Should You Scrap Your Fund-Raising Event?

June 24, 2008

Should You Scrap Your Fund-Raising Event?

Some charities have taken the extreme step of canceling their annual fund-raising galas in light of the economic downturn.

But Robert Evans, a fund-raising expert, advises against making a last-minute decision to cancel a special event.

“I have indeed heard that some agencies are becoming ‘chicken’ and are not continuing a tradition of special events that has been ongoing,” Mr. Evans said in a live discussion today with Chronicle readers. “Our advice: Do not cancel events but rather consider ways to make the event(s) more appealing for attendees.”

Mr. Evans, managing director of the EHL Consulting Group, a fund-raising consulting firm in Willow Grove, Pa., said one charity his company advises recently had a record-setting annual dinner by landing a matching grant from a major donor before the event.

For more on how to raise money during the difficult economy, read the full transcript of today’s live discussion.

Tell us how you are handling special events — and whether they are producing the returns they did in the past.

— Peter Panepento

Comments

I agree with Mr. Evans. But, I also believe that this “extreme step” underscores many nonprofits’ misunderstanding of events and their real value. Sure, events can raise money. But more important, events raise awareness, and provide a rare opportunity for the nonprofit’s staff, volunteers, donors, and prospects to rub elbows. These may not raise the big bucks in the short-term, but they will help to gain, retain, and grow donors for the future.

— Kevin D. Feldman Jun 25, 09:33 PM #
Here at Columbus House, we’ve gone a different route for our annual event the last two years: we’ve held non-events. This year, we’ve just launched our event online at http://nonathon.kintera.org. Last year, we sent out an invitation for people to stay home and watch a movie on us (if they were one of the first 50 to RSVP). We save ourself the cost of an actual event while still engaging those who would typically attend. Last year, we raised just a little less than our usual annual reception. Stay tuned for how this year’s campaign goes.

— Sara Warfield Jun 26, 11:42 AM #

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Should You Scrap Your Fund-Raising Event?

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