A lot of nonprofit organizations use virtual events to share their story and raise money and it doesn’t have to be in-person to have an impact. Sometimes, it’s even better if it isn’t! That’s the case with virtual fundraising events. Imagine a conference where all sessions and presentations can happen from the comfort of your own home or office! Instead of spending hours commuting and waiting in traffic, you can relax and get work done during that time.
There are a few things you need to do in order to make sure you plan a successful event.
1. Set a fundraising goal
Setting a fundraising goal can help you stay on track to reach your goal. It’s important to consider what type of virtual fundraising events you will be hosting. Will it be a one-time event, or an ongoing fundraiser? What are your expenses in both cases? How much time do you have to dedicate towards the effort each day? These are all factors in determining how much money is necessary to reach your goal.
2. Keep your donors engaged
Making a list of donors and keeping them engaged are keys to success in virtual fundraising events. First make a list of your donors (database if you’re tech savvy). Why did they donate, what are their interests. A good donor will give to your organization when you ask them, but they are likely to give more when they are truly engaged in the process.
Last but not least, stay engaged after they have donated and after your fundraising event. Thanking them for their contribution, the difference its made and your future plans.
3. What type of virtual event will you host?
Do you want to host an event that will leave your guests with a significant experience? Hosting a virtual event is the way to go. With the help of technology, you can bring people together to meet in real-time. Whether it’s for webinars, conferences, fundraising, or any other type of event, there are many benefits to hosting your event virtually. If you’re interested in hosting one, here are some ideas that will help to make your event successful:
- Find a theme based on an idea or location, such as a beach party or a picnic.
- Webinars
- A silent auction
- A virtual dinner party
- Hybrid tours
- Virtual activities (whilst raising donations)
- Friday night drinks
- Tea, cake and talk
- Virtual run
- Plank challenge
- Virtual pub quiz
- Online gala dinner
4. Event Technology
Event technology is a huge part of planning a successful event. It can be hard to know where to start with all the different options that are available. Between interactive projections, data towers, and video walls, you can find a solution for any space.
Depending on the kind of virtual fundraising events you’re organizing, there are some very important considerations to make when choosing your event technology.
- The number of attendees
- The purpose of the meeting
- What’s your budget?
- Do you need something interactive?
- Is the sound system important to you?
- Do you need a video/background wall?
- Will you need a live presentation feature?
- Do you need live stream options?
- Will you use break rooms/networking features?
- Does it include button/widget features to link to your fundraising webpage?
5. Promote your virtual fundraising event
Fundraisers, whether they be physical or virtual, are a great way to get your community involved and excited about a cause. However, there are plenty of ways to promote a virtual fundraiser that can’t be done with a traditional event.
One way to promote virtual fundraiser events are by making use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Or you could try email marketing, radio or adverts! Whatever suits you and reaches your audience best, go with that! Not forgetting to promote your event at least a month in advance so people can make time to add your virtual event to their diaries.
6. Make the experience a easy and enjoyable one
Take advantage of the virtual event by delivering a new experience of virtual fundraising. Making sure its a high-impact for your charity you could share your screen to show valuable information, play a video of all you’ve achieved for your cause. You could even invite a guest speaker or influencer to talk about the importance of your cause and the reasons to give.
7. Prioritise interaction with your guests
Audience interaction is important for any company because it makes the customer feel included. The more a person feels like they are valued, the more likely they are to become loyal to the company. Also, having an audience react positively to your work will help push people to your site and make them want to know what you have to offer. To do this, companies usually create videos or other shareable content that their audience can see, engage with, and even comment on and this is usually on social media.
In your virtual fundraising event you can create chats in the comment box, polls, use of emoji reactions. Or included a type of gamification will motivate, engage and interest the guests.
In conclusion, the key to successful virtual fundraising events is to plan with the following in mind:
-Planning ahead of time will save you time and money.
-Define your goals and what success looks like for your organization.
-Look for ways to reward your donors so they’ll want to continue giving while also encouraging repeat donations.
-To make your event memorable, give attendees something they can’t get anywhere else–be it an experience or a product.
Create a memorable experience, ask the right people, and leverage social media. By following these tips and ensuring that you target your guests with an interesting and valuable experience, you will likely achieve your fundraising goals.
Be sure to check out our other blog articles on best practice for fundraising.
If you found this article helpful to read, check out the following post:
How to select the most appropriate platform for online fundraising events
A Step-by-Step Strategy to Tackling Fundraising Challenges
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