As an event planner, preparing for any event can be hectic and overwhelming — but add “nonprofit” to your title, and you’ve got an extra layer of stress. Now’s the time for your organization to take stock of its fundraising strategies and find a way to meet and exceed its goals.

If you’re preparing for a fundraising event, you have to focus on more than just securing the venue, vendors, and attendees. You also have to ensure your event raises the money your nonprofit needs to thrive.

Here are 10 nonprofit fundraising best practices to help you meet your goals.

1. Find an event format and theme that attracts donors

People are excited to support a cause, but they also want to have a great time. Remember: “Raise money” is not a theme — “singles charity night” is. To attract donors, come up with a fun, unique idea that they’ll be excited to be part of (and recap on their social media feeds).

Tip: Still brainstorming fundraising strategies for nonprofits? Discover how 500 nonprofits raised money with events in 2019.

2. Set a realistic event budget

You’ll need to raise funds above and beyond the amount you’re going to spend. A budget will help keep your costs in perspective and get you more for your money. Make sure it includes every single detail — from the venue to the catering to the parking valets.

Always leave a little room in your budget for the unpredictable. It’s better to come in under budget than be surprised by unforeseen expenses.

Tip: Check our event budget guide to master your event financials — and keep more money for your cause.

3. Select a wallet-friendly venue or online platform

Some venues might be willing to discount or even donate their space to be associated with a good cause. If you have any flexibility with your date, it can help you secure a venue at a lower cost. Consider non-traditional event venues that might help you save some cash while also building interest around the event.

If you’re hosting a virtual fundraiser, choose a reliable livestreaming platform that allows eventgoers to connect from the comfort of their homes. Explore your options early so that you have time to develop a successful virtual event strategy.

Tip: Use this list of questions to vet your venue before signing a contract.

4. Find charitable event sponsors

Sponsorship is a billion-dollar industry. If you can get a piece of that pie, more of the money your nonprofit raises can be used for charitable causes instead of things like catering.

Although it may sound heartless, sponsorship is not philanthropy. And it’s certainly not the same as advertising. Savvy sponsors expect you to wield your event’s in-person influence to give them a warm introduction to your event audience.

If you want to build a strategic relationship with sponsors, get to know your attendees better and learn how your event can help them achieve their specific business goals. The more you can prove that your event attendees are their target market, the more revenue you can generate from sponsors.

5. Sell tickets and registrations online

Advances in event technology have made it easier for people to find events and purchase a ticket or register online, even through social media. Without an event website and online registration process, you’re likely to miss out on attendees — and funds.

If you’re shopping around for a new ticketing or registration partner, make sure to choose one that gives you and your staff valuable insights about attendees and donors. Looking to get the most out of Eventbrite? Be sure to access reports and data that give important insight into ticket sales and donations.

6. Promote your fundraiser across the web

For a charity event or fundraiser, spreading the word is crucial — it directly affects your ability to hit your goals. Traditionally, nonprofits have used mailed invitations, phone banks, and direct mail. Today, though, there are many digital options too, including:

  • Email marketing: At every stage of your sales lifecycle, you should be tapping into your email database to share an invite, discount, or sneak peek of your event — and make your existing attendees feel special. Read these tips to send better emails.
  • Social media advertising: Social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn have powerful tools to let you send targeted promotions to the right audience.
  • Event discovery sites: Most event-goers have go-to event discovery websites they rely on to make plans. And if you use Eventbrite, you can automatically distribute your events to discovery sites across the web. These include Bandsintown, Goldstar, Songkick, Eventful, and Facebook Events.

7. Lean on your community

Are you taking advantage of your community of supporters to fundraise? Encourage ticket buyers to share your event on social media for wider promotion. Connect with local sponsors who might be willing to promote the event or even match donations. Don’t shy away from crowdfunding, a strategy that works well when fundraising for nonprofits.

Tip: A creative fundraiser is going to attract more potential donors. Check out these unique and successful fundraising ideas for nonprofits.

8. Recruit, train, and manage your volunteers

Successful charity events run on the enthusiasm and support of their volunteers. The best place to look for volunteers is amongst your attendees, including people on your mailing list or who have registered in the past. You can also put out a call to your network for volunteers.

It’s important to choose reliable volunteers who will show up and charm donors. Use these three tactics to weed out unreliable volunteers and make sure your efforts pay off.

  • Pre-qualify volunteers: Make sure you’re not just finding people who want to volunteer, but those who can actually do the job. When they sign up, ask potential volunteers what other events they’ve volunteered to staff, what their role was, and why they want to volunteer for your event.
  • Create an orientation program: Whether it’s in person or online, overview what volunteers should expect on event day and what will be expected of them.
  • Designate a volunteer lead: Your volunteer lead will be responsible for getting volunteers up to speed on everything from logistics to onsite tech. Build in ample time to train volunteers so that there is no confusion or last-minute stress on the day of the event.

Tip: Discover more nonprofit event planning tips on managing your volunteers.

9. Create a safe and accessible event

Event safety and accessibility are not just compliance issues. Making your event more accessible widens your reach and makes your attendees feel welcome. Most importantly, it creates an environment of inclusivity, diversity, and positivity — important ingredients for a nonprofit fundraiser.

Start by making sure your event has enough space set aside for people using wheelchairs or who are hard of hearing, have visual disabilities, or will require room for a service animal. Also be sure to use accessible signage with large, legible typefaces at multiple heights.

If applicable, make sure your event adheres to current COVID-19 protocols in your location, including social distancing, masking, and other safety guidelines. You might even consider hosting a hybrid or virtual event to open up your fundraiser to interested participants who might not be willing or able to attend in person.

Tip: For more ideas on creating an accessible event, check out our guide.

10. Use the right event technology to raise funds

Having the right technology at hand can make a huge difference in the planning, promotion, and execution of your event. Perhaps you’ve used Eventbrite before for event planning but now want to use it for fundraising. We’re ready to help—and since we’re PCI Compliant, you can raise funds safely and securely.

Ready to get your fundraiser up and running today? See how Eventbrite can help with your nonprofit fundraising plan.