A new report has discovered what donors want when they go to galas and other events. The majority of eventgoers expect 50 percent to 70 percent of the ticket proceeds to benefit the cause. E-mail is the most efficient kind of invitation. And they expect to be served hors d’oeuvres if they pay more than $50 for a ticket.

What they don’t want: long-winded speeches.

The study was conducted by CharityHappenings.org, a Web site that sells tickets to charity events. More on the report’s findings can be found in an article in the latest issue of The Chronicle. 

The Chronicle had a chance to follow Justin Baer, the chief executive of CharityHappenings.org, one night recently for two of New York’s biggest charity events: The New Yorkers for Children gala, which raised more than $1.6-million for New York City’s foster children, and the Harvest in the Square food-tasting event, which raised about $300,000 for the Union Square Partnership.