One of the most difficult tasks in fundraising is also the most important: asking for money. Some fundraisers find discussing money to be uncomfortable or impolite. It’s been especially awkward in the past year, as the pandemic triggered more and more nonprofits to reach out to donors for help, and those donors began to feel… Read More »
Are you looking for effective ways to connect with businesses for fundraising? Today’s business climate is putting an additional set of pressures on corporations, which creates a unique set of opportunities for your nonprofit. Approaching corporations for fundraising purposes is very different from approaching individuals. The motivations are not the same, so the approach, the… Read More »
Hosting a fundraising event can be expensive—really expensive. Yet by securing key sponsorships you can save big on the bottom line. Whether your organization has a casual barbecue, a gala event, or a fun run, the list of items to buy and people to hire may seem endless. And of course, you need to find… Read More »
Do you wonder if all the hard work that goes into a fundraising event is worth it in the end? We talk with nonprofits all the time who invest tons of hours, dollars and volunteers only to pull off a fundraising event without seeing results. If that sounds like your organization, it may be time to take a hard… Read More »
Offering and securing a variety of sponsorship opportunities for a fundraising event can be one of the most important measurements of success. Yet, soliciting and securing sponsorships is one of the most intimidating parts of the job. We often feel nervous making the ask—coming right out and putting a dollar value on our request for support…. Read More »
With many PTA or School auction groups it’s common to put a large percent of focus on item procurement and event night logistics. Gathering the best possible items and creatively packaging them leaves a lasting impression on guests and helps keep winning bidders happy. However; this strategy of mainly targeting your auction can push the revenue section of… Read More »
Planning a Benefit Auction: The Basics As budgets shrink for schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations, more and more are adopting an annual benefit auction to fill the gap. An auction utilizes community connections and resources to generate revenue—and they’re a fun, community-building event, guaranteed to stir up enthusiasm and excitement for your cause. Are… Read More »
What better way to generate excitement at your next fundraiser than to involve your guests in a game? People love to play and love to laugh. Give them a chance to do both while raising money for your cause. Heads or Tails is a common auction game. Here are a few more ideas to spark… Read More »
Charging Station, Help Station, Juice Bar, Extra Sponsorship JUICE BAR: A cell phone charging area with multiple chargers for different smartphones; at fundraising events, this is ideally staffed with a Bid Assistant to help troubleshoot mobile connection troubles and assist with placing bids. When your event includes mobile bidding, a dreaded low-battery can dampen the guest experience…. Read More »
We’ve gathered some cutting-edge fundraising best practices from experts after an impromptu get together in Portland. The discussion yielded an abundance of tips, fundraising challenges, best practices, and visions for the future of nonprofit technology! Here is a small sneak-peak into what fundraising best practices the group came up with: A comment is an opportunity for supportive activism:… Read More »