When it comes to fundraising, your ticketing method might be leaving potential revenue on the table. Studies show that people want more control over their donations. Instead of setting a specific price for your event, consider opting for a donation ticket where the buyer can choose how much they pay.

And don’t forget – the more value the attendee gets from your event (and its add-ons), the more likely they will be to contribute. The best way to communicate your event’s value is through detailed and moving ticket descriptions.

Don’t know where to begin with donation ticketing? We’re here to help. We’ve listed everything you need to know about Eventbrite’s donation ticketing software – and added some pointers on how to craft an effective event description that helps amplify donations.

Does Eventbrite have a donation option?

Eventbrite’s leading non-profit ticketing software supports donations. You have the option to offer registrants free tickets or multiple ticket types. Our platform also allows you to craft elegantly designed event pages and ticket sites that help amplify donations.

How do I set up donation tickets on Eventbrite?

It’s simple – when creating a new ticket, just select “Donation” as your ticket type. Once you’ve done that, attendees can choose the amount they want. Then attendees can choose the amount they want to pay instead of a price set by you. Read our full instructions on setting up donation tickets.

Does it cost a fee to collect donations?

For donation ticket types in the UK, Eventbrite requires you to only pay a small 2% credit card processing fee. That means more money will go straight to your cause, helping the communities and people that need it most.

How do I ask for donations respectfully?

How you ask for donations is a critical factor in fundraising. The right language inspires people to donate.

A well-worded ticket description can show the value of your event and encourage attendees to donate more. Personal wording like “you” creates a conversational tone, and it helps people see themselves as a part of the solution. Also, avoid the word “donate,” which gives the impression that you only want money. Instead, words like “support” or “partner” are authentic and help build trust.

Lay out the importance and benefits of donating and let attendees know how their money will help. You could even describe concrete actions that their contribution will help make possible. It’s an excellent opportunity to make your attendees feel involved and remind them how valuable their donation is. Remind attendees you’re raising money for a good cause. Many people often give a £5 or £10 donation for a fundraising event, but a little push doesn’t hurt.

Let’s look at an example of a powerful fundraiser ticket description. This one comes from creator lululemon New York City, who organised a Pride 5K event.

“Nikki Hiltz is hosting their annual Pride 5K in support of the Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organisation for LGBTQ+ youth. Join us in celebrating and supporting Nikki & The Trevor Project by signing up…Over the past two summers, the Pride 5K has raised and donated over $75,000 to the Trevor Project.”

This description also recounts anecdotes from previous events. Storytelling elements like this let the reader connect with your cause:

“Nearly 2,000 people from around the world signed up for the Pride 5K – many of whom had never run more than two miles. There was an entire family that ran the race together to celebrate a daughter who had recently come out, and (at least) four participants publicly came out as queer on race day, proudly wearing the “Love More Than Ever” T-shirt.”

How do I make the most out of donation tickets?

Whether you’re a first-time event creator or a seasoned non-profit event ticketing organiser, Eventbrite can help you launch and advertise events in no time. Once your tickets are live, you can do a few things to increase donations.

The checkout process is also a great opportunity to learn more about your attendees. You can set up custom questions for your attendees to answer as they’re buying a ticket, which can help provide you with important information about your audience. That sort of information can help when organising future fundraisers and when planning other ways to reach out to donors.

How can I increase donations with add-ons?

You can always reap the benefits of in-person fundraising, even if your event isn’t in person. Eventbrite’s add-ons feature helps you take your revenue-generating power up a notch. Add-ons allow you to sell extras right on your event listing – think T-shirts, DIY kits, and other relevant products.

Setting up add-ons for your event is easy, and Eventbrite’s ticket types feature helps streamline the process of shipping out your merch or offering pickup options for attendees. All in all, add-ons are a perfect opportunity to make your event experience more personal by providing a physical connection. When bringing people together isn’t possible, you can bring the event to them by sending something to their door.

And if you’re looking to ramp up your fundraising, several apps on the Eventbrite app marketplace can help. Popular apps, such as Kindful, can help you engage with donors, create intuitive databases, and launch fundraisers for the issues and causes that matter to you.

Run your next fundraiser with Eventbrite

Eventbrite makes it easy to streamline your fundraising efforts — from marketing to donations to donor management. But don’t just take our word for it. Non-profit creator Harvest House credits Eventbrite’s platform for helping increase monthly organisation visitors by 300%. With our intuitive system, they’ve also seen over a £80,000 increase in annual revenue. Talk about the power of Eventbrite! Ready to experience the benefits yourself? Get started on fundraising events for non-profits with Eventbrite today.