19 Fundraising Event Planning Tips
(You Wish You Knew)

Preparing your fundraising event plan for your organization? Fundraise like a pro without breaking a sweat with these preliminary steps and advice. Expert fundraising event planning specialists and fundraising software firms shared their fundraising event ideas to make your organization’s next big event go as smooth as possible.

Fundraising Event Ideas: What To Do First

Once you've done that, the fundraising style(s), event type, theme, budget and venue options will fall into place. Having a structured overview, which doesn’t have to be huge or complicated, will keep you on track throughout the planning process.

Mobile fundraising allows you to easily make adjustments at any time to event keywords used to donate, live event thermometers and donation pages, which can be updated instantly from any desktop or mobile device.

As you proceed through planning your fundraising event, be aware of what you will, and will not, realistically be able to do. Starting early gives you time to counterbalance shortcomings with creativity, do-it-yourself work and budgeting so your supporters have the best experience at your event.

– Susan Ruderman, Ed.M. Fundraising Expert with 25+ years of experience in nonprofit management and VP at Veritas Information Services, a fundraising consulting firm

Budget: How to Pay For Your Fundraising Event Plan

Reach out to local and big businesses to see if they would like to sponsor part, or all, of your event. When you pitch to potential sponsors, underestimate your event turnout so they will be pleasantly surprised when your event delivers a higher attendance.

Estimate the funding you expect to receive from sponsorships and ticket sales, as well as how much money you believe your event will raise from each fundraising approach (text to donate keyword, ticket sales, live auction, etc.) Then make a comprehensive list of all expenses you foresee incurring so you can highlight items towards which potential sponsors can contribute.

Partnering with brands and business sponsors saves your organization money and resources while providing them great exposure.

Start soliciting “in-kind” donations from local businesses early on to allow time for approvals and contributions. Ask the event venue, local catering companies, restaurants or bakeries, and entertainers/artists to support your cause with the charitable donation of their time and services.

Remember to thank partners and sponsors in writing and display their information in printed and digital material before/during/after the event. This is one of the most important part of charity event planning due to the fact it will impact future events.

Getting People to Attend

Set up a campaign and empower current supporters to become ambassadors for your organization. A ticket to the event could be an incentive to reach a minimum donation amount. Peer to peer fundraising and crowdfunding allow individuals to set up custom donation pages that are easily shared with friends, family, colleagues and social networks.

Each individual raises an average of $568 versus an average traditional one-time gift of $139 setting you up for a successful fundraising event from the start.

What will attract them? Is it an expert speaker, or a celebrity honoree? Also, a great fundraising planning idea is to incorporate a transformational activity that educates supporters about your mission, helps them to connect to your cause and clearly see the impact they can make through their generosity. By combining attraction and purpose you’ll be able to pull together a fun and memorable event to which your supporters will be happy to RSVP.

Offer incentives like discounted tickets or gift bags when people register early instead of waiting (and forgetting).

Incorporate Mobile and Social Fundraising Event Planning

These can be shared by your supporters across their social network of friends, family and colleagues. You don’t need a full Hollywood production crew, just a little creativity and a story to tell to make several good, low-budget, high-quality short videos to support your organization, promote your event and thank donors. Many of today’s smartphones are capable of creating short videos that can have a huge impact.

Including links to videos in your mobile communication campaign is highly effective for donor engagement.

Invite people to engage virtually to get a preview of what’s to come at the main event, highlighting activities or having a Q&A with your key speakers. It generates anticipation. (Remember to link to your registration form on each platform and mention it several times to boost ticket sales)

Start using them before the event so followers and supporters become familiar with your event. It is a good idea to search Twitter first to make sure it is not already in use. Then encourage attendees to use the #hashtag or Tweet button by placing them on your site, donation form, event registration and in digital event collateral.

The easiest way to scare people or give them a reason to not register is by using paper registration (aka old-school) or online forms that are not easily completed on a mobile device.

Who Is Going to Help?

No matter the size of your organization and number of volunteers, always try to delegate responsibilities. Let people take control of the areas they most enjoy, and they will likely carry out their duties with great success.

Check in early and often to make sure volunteers, staff and vendors are on track with their event duties. Upload mobile numbers or have the team sign up with a subscription keyword to receive mobile messaging that will allow you to quickly send updates before, during and after the event.

Event Day: Pulling it Off

Have the master of ceremonies, host and any key speakers run through their presentations the day or morning before the event. Test the technological equipment and make a test pledge to your live event thermometer to make sure it all works. The more prepared you are, the better.

Ensure that the audience has a GREAT (not just good) experience.

Talk to attendees to see if things are going well and get their feedback during the event. Capture the list of compliments received and suggested improvements for your next event.

Validate mobile numbers or use a subscription keyword to communicate with participants after the event. Customize a survey form to send in a text message to get feedback.

Plan B: What to Do When Things Go Wrong

What could go wrong in one column, and your contingency plan in the second. Be prepared for the unexpected before the event even starts. Maybe the sound system fails. Maybe your keynote presenter bails. How will cope and move on? Having and sharing a backup plan for major event components will eliminate stress the day of.

Memorable events don’t just happen. Whether you're planning a walk-a-thon, awards dinner or gala benefit, and whether you have 2 weeks or an entire year to plan it, your event’s fate is in the details and how you pay attention to them.  Make your event an across the board success that no one will ever be able to forget.