Community and events, Volunteer management
The Key Ingredients for a Successful Fundraising Event
Fundraising events can be hard work! DSC Trainer, Layla Moosavi shares some advice to help you deliver a great event for your charity.
Do you feel your organisation is missing out on funding and awareness raising opportunities by not holding events?
If you do hold events, do you feel it takes a lot of your time for very little return?
Do you believe events fundraising is an avenue your organisation should explore?
Event fundraising is an excellent way to raise awareness of your cause and organisation as well as attract funders, reach a new audience, build loyal supporters and of course raise funds. It is important however to see if events are right for you, and if so, how to manage events efficiently to ensure you use your time and manage your costs effectively.
A great event leaves you wanting more. However, a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes. Clear and measurable objectives that fit within your strategic plans and overall aims are essential when organising a successful event.
Key questions to consider
- Think about what you are intending to do and why? Is it to recruit a new audience, raise awareness, or raise funds?
- What is the motivating factor for doing it? Is there a need for it? And also do your objectives fit with your organisational skills and experience?
- Is it realistic given likely time and budget constraints?
- Have you communicated the objectives to all key stakeholders?
Planning is the key!
Planning the event meticulously is one thing but doing the ground work in advance is what really creates that strong foundation. Start with the end in mind when looking at the timing of key activities. This particularly helps when it comes to managing the timeline. For example, what do you need done a month before the event?
Ensure your organisation is up to date with any insurance, legal and VAT issues related to event. Also ensure you have a good volunteer programme in place. Don’t forget to identify key milestones for monitoring and evaluating the event.
Another important thing to do is identify your audience for your event and know how best communicate with them.
Defining your objectives and your audience are the most important things to thinks about before you get caught up in event details. You get that right and the planning flows much more effectively.
Want to find out more? Join Introduction to Community and Events Fundraising on 19 March.
