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How to Smoothly Transition A Charity Event To An Online Fundraiser

by

Tim Grable
Tim Grable founded The Grable Group.The Grable Group is an international event and entertainment company.In addition to managing the schedules of our speakers, comedians artists and entertainers, we handle their literary, commercial, film/TV, social media and licensing opportunities.
Latest posts by Tim Grable (see all)

Last updated on June 23rd, 2020 at 07:32 am

How to Transition A Non-Profit Event To An Online Fundraiser

The internet has always been a veritable platform for many fundraising efforts. It has provided charities with the means to reach much wider audiences and to increase their potential donor-base.

The pandemic has impacted many fundraising campaigns, but with the help of the internet, many organizations have been able to soften this blow by transitioning their efforts online.

If your campaign has been impacted as well, then it is high time to consider going digital.

And in this article, we will present you 5 things that need to be on your to-do list to transition a charity event to an online fundraiser seamlessly.

1) Communicate with Your Community

Your community may consist of recurring donors, partners, sponsors, or people who are generally following your activity. Be sure to let them know that your campaign is going to transition to an online environment.

You will want to avoid giving your community the impression that you have gone cold. It’s important to do this because people will notice a sudden drop in your organization’s activity.

Trust is essential for charities, and any unrest can instill a feeling of doubt among your supporters.

How to Smoothly Transition A Charity Event To An Online Fundraiser

2) Create a Dedicated Landing Page

Landing pages for fundraisers are not a new thing. However, they have become a staple in the world of virtual fundraising.

A dedicated landing page serves as a central hub from where your target audience can connect to your online fundraiser. It is essentially the face of your entire campaign, and people will refer to it often to get updates or to find out general information about your activity.

Not to mention that the dedicated landing page is the first piece of content that potential donors will interact with, and it is in your best interest to make it stand out, but without compromising any of the vital information.

3) Safety Is a Priority for a Charity Event

People are very wary about where their money goes and how it is kept. You will have to emphasize the fact that even if you transition to a different medium, you aren’t exposing yourself to any online risks.

Security is an essential aspect of fundraising – showing your donors that their money and personal information is secured builds on that aspect of trust, which we mentioned earlier.

Thankfully there are many reputable online platforms where security is top-notch, and people won’t have to worry about their money ever falling into the wrong hands.

You will want to pick a platform which has powerful security measures in place to prevent instances of fraud or hacking, but without compromising the simplicity of the donation process.

Are you technologically challenged and overwhelmed with putting together a virtual event? We can help you plan and produce a online event that connects.

4) Cement Its Online Presence

Promotion is vital for any charity event. And similarly to how you promote your in-person event, you will want to spread the word about its online version.

The difference here is that you can link directly to the platform of your online fundraiser. People no longer have to go through web pages and then show up for an in-person event, since now they can directly reach the center of the action with just a few clicks.

Social media can be a very powerful tool in this regard. If your campaign happens to be shared around, you are looking to expand its reach significantly and, along with it, the possibility of finding more potential donors.

5) Get People Interested in Your Online Fundraiser

Virtual events can offer the same level of excitement as a in-person charity event. You need to invest in the right type of activities, which translate well into an online environment.

Since the action will be taking place online, you can go ahead and organize all kinds of group activities in which people can interact with each other through a webcam and a microphone.

A good host brings attendees together, engages the audience, keeps the energy up, segues from one presenter to the next, fills in the gaps, adds insights, levity, value and helps you raise more money!  There’s an argument to be made that a Virtual Host is the most important part of a virtual fundraiser, because the virtual format makes all of these duties that much more important.  An experienced, confident, professional Emcee goes from being a nice add-on feature to your fundraising event, to being ESSENTIAL to the success of your charity event.

Jeff Civillico has A LOT of experience hosting live events.  Why does this matter?   All of the same skills that are required to host live events will be required to host virtual events.  Your host needs to be smart, quick on his or her feet, able to segue smoothly between speakers and programs, and most importantly for the virtual medium— your host must be HIGH ENERGY and ENGAGING.  We all know that it will be much more difficult to command attention through a computer screen.

Jeff Civillico: Corporate Emcee/Hosting Demo Reel

And be sure to consider the idea of hiring someone to provide professional entertainment for your online fundraising event.  Evie Clair is popular music choice for virtual fundraisers. More than one judge and millions of fans echoed that Evie’s voice was the sound of an angel. She’s different because although she can sing the big notes, she doesn’t depend on them and wants people to feel her soul when she sings, even in the quiet, heartfelt moments.

Evie Clair: Virtual Music Demo

Sand Artist Joe Castillo has helped raise over Fifteen million dollars for nonprofit organizations. He is able to tell your story in Sand from his studio in Atlanta.  He has been seen live on all 7 continents, over 43 countries, and into 35 different languages.  He has done events for world leaders including President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Juan Manuel Santos, Pope Francis and King Abdullah.  He has performed on NBC, CBS, FOX, BBC, PBS, ESPN, Univision and RCN Televisión.  His work has been featured on America’s Got Talent, Q’Viva! The Chosen, X-Factor and The Today Show.

Joe Castillo - Make A Wish 2

As the worlds leading virtual booking agency, we can help you find the right type of entertainer, perfect for both in-person and online events.  We can also help you with producing the program and the technology required for a successful virtual fundraiser.

Reach out to us at (615) 283-0039 or drop us an email and we will gladly help you!

4 Creative Online Fundraising Ideas that Will Get Donors Engaged

by

Tim Grable
Tim Grable founded The Grable Group.The Grable Group is an international event and entertainment company.In addition to managing the schedules of our speakers, comedians artists and entertainers, we handle their literary, commercial, film/TV, social media and licensing opportunities.
Latest posts by Tim Grable (see all)

Last updated on June 21st, 2020 at 07:35 am

4 Creative Online Fundraising Ideas That Will Get Donors Engaged

As the world grapples with change, nonprofit organizations are forced to look for alternatives to physical fundraising events to keep revenue flowing and get donors engaged.

If you need to create a virtual fundraising opportunity, you should consider the creative online fundraising ideas included in this article. 

These ideas will help you virtually engage your donors and attract support for your cause, so make sure to keep reading.

4 Creative Online Fundraising Ideas that Will Get Donors Engaged

1. Host an Online Talent Show

Why not make members of your community the stars of your fundraiser?

Think about people in your community who know/creative talent to share.

Ask them to prepare a short video act/presentation for your event and choose an interesting theme which ties in with your community’s unique talents/knowledge.

You could also book a professional virtual entertainer to make the event even more exciting so that more people will want to join.

A clean comedian such as Marty Simpson would make an excellent choice, as he will captivate the attention of your virtual attendees with his hilarious, self-deprecating humor.

Once you have secured the talent for your virtual event, you can start requesting registrations in advance using an event registration app.

Then provide a virtual ticket to access the talent show via a link you give out.

Services such as YouTube Live and Facebook Live make it easy to live-stream your event to a large number of attendees (for free) – making this one of the most useful online fundraising ideas to get donors engaged.

2. Cooking Class Fundraiser, Virtual Edition

People are spending a lot more time indoors, cooking meals at home, instead of going out. They are eager to learn new skills in the kitchen and be more adventurous with their cooking.

You can take advantage of this opportunity by surprising your donors with an online cooking class fundraiser.

Find an excellent cook to lead the class, and live stream the lessons. Donors will be excited to learn something new while also supporting a good cause.

And if you don’t know where to start your search for the perfect chef whom you can book for your virtual cooking fundraiser, here are two suggestions to take into account.

  • Stefanie Sacks. A nationally recognized Culinary Nutritionist and professional, Stefanie will educate attendees on the meaning of eating healthily. Her program also includes a one-hour interactive cooking demo in which Stefanie will prepare two simple, nutritious, and scrumptious recipes.
  • Martin  Mongiello. As a former White House Chef, Martin will help your remote audience elevate their cooking by sharing some of his top secrets for preparing memorable meals. All his programs are virtual-presentable. Moreover, Martin can also develop a custom program that fits your exact needs.

3. Online Auction

This might be one of the online fundraising ideas that most resembles its offline counterpart.

So, if you already had plans to host an auction as part of a fundraiser this year, you can use technology to convert it into an online auction quickly.

Just like in a traditional auction, you raise money by making it possible for donors to purchase different gift items to support your organization.

To top things off, you could book an event painter such as Heidi Schwartz, who has created a special program that is perfect for a virtual event.

As part of her program, you will get donors engaged when they log in and witness a piece of art being created on streaming video. During this time, Heidi will create a painting that matches the theme of the event.

You’ll then be able to auction off the piece to raise even more money for your cause.

Heidi Schwartz

4. A TEDx-Style Virtual Event

Consider hosting a live stream presentation in which a series of professional virtual speakers share their insights with your community of donors, motivating them to improve different aspects of their lives.

Be sure to include links to calls-to-action for donation requests before and after the presentations.  You need to make it super easy for your remote audience to provide an online donation to your nonprofit.

All-New Online Fundraising Ideas to Get Donors Engaged

Many nonprofits rely on annual in-person events such as galas to round up their yearly revenues.

However, virtual events can be the solution that keeps your organization above water, and we hope that you’ll walk away from this article with a few new ideas in mind.

And if you want even more inspiration, then you should also check out this article on the best tips which will help you host a successful online fundraising event during uncertain times.

How Online Fundraising Is Thriving In Times Of Crisis

by

Tim Grable
Tim Grable founded The Grable Group.The Grable Group is an international event and entertainment company.In addition to managing the schedules of our speakers, comedians artists and entertainers, we handle their literary, commercial, film/TV, social media and licensing opportunities.
Latest posts by Tim Grable (see all)

Last updated on June 12th, 2020 at 09:55 pm

Many charities and organizations have had their events postponed or canceled as a result of the pandemic. And as an effort to salvage their fundraisers, many have turned their efforts towards an online environment.

While the change may have been abrupt, it also came as a blessing in disguise – as online fundraisers specifically are seeing a rise not only in popularity but also in ineffectiveness.

In the following article, we will present to you some of the reasons why online fundraising is seeing such significant growth.

How Online Fundraising Is Thriving In Times Of Crisis

Still Doing Business in Times of Crisis

One of the reasons why virtual fundraisers are so prevalent right now is because they are the only solution for some organizations to continue their operations.

Many of them may have had an in-person fundraiser planned before the shutdown. And for some, going online may have been the only alternative for raising funds.

The shift to an online fundraising event meant that all their resources and planning wouldn’t have gone to waste.

And on top of that, going online also means they can explore avenues in which they can extend their fundraising efforts.

The Benefits of Going Online

By going online, you can get more out of it. Online events come with advantages, which in-person events do not have in times of crisis.

For starters, everyone can tune in from almost anywhere around the world. This means that a large portion of your potential audience can reach you since physical limitations no longer bar them.

searching on a computer

Also, an in-person fundraising event would have had high costs because of all the props and logistics, which needed to be set up. While on the other hand, with online fundraising, you are no longer conditioned to spend as much money.

People Are More Generous

Troubled times tend to bring out what’s best in people, and during the pandemic, many of those who have financial possibilities have shown to be more willing to offer their support during these times of crisis.

Many people’s livelihood has been impacted having lost jobs, businesses or someone close to them may have been affected.

How Online Fundraising Is Thriving In Times Of Crisis

This has awakened a sense of empathy in many citizens, and they feel more inclined to do something about the situation. People become more trusting if they see their donations have brought some positive change to the world.

Virtual fundraising can be a way of showing their support in this dire situation. It provides reassurance for many donors to see their money is going to an organization that has the power to do something.

Solutions for Online Fundraising

We know these are troubled times for everyone, but there are many lights at the end of this tunnel, and charity is one of them.

If you have considered doing an online fundraiser, then now it’s the best time to put your plan into action.

We can help you set up your online event and provide you with virtual entertainment solutions to enhance the event’s experience.   Find out how you can have a successful fundraising in times of crisis.

The Grable Group is the leading booking agency for virtual events in the world. Reach out to us at (615) 283-0039, and we will find the right entertainer, host, emcee for your online event!

8 Tips for a Successful Online Fundraising During COVID-19

by

Tim Grable
Tim Grable founded The Grable Group.The Grable Group is an international event and entertainment company.In addition to managing the schedules of our speakers, comedians artists and entertainers, we handle their literary, commercial, film/TV, social media and licensing opportunities.
Latest posts by Tim Grable (see all)

Last updated on June 10th, 2020 at 07:56 am

7 Tips for a Successful Online Fundraising During COVID-19

The bar for successful online fundraising continues to be moved higher and higher.  Recent years have forced nonprofit organizations to produce fresh fundraisers, and fun, so that prospective donors would want to attend and ultimately donate to their charities.  With COVID-19, your job is more complicated because of the restrictions of large gatherings in many parts of the country. 

What is the solution?  Offer a online fundraiser!  This is a fun and engaging medium that has proven to be successful for fundraising during a pandemic. Countless organizations have offered virtual fundraisers with enormous success.   For some, their result is more significant because they can reach more people in different locations than a local meeting.  Because The Grable Groups has been partnering with nonprofits holding virtual events longer than any other agency, here are our top 7 tips for virtual fundraising during Covid-19.

1. Offer an online silent auction

Silent auctions are great to help draw people into any virtual event.   During periods of downtime, prospects have numerous choices of where to spend their time.  An online auction should include something for everyone’s interest.  No service or produce should be overlooked.  Especially during times like these, people are looking for unique opportunities to buy.  Make your online silent suction special by appealing to all ages, diverse interests, and price ranges. 

Also, schedule your online silent auction to run for a couple of days to create a buzz and build-up to your actual fundraisers.  Advertise in local newspapers, radio, and other media networks.  Online silent auctions are entirely profitable for your charity because they are all donations.  It is an easy way for local services and vendors to support their community without making a cash commitment.

successful online fundraising during Covid-19

2.  Use a virtual host for a successful online fundraising during Covid-19

A virtual host is similar to an emcee but has more skill and experience with virtual events.  During an in-person fundraiser,  it is easier for your audience to remain focused during the program because they are actually in attendance.  Virtual fundraisers have more distractions.  Therefore, the probability for donors to “go somewhere else” online is more likely. 

A online host reduces this risk and increases your fundraising potential.  An experienced virtual host is the conductor that keeps the program on the tracks and holds everything together.  Your online program feels less sporadic and more complete because of the virtual host keeping your donors engaged.

Using a virtual host makes the difference between your donors staying and listening to your message or becoming disinterested and bored.  Virtual events require engagement.  An interactive host is a perfect match to keep your event moving in the right direction for the greatest outcome.

3.  Use a variety of talent

Successful fundraising events need to make a difference, and successful online fundraising during Covid-19 is no different.  Virtual events must be more compelling and entertaining than local events.  Using more than one talent, like a virtual host and another entertainer, ensures your fundraiser is interactive and captivating, just as if your audience was sitting in the same venue. 

Bob Stromberg: Virtual Demo

Don’t risk the outcome of your virtual fundraiser to hang on the performance of one single talent.  Using more than one person/group keeps the audience engaged.  It is easy for your audience to become overwhelmed and fatigued by watching something on a screen.

Your virtual event should incorporate more than one viewing option to prevent someone from losing interest and start to surf the net in the middle of your program.  By using more than one person or group in your event, the people taking the time to attend are participants rather than viewers because they are engaged rather than watching.

4.  Include a Live Artist

Capture your virtual fundraiser in real-time (or after your event, using the recording of your gathering). Live event painter Heidi Schwartz will paint your event in real-time while you enjoy your online program. Or she can create a studio painting after your event from her studio in Nashville using screenshots, photos, and videos of your Livestream.  After Heidi finishes your painting, you can auction it off to raise money for your non-profit.

Heidi Schwartz EPK

5.  Use powerful testimonials

Nothing communicates the influence that your organization has more than someone sharing their personal experience.  Testimonials are one of the main reasons people attend any fundraiser.  We all like a good story and listening to a positive narrative.  Powerful testimonials make donors want to partner with an organization because donors intend to help make a difference in someone else’s life.  Philanthropy drives a donor base.

Choose your testimonials wisely.  Make sure they are current and not repurposed old stores from previous years. Testimonials that capture the heart of what you do without overwhelming the audience is a good balance.

6. Offer virtual VIP experiences

VIP tickets and experiences are an essential part of any fundraiser.  Offering additional ways to have a good time during a fundraiser is inviting to donors that are willing to pay for VIP tickets.  The virtual VIP experience is something that is intended for donors to enjoy at home with a few friends.  They can have friends over and still have a fun social gathering while they interact virtually with your fundraiser. 

Online fundraisers can offer the same VIP participation with a VIP basket that is delivered to their home before the event.  The basket may include special snacks provided by a local company or caterer.  Perhaps a gift card for a local restaurant the delivers can be placed inside.  A bottle of wine is another online fundraising idea.  This is also a place to use your organization’s swag.  If you have unique apparel or glasses, put them in this basket as well.  Finally, add a personalized handwritten note thanking them for partnering with your organization.

7. Thank your sponsors in all online advertising

Businesses sponsor local charities for marketing and to show they care about their local community.  Participating in local fundraising in COVID 19 enables a company to partner with in-kind sponsorships that are meaningful and affordable.  For example, a local web designer may not be able to make a considerable contribution. Still, they can help with developing a website or social media marketing for your virtual fundraising.   Listing your sponsors’ logos on all online advertising and press is an easy way to express your gratitude and help promote their business at the same time.  This small effort goes a long way for future business involvement at your next fundraiser

8. End with a virtual call to action

The “call to action” is when the virtual host will invite your participants to support your nonprofit organization financially.  A virtual call to action is unique because your locality does not limit it.  Instead, your virtual ask can be shared with other people that might not be aware of your organization.  It can also be shared on social media and via email to people that were not able to attend. 

A successful call to action is too overpowering or manipulative.  On the contrary, it incorporates your mission with an invitation to help your audience make a difference. 

Successful online fundraising during COVID-19 lends a voice to your mission in a fun manner that engages your donors regardless of location and circumstances.  As the leading booking agency for virtual events and fundraisers in the world we welcome your call at 615 283 0039.

4 Ways in Which You Can Transition to a Virtual Fundraising Event

by

Tim Grable
Tim Grable founded The Grable Group.The Grable Group is an international event and entertainment company.In addition to managing the schedules of our speakers, comedians artists and entertainers, we handle their literary, commercial, film/TV, social media and licensing opportunities.
Latest posts by Tim Grable (see all)

Last updated on June 10th, 2020 at 07:57 am

In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, public events have been severely impacted. Many organizations are exploring new avenues in which they can carry out their fundraising efforts during Covid 19.

Thankfully, fundraising has always had a second home on the internet. And now, in times of crisis, many fundraising efforts can be transitioned seamlessly to an online platform.

If you were planning to organize an in-person fundraising event, then rest assured; all your work is not in vain. In this following article, we will show you 4 ways in which you can continue your project and even give it new life to raise money in times of crisis.

Be sure to read on, as we offer you four tips on how you can transition to a virtual fundraising event .

4 Ways in Which You Can Transition to a Virtual Fundraising Event

1) Should You Cancel Your Event? No!

Your initial event plan may have been affected, but this doesn’t mean you have to cancel the event. Do not issue the cancellation to the audience and instead be open about the fact that the event will transition online.

If it’s needed, you can even postpone your event to a later date, to set things in order.

However, be sure to continually communicate with the audience during this transitional period, because going cold on your donors usually creates unrest among them.

There are many other things to add, but we do hope it reinforces the idea that the first best thing you can do for your event is not to cancel it and to embrace the idea of going online altogether.

2) The Format of Your Virtual Fundraising Event

For a long time, online fundraisers have been divided into two main categories:

Live-streamed event – A type of event where viewers can tune in to a live video feed of a specific activity. This type of event is perfect for recreating a live event experience.

Fundraising campaign – A fundraising effort where the audience accesses a web page where they can find extensive information about the campaign’s cause and how they can help it.

Ideally, you will want to incorporate elements of both categories in your fundraising effort. This way, you make sure your event is richer in content and that it offers your target audience a more robust experience.

3) Find the Right Online Platforms

Once you are fully committed to the idea of going online for your fundraiser, you will have to find the right platforms to fit the scope of your virtual fundraising event .

We cannot tell you which platforms to choose, that’s up for you to decide, but we can tell you that you will need to pick the online platform which best enacts the idea you have for your fundraiser.

For example, if you choose to broadcast video, you will need to search for platforms where your event’s activities can be aired on the video format, and your audience will be able to tune in to view.

Another aspect to consider is the donation process. Be sure to find a platform which simplifies, but also offers a secure way in which the audience can make their donations.

4) Adapt Activities for the Online

You may not be able to fully translate all the ideas you had for your in-person event, but the chances are that you can faithfully recreate most of your event program in an online setting.

A large number of social activities transfer very well to an online format. For example, movie screening and a virtual comedy show can be transformed into an online viewing party.

It is entirely your choice, and it depends solely on what kind of experience you are going for your virtual fundraising event.

But what we can suggest is to do something which will exceed your audience’s expectations. You can opt to have a virtual entertainment segment as part of your event’s activities.

A stand-up comedy show, a virtual magic show, or a captivating presentation are just some entertaining activities that carry over well to an online environment.  The comedy of Bob Stromberg connects with non-profit audiences in either a physical or virtual fundraiser.

Bob Stromberg: Virtual Demo

Give It a Shot

While your initial fundraising plan might have been impacted, it doesn’t mean that the entire effort is ruined. Instead, by going online, you’re setting up your event for an even higher potential than it may have had.

And while you’re at it, why not diversify the experience and add a bit of entertainment in the mix?

Comedy is a sure-fire way to reach your audience’s hearts, and we can help you find the right entertainment solutions for your event.

Be sure to give us a call at (615) 283-0039 or email us, and we will gladly assist you!  The Grable Group is the top booking agency for virtual events and nonprofit fundraisers.

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