Whether it’s a gala, a silent auction, a bake sale, or a “friendraiser,” events are a significant part of many organizations’ fundraising plans. But how do you make your event stand out from the rest? And what’s the real cost of putting together a gala?
Together, we’ll walk through different types of common fundraising events, analyze their effectiveness, and learn how to determine which type of fundraising event is right for your mission. We’ll also talk about how to make the case for sunsetting your fundraising event if it’s not working for you.
After learning about different types of events and their benefits, participants will have the chance to workshop their own event plan and receive feedback. At the end of this intensive, participants will walk away with a fundraising event plan, including the core components like a fundraising goal, audience and invitation strategy, sponsorship strategy, and more.
This intensive is best suited for nonprofit leaders of small-to-medium size organizations that are familiar with the basic principles of the donor cycle and individual fundraising tactics. Experience with or having attended a nonprofit fundraising event is helpful, but not required.
About the Facilitator:
In this fundraising intensive, you’ll be guided through the steps of donor acquisition by GiveMN’s Senior Director of Community Impact, Courtney Backen. Courtney (she/her) has over a decade of experience in individual fundraising for various causes including public libraries and public media, environmental protection, youth homelessness, and more. One of her fundraising superpowers includes direct mail donor acquisition and working with list brokers and mail houses to execute comprehensive fundraising campaigns. As Membership Manager at Friends of the Hennepin County Library, Courtney leveraged direct mail acquisition to grow their membership program from 7,500 households to 10,000+ in under five years.
Format: Two small-group, in-person sessions: Thursday, March 20, 9 am–4 pm (1-hour self-provided lunch break), and Friday, March 21, 8 am–12 pm.
Price: $1,500 per person
Accessibility note: RaiseMN is committed to providing accessible learning and development services for nonprofits and schools. Accommodations are available upon request by reaching out to info@givemn.org.