If you are a nonprofit, you probably hold an annual fundraising event. It could be a gala, sporting event or one of a myriad of other events. These serve two purposes. First, to raise funds, of course, but also to being awareness and PR to your agency.
Putting together a successful fundraising event is not easy. It takes lots of hard work, time, planning and initially an outlaying of funds. And who knows how successful it will be? You won’t until the event is over and you subtract expenses from income.
One suggestion is to have a strong committee. This committee’s role will be to create a dynamic program, bring talent to the table and most important to sell tickets. And ticket sales, to a large degree, depends on having strong honorees.
Many people don’t like being an honoree because then the floodgates open for other organizations to ask them. But getting honorees who have influence and funds, can be crucial to a strong fundraising event.
Last, it may take a few years to start making money. Look at a fundraising event as a long-term investment that takes time. It will eventually pay off.