries, and interview supporters. This will show people how they can get involved and the type of impact their actions can have on the world.
Optimize Your Social Media Presence
Using social media effectively will help you to see a boost in event attendees and additional engagement from your supporters on different platforms. To promote your event, you should not only post advertisements for the event itself, but you should also provide additional opportunities for your supporters to get involved. For example, you may want to create an event hashtag that they can use to share their attendance. Additionally, when attendees post pictures after the event, encourage them to use the hashtag. You can also use your social media presence to raise more money before the event by linking to your fundraising page.
Engage Supporters Early
It’s important to get your supporters engaged with marketing and excited about your event as early as you can. Implementing early engagement strategies may even help you boost fundraising revenue. There are many campaigns that you may want to consider, such as peer-to-peer fundraising, which involves asking supporters to get involved by raising money on behalf of your organization. As a result, the event can also be a celebration of everything that was achieved by the peer-to-peer campaign.
Think About Tickets And Registrations
Once you have started marketing your event, you will need to think about ticket sales and registrations. It’s recommended to start selling tickets to your event as soon as possible. There are some important considerations you’ll need to make. For example, you’ll need to decide if you will charge a flat price or offer various ticket packages and discounts to groups and families. You will need to ensure that donors know where to purchase tickets by providing a clear option on your event website.
Put All Final Touches In Place
Before you open the doors, it’s essential to take care of all the final touches to ensure everything runs smoothly. For example, you’ll need to decorate the venue, prepare refreshments, schedule and organize volunteers, and arrange day-of ticket sales and registration. If you’re running a complex or large-scale event, it’s crucial to create clear guidelines that everyone can follow on the day. Remember to send out these details in advance and allow ample time for answering questions and dealing with unforeseen circumstances. The more time you spend on preparation, the less you have to worry about on the day of your event.
Make The Most Of Your Event
By the time the big night arrives, you may feel tempted to check out and consider your work done. Of course, you can and should relax a little during the day, but remember that your part is not over yet. During the event, you should focus on engaging with your guests. Use the event as an opportunity to get some face time with donors and check in with them to make sure they’re enjoying the fundraiser. It may also be beneficial to live stream your event for those who were unable to make it.
Follow Up With Attendees
After the event is over, don’t leave guests hanging. Instead, be sure to follow up with attendees and thank them for their ongoing support. It may also be a good idea to send thank-you notes to everyone who was involved in your event, including sponsors, event staff, and volunteers. Remember to update your supporters on your progress by letting them know how this event has impacted your cause. To collect supporters’ feedback, you may want to send out a survey, as this will help you get a better picture of your event’s success.
