4 Best Practices For Your Next Fundraising Event!

Posted by Ben Crook on 14 April 2016

You and your non-profit work hard all year long to raise awareness and fulfill your mission for your incredible cause. Fundraising is an immense part of your journey and although it is not an easy task, non-profits are mastering it!

While fundraising events can help you raise more and really engage your supporters, it can become a complex task to organize the perfect one. After helping approximately 850 charities raise more at their fundraising event in the past year, we’ve got a tip or two we would like to share with you to help you make sure your next event is a success.

• Get familiar with your audience

Knowing your audience is crucial for the success of your event. This way, you can tailor everything around them, from music to catering to entertainment. Most importantly, you will be able to customize the auction to meet your attendees expectations and tastes.

Additionally, your MC will have a better idea on how to approach the audience that night, creating a fun and personalized experience for all the attendees, while keeping up a friendly competition on all your items, hence, #raisingmore for your cause at the end of the night!

When it comes to using our Givergy services, we understand that you know your guests better than we do, so we work hand in hand to develop a seamless plan that fits the needs of your specific audience. Then, our incredible team can customize your auction to meet your audiences expectation. Furthermore, by knowing your audience, our lot experts can help you strategically choose your auction items, and write a description that will truly appeal to them.

• Choose your items judiciously

Now that you know the demographics of your guests, it is important to choose auction items that will entice the crowd to start bidding. To do so, make sure to select a wide array of choice relevant to their general interests, from exciting experiences to luxurious items if that is the right mix for the crowd. As a result, your selection will appeal to everyone at the event, generate bids, and help you raise more.

• Less is more

While a variety of items is crucial, it should not exceed a certain number. From experience, we found that a ratio of 1 lot for every 10 guests (with a maximum of 60 lots total) is optimal during live auctions. Keeping track of how many people will attend your event and attempt a prediction on the amount of people who will be bidding is key. This way you can do an estimate on how many items you can offer at the event without spreading the bidding too much (and sell for less). Therefore, less items of the right nature, combined with the right audience will raise you more.

• Get a head start

Start #raisingmore ahead of time! Make your online auction go live about two weeks prior to your event and share with your guests in advance. It will generate excitement among the attendees, and you will start off the night showing off what you’ve already accomplished, and motivate the crowd to keep going!

For more information about how Givergy and its cutting-edge fundraising technology can help your next fundraising event raise more, contact us!

Ben Crook

Chief Operating Officer

Ben is at the forefront of every project in Givergy, listing and actioning constant improvements across the business. With over a decade of experience in the charity and events sector he brings a deep understanding of what the fundraising industry needs to operate effectively and efficiently.