Are you in the process of planning a Fundraising event for your Organization? There are many variables to consider and the event planning process can be quite overwhelming at first when getting started. Once you have established your event goals and desired outcomes for the event production, a well-executed event can do more than just bring in major fundraising dollars. Fundraising events are a great way to engage supporters, promote your cause, and have a ton of fun all at once. According to the latest research, overall charitable fundraising in the United States grew 4.2% in the last calendar year alone. Those and other nonprofit fundraising statistics point to an upward trend in giving for 2024 and beyond.
In order to host a successful charity event, planners need to keep honing their business practices. Things like event ROI, brand recognition, and clever partnerships are just some of the things you need to execute or monitor. With a little creativity and some skill, a great charity event is well within reach. Nonprofit organizations can benefit from learning about some new creative ideas on how to generate awareness to their Special event and increase their audience donation conversions through using Special Events and marketing promotions that lead up the event and follow up after the event is over.
Here’s how to engage donors, support causes you love, and win over clients with some charity event ideas.
Fundraising Ideas that Generate Huge success:
Charity Gala
Why is this a Good Fundraising Idea?
If your donors would appreciate a night of glitz and glamour, a charity gala might be the perfect event for you! A gala traditionally consists of a formal dinner, some type(s) of entertainment, and plenty of activities to keep the fun (and fundraising!) going all night long.might be the best charity event idea for your brand if you are looking to host an annual, upscale event. As long as you have the right budget, support from your board, and substantial interest from your audience, a gala is a great option.
How does this Fundraising Idea work?
Though galas require a great deal of planning and investment, when executed properly, these charity events can be the perfect way to secure large donations, especially at the beginning of a major project or capital campaign.
Like silent auctions, you can adjust your charity gala to fit your donors. Not interested in a seated dinner? Mix it up with a live band, a comedic speaker, or a unique theme. (Think: poker tables at a casino-themed event or a jazz band at a Roaring ’20s gala.) The possibilities are endless when you get a little creative!
No matter what spin you put on your gala, remember that the best part of these events is getting the chance to connect with major donors in person, share updates about your organization, and rally your supporters for your cause.
Silent Auction
Why is this a Good Fundraising Idea?
Silent auctions are truly a staple in the fundraising world! During a silent auction, guests can peruse items placed around the venue and place bids using mobile bidding software (such as the OneCause platform) or traditional paper bid sheets.
Virtual Golf Tournament/Sporting Activity
Why is this a Good Fundraising Idea?
Don’t have access to a fancy golf course and want to bring the fun of a Golf Tournament indoors to your Special event? Add some fun to your onsite Special event while raising funds for your favorite cause: Plan a virtual golf tournament using a golf simulator rental wherein supporters donate a preset amount in order to participate on a team with friends, with the winners taking home a big prize of course! Use a leaderboard at event to enhance the competition aspect of the activity.
How does this Fundraising Idea work?
If your supporters enjoy an engaging activity and healthy competition, a golf tournament is hard to beat.
Golf tournaments are especially successful if you have board members or fundraisers on hand to connect with supporters one-on-one and encourage day-of donations. Pro Tip: identify and scope out potential major donors beforehand!
Don’t forget to seek out local companies to sponsor your tournament, too! Virtual Golf tournaments, while fun, require some planning to pull off. By having sponsors take some of the logistical burden off your shoulders, you’ll be primed to enjoy your day at the Virtual country club!
Casino Night
Invite clients, faculty, and staff to try their hand at popular casino games while fundraising for your organization. A casino night fundraiser may consist of some or all of the following elements:
- A catered dinner
- Blackjack and poker tables
- Craps tables
- Rented slot machines
- A raffle
Make sure that every ticket holder gets a set amount of chips or tokens, and then sell extra chips in exchange for donations throughout the night. Secure a small group of prizes for the attendees with the biggest winnings. Hire event staffing to serve food and run the games (as long as they have some card-dealing experience).
The night can be formal or casual depending on the attendees that you want to attract. If this fundraiser needs to draw money from some of your wealthier alumni, go black tie. However, if you want this to largely be a social fundraiser for your university community, keep it casual and go with a quirky theme instead. When all is said and done, hosting a casino night is a surefire bet for fundraising success.
Online Donations
Accept donations online before, during, or after your next fundraising event with an optimized donation page. Providing your supporters with the opportunity to give online increases the number of potential fundraising donations and leads to higher fundraising totals.
Crowdfunding campaigns
Crowdfunding campaigns are a great way to engage a large population of small-dollar donors. They often work well when paired with annual fundraising events or giving campaigns. Additionally, they’re inexpensive to create and can attract new supporters through social sharing.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to charity event ideas. Pick a theme or fundraising event idea that syncs with your brand, reflects your company’s values, and lines up with your target audience’s interests. Please contact us for more information on how we can help take your Fundraising event to the next level and to check our date availability.