
The Truth will set you free, but first…
March 30, 2022
Connection is everything
May 27, 2022Who’s ready to party? Three keys to empowering fundraising events

● What else (besides raising $) do we want to achieve through this event? Is it greater brand awareness? Do we plan to create a sense of urgency around the social need our mission addresses? Perhaps you want to invite your attendees to commit to taking action via volunteerism…. the options are virtually limitless. But I implore you to claim your intentions and let them drive the event experience.
● Have I given my team members enough context for them to understand how their role impacts our success? Sometimes leaders get so caught up in their own responsibilities, they neglect to connect the dots for those they train and delegate to. I see it a lot with my clients and I had to work really hard to overcome the habit myself. Context creates ownership. Ownership affects outcomes, and ultimately leads to greater success.
● Have we given our guests enough information to feel prepared for the experience we’re creating for them? Sure, some of your guests won’t read anything you sent them pre-event. But, many will really appreciate, and remember, that you clearly communicated what to expect, how to dress, where to park, what to bring and the many interesting opportunities they have to make investments during the evening’s festivities. A comfortable guest is a future happy donor.

- Invest in event staff or bring in plenty of volunteers to run registration, set up the silent auction, act as spotters during your live auction, etc. I promise it will be worth every penny.
- Event preparation must include time for prospect research because we need to know who is in the room, and who they came with. This information helps us have more meaningful conversations and make deeper connections.
- Involve your Board in cultivation efforts. They should be partnering with the Development team. That means they need to be prepped, given assignments of who they are to connect with and how they return intel from their conversations to staff.

● The best event experiences create a flurry of activity – requests for site visits, volunteer applications, phone calls to the executive director to make introductions, and yes, donations will come pouring in if your guests leave inspired. Be ready.
● Giving each Board member a short list of attendees to call and thank for their support, and a stack of pre-addressed and stamped thank you cards to sign and mail will expedite your stewardship efforts. More importantly, it will make your supporters feel like VIP and your Board members feel their personal impact.
● What comes after follow up? Follow through…with recording attendee interactions in your donor database that is!
So, there you have it my friends. I hope something I’ve shared here will inspire you to try something different this event season. If you put these three keys into practice at your upcoming events, I’d love to hear from you! As always, stay safe and joyful…and enjoy gathering!
In community, Hannah