A charity event is any gathering where people come together to raise money for a good cause. From social galas to golf tournaments, these events are effective tools for promoting a nonprofit’s mission and showing donors how their support directly makes an impact in people’s lives. However, successful fundraisers require good planning and effective strategies to achieve their goals.
Nonprofits must consider fundraising goals, audience fit, and practical matters such as how funds will be used, as well as select an event format that aligns with their budgets and resources. Some popular charity event ideas include social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, and unique virtual experiences like video game livestreaming.
While charity events are some of the highest-converting campaign types on Classy, they can be challenging for many nonprofit organizations to plan. To help streamline the process, we’ve compiled nine best practices for planning and executing successful charity events.
Whether you’re hosting a traditional fundraising gala or an interactive digital auction, make sure to set realistic expectations about attendance and donations. To maximize ticket sales, it’s important to determine the fair market value (FMV) of your tickets, which includes the cost of dinner, drinks, and entertainment. In addition, it’s critical to clearly communicate tax deductions for attendees. Using CRM software and analytics platforms for tracking event data improves resource allocation and identifies successes and pitfalls for future planning. This helps ensure that the right people attend, and that your organization is meeting its goals.