Nonprofit organizations rely on fundraising events to generate support and resources for their causes. These events are opportunities to engage with the community, raise awareness, and generate much-needed financial support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spring fundraising for nonprofit organizations is typically considered better than other times of the year because people are more likely to come out of their winter hibernation and engage with others, especially for a cause they support. The warm weather also encourages outdoor activities and events, which can generate more opportunities for community engagement and fundraising. Additionally, as the weather improves, people may have a more positive outlook and be more willing to support nonprofit organizations and their causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For most nonprofits, in-person events were largely on hold over the last few years. We expect 2023 to be a busy in-person event season. However, as you embark on your spring 2023 events planning, consider adding online or hybrid elements to your in-person spring fundraiser to maximize participation and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nonprofit Spring Fundraising Event Checklist: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Define your nonprofit fundraising goals: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before planning your event, determine what you hope to accomplish. Consider factors such as your desired outcome, target audience, and budget. Having clear goals will help you make informed decisions throughout the planning process. Also, consider key learnings from the last time you executed the same or similar event. Is there anything you can learn before diving in too deep?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Choose the right spring event venue:<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn-person events<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The venue you choose will greatly impact your event’s success. Consider factors such as accessibility, capacity, and the ambiance of the space. You should also consider the costs associated with the venue, including rental fees and any necessary equipment. Another consideration is the weather. Always have a contingency plan for an outside event, no matter how nice the weather is expected to be. Don\u2019t forget to secure any required Certificates of Insurance (COI) and local safety permissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online or hybrid events or elements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
For the last few years, online and hybrid events have helped nonprofits raise funds when we couldn\u2019t get together in person. Supporters have adjusted to this shift to a virtual venue, and many now even prefer it. Consider hosting online or hybrid events as part of your events strategy. Adding online and hybrid elements also helps you cast a wider net of supporters who may want to contribute to your mission but aren\u2019t located nearby. This is particularly advantageous with a peer-to-peer component as your supporters tap into their own networks to enhance support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Leverage technology for spring fundraising events:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Technology can help streamline many aspects of your event planning, and communications and enhance the overall experience for attendees. Line up your tools and resources before you get too far in the planning process. Consider if the technology in your stack meets your needs or if it\u2019s time to evaluate new technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially if you\u2019re currently using 4-6+ separate systems or applications across your nonprofit, it\u2019s time to consider an all-in-one nonprofit software solution such as Giveffect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Create your nonprofit spring event fundraising campaign page.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Whether your event is in person, online or hybrid, you\u2019ll want to create an online presence as a central point for your supporters and staff. A campaign webpage is one of the best ways to achieve this. And when you create your online campaign page, there are a few must-haves and considerations to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Ensure easy registration or ticket purchasing for your supporters with a checkout flow that gathers information in a user-friendly form and automatically processes payments and issues tax receipts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Consider adding an auction. A silent auction, for instance, is easy to maintain and can have a huge impact on dollars raised. Big ticket items aren’t always necessary for a successful auction. Habitat for Humanity Greater Green Bay<\/a>, for example, engages the community with Repurpose for a Reason, where they auction off upcycled Restore items<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Incorporate peer-to-peer fundraising<\/a> to extend your fundraising reach by leveraging your supporters’ networks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add a \u201csponsorship\u201d button for your partners to enjoy a custom and convenient checkout experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be mindful of data flow and data mapping. Consider how you’re collecting the data, where it’s going and how you’ll use it. For example, if you are hosting a ticketed event, you\u2019ll want to set up the campaign page to share information about the event with your supporters, capture attendee information, process payments and issue tax receipts. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Superbowl-themed-spring-fundraising-event-campaign-example-1200-\u00d7-630-px-1024x538.png\")
Caption: Example of a “central campaign page” for different actions you are encouraging your different audiences to take, including \u201cdonate,\u201d \u201cregister your own team\u201d and \u201cparticipate as an individual.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n More on data flow and data mapping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
By using comprehensive nonprofit software, you\u2019ll be able to track everything in one place\u2013from ticket purchases to adding a new contact or updating a contact in your CRM. If you are using different technologies, your team will have to download data from one software, reorganize it, only to upload it to another. Or, even worse, print out paper to use more manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, the data flow is automated and seamless with an all-in-one nonprofit software solution such as Giveffect. When a campaign is created, group designations can be set from the start, and event attendee data automatically flows in an organized and structured way. When setting your group designations, consistency is key. We recommend that your team picks one system for designation and sticks with it for all of your campaigns and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Auctions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Auctions are a great add-on to a spring event. While auctions are typically lucrative, they can also be quite time-consuming to set up and execute, especially if you don\u2019t have the right tools. You\u2019ll want to use nonprofit auction software<\/a> that helps you plan, promote and host the auction in person and online. The right software can help you promote auction items and even facilitate bidding on a variety of devices. Of course, the most important part of the auction process is the winner. Giveffect, for example, notifies winners, processes payments, and even sends thank you notes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Spring-Event-Content-Images-1434-X-786-Auction-Example-1024x561.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Communication and promotion:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Now that the campaign is set up, you\u2019ll want to create and execute a marketing and communications strategy. Across all forms of communication, you\u2019ll want consistent branding, messaging, and an easy way to purchase tickets. Share your event page’s QR codes on the website and in communications.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Example-of-a-Giveffect-QR-code-with-Border.png\")
This is an example of a QR code generated in Giveffect, which can be placed anywhere a nonprofit advertises both digitally or physically printed. When someone uses their smartphone to capture the QR code, they are automatically brought to the campaign page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Use email marketing and SMS text messaging to invite and communicate with your supporters and volunteers. With software such as Giveffect, email marketing, and SMS text messaging can be set up and scheduled in advance. You can also share your event campaign page on social media to engage with attendees before, during, and after the event. With social media, your supporters can help promote your event by sharing event posts with their networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Giveffect-Text-to-Bid-Example-Edited.png\")
In this example, using a nonprofit’s text-to-bid number, a pre-authorized bidder placed a $300 bid for the Rolex watch for auction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Post-spring fundraising event stewardship:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to plan for post-event activities at the start of the event planning process because some of the most important aspects of relationship cultivation actually happen after the event. And if you\u2019re not set up for success from the start by gathering information and organizing it in an easy-to-use way, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to stay in touch after the event. Of course, all contact information is also added to your Giveffect CRM for future communication and stewardship, in addition to the timeline of communication history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Incorporate peer-to-peer fundraising<\/a> to extend your fundraising reach by leveraging your supporters’ networks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Example-of-a-Volunteer-Signup-form-updated.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.giveffect.com\/nonprofit-resource-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Volunteer-Role-Assignments-and-Check-in-for-a-gala-with-border.png-473x1024.png\")