Nonprofits look forward to big fundraising events all year long. Not only are they a great way to gather a crowd of donors together, but they’re also an opportunity to raise funds for upcoming projects. They’re also fun and effective – the perfect package. Although hosting a fundraiser may be the perfect way to get people together and raise money for a cause, your intention must be to have a simple, honest event, or fundraisers can easily become a bust. Before you hold your fundraising event this year, take a look at the five biggest fundraising event mistakes to ensure you have a successful day!
No Call to Action
You know that the purpose of the event is to raise money. Let your guests know! It’s not enough to mention that it’s a fundraising event on the flyer or to simply say “donations are accepted” in the description. It’s easy for attendees to get caught up in the camaraderie, food, and entertainment and forget about the fundraising or that it’s not a mixer. It needs to be clear during the promotion of the event and reiterated throughout the evening as well. You may not want to come off as being pushy, but being subtle about the cause can lead to an unsuccessful fundraiser.
Poor Speaker Selection
Like a call to action, the right speaker can motivate attendees at a fundraising event to go above and beyond in their giving. Choosing the speaker is one of the most important decisions to be made when planning a fundraiser (next to the food choice, obviously.) Speakers shouldn’t put your guests to sleep with a lecture. When you’re deciding on a speaker, ask other organizations who they’ve used and ask them why they were successful. Likewise, be sure to read all reviews and watch videos of the speaker before you hire them to ensure you’re making a winning choice!
Not Choosing a Theme
Although a theme doesn’t feel like the most important aspect of an event for raising money, it does tie the night together. From your speaker to your food, you can coordinate everything about your party according to your theme to create a memorable event. No matter what type of theme you choose, make sure it’s clear and it gets advertised when you’re inviting prospective guests. You never know, the right theme just might be enough to encourage your next major donor to attend!
Forcing Attendees to Wait
You may have had attendees sign up for a raffle as they entered the event as a fun way to get attendees to stay for the full length of the fundraiser. While this may be a clever idea, it can easily backfire. Attendees can get the sense that they’re being baited by the possibility of winning a raffle. This may cause them to leave your event early, and refrain from donating as much as they initially planned — or anything at all. The happiness of your attendees is key, as they will make or break your event.
Not Thanking Donors
Donors allowed you to get particular items for the event or maybe even helped secure the location. If you’d like a donor to ever invest in another one of your causes, you should properly thank them for their contribution. This can be done either by mail, in person, or during the event itself if they’re in attendance. Sustaining a positive relationship with donors is crucial as they can get you in touch with other financial contributors.
Fundraising Event Entertainment in Orlando
Good fundraising events are not complete without the right entertainment. For your next fundraiser, be sure to call A Cut Above Photo Booth before you do anything else. With a custom photo booth, your donors can have a fun time getting to know one another and take home a memento that reminds them of your organization.
If you’re in or around Orlando, there’s no better photo booth company that A Cut Above. For a free quote and to secure your event date, Visit us online or give us a call at (407) 216-7171.
