Fundraising Ideas

Big Money Charity Fundraising Ideas You Should Consider

March 10, 2019 by Tim Grable

Organizing fundraising events represent a tremendous opportunity for nonprofits seeking to generate income beyond regular donations. However, they do come with upfront costs and require an investment in human resources. Plus, they take time.

So, as a nonprofit leader, it’s paramount to decide wisely when it comes to what’s the right type of fundraising event for your organization. You’ll want to pick profitable ones who will be well worth the investment.

To help you out, we’ve listed a few big money charity fundraising ideas which are known to produce a high return on investment. All you have to do is keep reading.

Signed Memorabilia Auction

A book signed by a famous author, a guitar signed by a top musician, a ball with the autograph of a celebrated athlete, a movie prop with the signature of an actor on it; these are all top-dollar items you can auction off at a charity event.

Signed memorabilia is usually pretty rare and thus hard to come by. However, it’s hardly impossible, so it’s an idea at least worth considering.

A great place to start is by reaching out to your supporters and organization members to see if anyone has a connection you might be able to leverage.

You never know who a friend who has a friend who is the niece of someone famous has.

Another way to go about this is to try to get the attention of a celebrity yourself and ask if they would be willing to help.

Emphasize the fact that it’s all for a good cause.

A Night Out Themed Event

What if you could invite your donors, friends, and people in your community to eat out – and round up your organization’s income as a result of it?

So, how does this work? Well, the main thing you need to do is secure a partnership with a local restaurant. It’s not as difficult as you may think, as many restaurants offer programs to help support organizations in their area.

Reach out to the restaurant’s manager or owner, asking if they would partner up with your organization. Together, you could put together a special menu in support of your cause and the money raised from selling those menus would go to your charity.

Once you iron out all the details, it’s just a matter of getting as many people as possible to eat at the restaurant that day.

This is one of the easiest big money charity fundraising ideas to implement, yet many nonprofits seem not to have heard of it. This means you have a chance to stand out with your next event.

Black Tie Gala

The investment and the time needed to organize a sophisticated gala are often considerable. However, then again, so are the profits.

If you can swing it, consider organizing a classic, elegant black-tie event where you invite your biggest donors for a night of fine wining and dining.

To be able to sell high-priced tickets, your event needs to stand out and provide a stellar experience. Here are a few tips which can help with that:

Consider hosting the event in a special or unexpected venue (like a yacht or a pier beside a lake)
Book a best-in-class entertainer who will surprise and captivate your guests. Read this article to learn more about some of the best recommendations for top entertainment you can book.
Hand-pick your vendors. Everything from the flowers at the entrance to the food on the table needs to delight your donors.
Show how your organization is making an impact in a powerful way. Rather than showing a presentation full of charts and numbers, ask someone whom your charity helped to give a speech. This is the kind of moment that creates devoted, lifelong supporters.

Excited to Try These Big Money Charity Fundraising Ideas Yourself?

We hope you’ll consider the big money charity fundraising ideas included in this article, as they have a significant potential to help you generate more revenue for your organization.

Also, don’t forget to check out some of the other articles posted on our blog for more great tips and ideas on how to plan successful charity events.

Who Are the Top Musicians for Fundraising Events?

March 9, 2019 by Courtney Grable

Are you struggling to find musicians for your fundraising events? It’s a rather tedious and draining job, isn’t it? First, you have to find them, make a list, do the research, present them, the whole ordeal. If only there were a way to find these acts easier without all of the time staring at a laptop screen when you could be enjoying spending time with your family. Wait! There is a quicker way to find musicians for fundraising events! Let us do the work for you. What can be more simple than reading a quick description and watching a video for a few minutes? Not to mention, you already have all of the contact information right at your fingertips. Just simply click on the artist’s name, and you should be redirected to a contacting page. See? That’s not so hard, is it? Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started finding the perfect musicians for fundraising events!

Four Musicians for Fundraising Events

Christina Wells

Singer Cristina Wells is one of the top musicians for fundraising events, as she blows the crowd away every time she sings. With a degree in nursing, it’s pretty obvious that there’s more to her story than just singing, which is what makes her the top pick when you chose your next performer. She grew up in a single parent home where her mom worked hard just to make ends meet. Now, Wells is captivating her audience with her magnificent voice that has an outstanding range. That’s why we know that no matter what you’re looking for, Wells should certainly be the top pick for you!

Courtney Haldwin

A thirteen-year-old singer with the voice range of a professional musician, Courtney Haldwin is someone to watch. Her unique style of dancing and her bold voice creates a breathtaking performance for every audience member. She can conquer singing rock songs such as “Born to Be Wild,” “Could Have Been Me,” “Piece of My Heart,” and many more challenging pieces to sing. With a voice like this, it’s no wonder why she received a golden buzzer on NBC’s hit show America’s Got Talent and why she is one of the best musicians for fundraising events. So, if you want to have the time of your life watching a performer takes the stage, check out Courtney Haldwin!

Kechi Okwuchi

If you’re looking for a talented singer with a unique and inspiring story to tell, Kechi Okwuchi is the one to book! After surviving a plane crash as a college student, music became her escape from the world of surgeries and procedures. Despite having over one hundred procedures, however, Kechi still managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Thomas Houston. That’s not all she’s managed to accomplish. She has given a TedTalk with TedTalkxEuston and has appeared as a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Her touching voice has managed to move the audience to tears, and the future looks bright for this up and coming singer. That’s why she is one of the best musicians for fundraising events. She has a beautiful and inspirational story to tell and an astounding voice. So, what are you waiting for? Go check her out!

Hans

This talented German is a true renaissance man. Hans sings, dances, and even plays the accordion! Yes, the German musician, Hans, is sweeping away the competition every time he steps onstage. He’s performed on countless stages and toured around the world bringing his talented act from Berlin, Germany to Australia to the United States. Yes, Hans is one of the best Germany has to offer and definitely one of the best musicians for fundraising events. Check him out today!

So In Conclusion…

Are you ready to take your fundraising events to the next level? Are you excited to bring someone else on stage rather than those boring everyday singers you hear all day long? Well, look no further, as we’ve just shown you some of the best musicians for fundraising events. What are you waiting for? You’ve got four wonderfully talented acts right here in front of you! Check them out and make sure to share with us your favorite!

Most Successful Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits You Need to Try

February 20, 2019 by Tim Grable

The most successful fundraisers are the ones who manage to spark interest, engage donors and ultimately raise plenty of donations for their cause.

So although there are plenty of resources online to get inspired from, it’s sometimes hard to know which ideas are profitable.

With this article, we wanted to help you save time planning your next event by sharing a few fundraising ideas for nonprofits which work.

1. Fun Run (Peer-to-Peer Fundraising)

Peer-to-peer fundraisers involve connecting with your base of supporters and encouraging them to reach out to their friends, family, and neighbors to help raise more money together.

This empowers your supporters and helps you engage a larger community in your fundraising efforts.

When it comes peer-to-peer fundraising, athletic events such as runs are extremely popular; allowing big numbers of people to come together in support of a cause. Also, you ensure the event is not only cost-effective but also much fun.

Set up an event page and ask supporters to spread the word, so their friends and family register to attend. To further boost the event’s return on investment, you can sell T-shirts with the name of the event and your organization’s logo.

You can also include a “fun walk” as part of the same event to make sure families with children can participate, as well (a walk is not as physically challenging as a run).

2. Custom Artwork Charity Auction

Auctions remain one of the most profitable fundraising ideas for nonprofits, especially if they feature unique items such as custom artwork which often sparks bid wars between attendees.

You can include anything from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and glasswork; what’s most important is the artwork is handcrafted and 100% unique.

This will help raise the price of the item, as those bidding will know there won’t be a second opportunity to purchase that exact piece of art they liked.

As far as procuring the actual artwork goes, start by getting in touch with local artists and craftsmen. Ask them if they would consider creating a one-of-a-kind piece for your auction pro bono. Don’t forget to share details about the impact their gesture could make.

3. Benefit Concert

If you want your next fundraising event to stand out from the rest, you can’t go wrong with organizing a benefit concert. Concerts are fun, appeal to a large crowd of people and can be extremely profitable.

You’ve probably seen those big shows on TV featuring famous singers and bands performing for a cause.

But not all events need to feature huge celebrities to sell tickets, meaning you can adapt this idea to fit the size and budget of your nonprofit – and still raise plenty of funds.

Assuming your best friend isn’t a huge celebrity whom you have on speed dial, your safest bet for performers will be local musicians. This can be a positive thing, given the fact that these performers will likely invite their family and friends to see them perform.

That means more potential donors at your event and more tickets sold.

Plus, you can even ask the performers to promote your charity across their social media accounts in the weeks leading up to the event. Alternatively, you can set up a fundraiser page so performers’ fans who can’t attend the show can still show their support and donate.

Keep These Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits Coming

We hope you’ll consider trying these ideas this year and it will help you raise more funds for your organization.

For more inspiration and tips on how to plan successful fundraising events, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and receive the best ideas via email.

Also, if you have any questions about booking the best entertainment for your event, you can reach out to us at (615) 283-0039.

Proven Ways to Increase Your Fundraising Event’s Revenue

February 12, 2019 by Tim Grable

Last updated on February 23rd, 2019 at 07:02 am

Organizing special fundraising events remain one of the best opportunities to rally people around your cause, keep loyal donors invested and, of course, raise money.

However, with the costs of booking the venue, catering, entertainment and more, fundraising events can end up costing more than they produce.

So what can you do when the money you get from ticket sales barely cover the event’s costs? Well, you need to get creative and come up with strategies to ensure your events are bringing in a steady revenue stream.

To make your job easier, we’ve gathered a few practical ways to raise more money at your next fundraisers. Keep reading.

Things You Can Do to Double Your Fundraising Event’s Revenue

Doubling your fundraising event’s revenue may seem like a bold goal. However, when you think about it, such a threshold may be within your reach.

Ambitious efforts require aggressive tactics, right? So to effectively double your revenue, you will have to capitalize on the successes of your previous experiences and also come up with a set of new tricks.

Rest assured, in the following article; we will showcase a few popular fundraising strategies which have the potential to bring you more revenue.

Start Fundraising Early

Depending on whom you intend to get the donations from, either sponsors or guests, it will take some time to communicate with everyone effectively and to convince them to donate.

By starting early, you have enough time to send out invitations and donation requests. And, if it’s a tactic which makes sense in your case, you can send renewal letters to previous partners asking them if they are willing to support your current event.

After this initial first wave of invitations, you can follow-up with another request – asking the donors if they have considered your proposition.

As an added benefit, starting early means you have some extra time to focus on getting new potential donors to consider your event.

Provide Early-Bird Tickets

Building the premises for a successful event starts well before the day of the actual event.

You want people to be marking their calendars and committing to your fundraiser as early on as possible. That’s because there are many fundraiser events throughout the year that your potential donors could attend instead of yours.

To deal with all that competition, start promoting your event as soon as you have a date in mind and offer discounted prices for tickets.

Depending on the size of your event, you could offer ticket discounts to the first 100 guests, free raffle tickets maybe or other incentives to make donors want to RSVP right away.

Promote Your Event on Social Media

Using social media is an excellent way to get more eyes on your cause and expand your base of supporters. You could create a free Facebook event page and share exciting updates and news there.

However, don’t limit yourself to just Facebook.

Use well-crafted posts across social media to generate buzz around the event. This can boost attendance, which will positively influence your fundraising’s event’s revenue.

What’s more, you never know who will come across your post, maybe your next major corporate donor will learn about your organization via Facebook, Instagram or even Snapchat.

Offer More than One Way to Give

The most straightforward and most efficient way to boost your fundraising event’s revenue is to provide attendees with multiple opportunities to donate.

Here are a few fundraising ideas to consider if you want to create a more complex, more versatile giving experience for attendees:

Branded merchandise. T-shirts, mugs, headphones with the logo of your organization; these can all provide an additional incentive for guests to spend money to support your cause.
Add a raffle. It will not only make the event more interactive and more exciting, but you’ll get to raise more money from selling raffle tickets.
Go digital. Make sure your organization’s online donation page is optimized for mobile and makes it easy for people to give on the go. Don’t forget to encourage people to use their mobile phones to support your cause during the event.

Make Better Fundraiser Asks

Making the ask is probably one of the most challenging things to do as an event organizer. However, if you want to turn your fundraising goal into a reality, you will have to do it.

One of the first things you should do is to do thorough research on your potential donors. It helps if you are knowledgeable about the person you are contacting, as it shows you’re serious about your proposition.

If it’s a company, you can do some “detective” work and, for example, research the company’s history and past activities.

Also, when getting in contact with a potential donor, be sure to always provide them with a briefing about your organization, its members and what your objectives are.

Lastly, try to make an ask in person. Being face-to-face when you’re asking for a sum of money shows commitment to your cause. Also, it is also reassuring for the donor.

Invest in High-Quality Entertainment

Entertainment builds excitement, it puts people in a good mood and enhances their experience at your event. It also helps generate buzz (through pre-event communication) and increase the chances of more people showing up for the event.

Finally, it shows you’ve put some extra effort into creating a memorable experience for attendees and elevates the perceived value of the event’s ticket.

Also, when people are relaxed, feel entertained and appreciated, they are more likely to reach deeper into their pockets.

That said, here are a few of our top recommendations to ramp up the entertainment at your event.

Live Event Painting. If you want to surprise attendees with something unique, you can’t go wrong with a live painter who can turn your fundraiser into a work of art. If you want, you can auction off the final painting and further boost your fundraising event’s revenue.
Clean Comedians. Even fundraisers who deal with heart-rending issues, such as illness and natural disasters, can benefit from a comedian who can warm up the crowd and bring a hearty dose of optimism.
Magic. Magic shows are interactive, fun and they bring that exciting element of surprise to a fundraising event. What’s more, a magic act is extremely flexible in terms of size, format and stage presentation. So, regardless of whether you’re planning a smaller fundraiser or a large gala, you can make it work.

Put Together a High Energy Fundraising Event

The way you organize your fundraising event plays a big part in attracting revenue. If you intend to gather funds from attendees, then it’s essential to put more effort into the organizational role.

What you want is to offer your guests something they can look forward to by turning your event into a worthwhile experience.

You could add something special to your event’s programme, such as some moments of entertainment.

After all, entertainment serves as an excellent platform for you to make a donation plea.

A magician, a high-energy musical act or a comedian are all excellent picks to set the right tone for the event. You can browse through our selection of top entertainers for more ideas of entertainment which will turn up the energy level at your event.

For more entertainment options, make sure to check out the other amazing artists, speakers, and performers in our portfolio.

We also have a phone number you can reach us at if you have any questions: 615 283 0039. We’re always happy to talk to you!

Use Visuals to Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in the fundraising industry for a hot second knows potential donors will always respond better to storytelling than to hard, cold facts. But you can further maximize the impact of storytelling by adding a visual component.

As people, we respond to and process visual data better than any other type of data.

You can use that to make a lasting impression on your event attendees and tell your story in a way which will inspire donations. How?

Put together a video featuring testimonials from those your nonprofit serves. You can also include animations of statistics and snippets from community events. Play the clip at the event; it will act as an emotional trigger, making more people want to donate.
Use live Sand art. Joe Castillo’s powerful Sand Story art goes beyond words and has an emotional power which is indeed one-of-a-kind. Learn more about it by watching the video below:

Put Together a Fierce Follow-up Strategy

A strong follow-up strategy can help keep donations pouring into your organization long after the event has come to an end.

The primary goal here is to turn attendees into recurring donors and here are a few pointers to help with that:

Take the time to thank everyone for taking part in the event. In-person interaction is essential, but you’ll most likely won’t be able to shake everyone’s hand. So make sure to send attendees a heartfelt email, no longer than three days after the event.

Keep guests in the loop. Send them updates about your organization, the status of your cause and the impact their donations have helped make.
Ask for their input regarding the event. Any feedback can help you plan better, more effective fundraisers in the future.

3 Ways to Make Your Fundraising Event Unforgettable

It may be a challenge to come up with an unforgettable fundraising event these days. The standards event planning has gotten to are high and increasing. That is not a reason to feel discouraged.

There can still be ways to create memorable experiences for your donors to get them on your side. Here’s a list of three things you can do:

Use the Fundraising Event as an Opportunity to Share

Charities have an advantage that most profit-based organizations lack: The emotional impact. Charities do not focus on themselves. They do not raise money to increase their prosperity. At least, that is the case for real charities. Their story is more about others and their needs rather than themselves. So, look at this fundraising event as your best chance to share “the heart and the soul” of your efforts. For instance, you can:

Tell the beginning story of your work. Share bits of the experiences, causes or things that made you want to fight for that cause.
Share your mission. Put all the effort into building up a mission statement that reveals your exact goals. Make it short and inspiring.
Explain the needs your charity is striving to meet. Use personal stories or photos to show the impact of your efforts. Statistics should only occur as a small reference intertwined with real situations.
Reveal the impact of specific donations. That is an excellent way to show recognition of your donors’ generosity and to motivate new donations.

Engage Donors- Don’t Just Ask for Money

There’s an aspect many charities tend to miss when trying to stimulate donors’ generosity: The process. Are you hoping to plan a fundraising event that will get you the necessary money for the following five years of activity? You should think again.

Look at such an event as a starting point for some of your donors. Alternatively, as a milestone for the ones who’ve supported your cause before. Consequently, you should set up a donation system that goes beyond that particular moment:

Create personal profiles of beneficiaries and invite people to become their sponsors. People may be more willing to donate on a regular basis when they connect to the recipient. Sponsorships trigger commitment in the long run.
Showcase the impact of a certain amount of money. Most donors have strong financial awareness. They value every dollar spent. So, it could be a good idea to show numbers along with the social impact. Just point out that the more they donate, the greater the influence they have in changing things for, the better.
Collect email addresses to send follow-up information about how donations have made a difference. That may be a good re-starting point for people who may have stopped donating.

Make It Fun!

Fundraising events are great opportunities to share sad realities that need a solution. However, this is no reason to exclude fun from the experience.

On the contrary, use a bit of humor to loosen up the atmosphere. No matter how dark life is, catching the blues will not fix it. Feel free to lighten up the event by adding a note of fun:

Amusing setting – no written code says charity events need to take place in a ballroom. Why not go for an outdoor picnic, for instance? It saves you money and gives your occasion a bit of a playful touch.
Fun food – Fundraising dinners are not all about caviar and silverware. The food you serve may come in the shape of funny sandwiches. Alternatively, they may have unusual tastes that relate to the area where your charity intervention unfolds.
Great entertainment – Some professional entertainers can take you from laughter to crying and all the way back. Moreover, they can do this with just a few touches of their vocal cords. Why not hire one? It is a sure ticket to making your event truly unforgettable.

Let’s Get the Show Started

Doubling your fundraising revenue is no small feat. However, if you follow the tips we’ve showcased in our article, it will be much easier for you to achieve this goal.

If entertainment is your weapon of choice to fight off event boredom and possibly boost donations, then we can help you book some of the best performers out there.

Need a hand with choosing the right entertainers for your next charity event? We can help you make the choice that will wow your attendees.

Turn Your Next Fundraising Event into a Smashing Success

We hope you enjoyed reading these tips and you’re already thinking about using some of them to increase the revenue of your next fundraising event.

Come back to our blog whenever you need some new ideas and fresh inspiration to make your events the best they can be. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter and get top resources and hacks delivered right in your inbox.

7 Quick and Easy Fundraising Events Ideas Which Actually Work

February 4, 2019 by Tim Grable

Last updated on February 13th, 2019 at 05:48 am

If you’re struggling to continually find new fundraising events ideas which boost donations and don’t take forever to implement, then you are not alone.

Coming up with fresh ideas for events is one of the most common challenges charity event planners face nowadays.

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of 7 ideas which are quick to implement but still engaging enough to get people involved. So make sure to keep reading.

1. Gourmet Food Tasting

Reality TV cooking shows are a hit amongst audiences of all ages. So why not put a fundraising spin on it? You can organize your very own culinary show and give donors a chance to see professional chefs at work.

Get local chefs from the best restaurants in your community involved by asking them to each create a signature dish at your event. Those who buy a ticket for your fundraisers will get to have a taste from all of the recipes and have fun trying out new food items.

To further boost your event’s revenue, you can consider raffling off a gift certificate for dinner at a local restaurant.

2. Book Sale

Start a campaign on social media and ask people to donate their favorite books to charity. You can also reach out to staff members and your list of supporters for this.

Take time to do some research on the books you collect. In the case of first-edition books or signed collector’s items, you should consider holding an auction as a highlight of the event.

Top-tier items can end up selling for big bucks if the presentation is right. To up the chances of the most expensive books selling, consider also inviting local celebrities or philanthropists.

3. Fortune Cookies Themed Event

Who can resist the urge to know their future, right?

Even if it’s just a game, those little fortune cookies make a unique and effective fundraising idea at any event. That’s because it appeals to a fundamental part of what makes humans tick: curiosity.

You could sell the cookies as is and offer guests a chance to know their future or you could host a raffle and use the cookies as novelty tickets. Some tickets will have the message Winner inside, but most of them will contain the words Sorry, try again.

This way, you increase the odds of people buying more than just one fortune cookie.

4. Art Exhibit Fundraiser Event

Are there any talented painters, photographers or sculptors in your community? See if they are willing to showcase their work at your event in the interest of selling – giving a percentage of the profit to your charity.

In addition to helping you raise funds, this idea also benefits the artists who can get their talent seen by more people.

If this is one of the fundraising events ideas which appeal to you, then an entertainer like Heidi Schwartz would be an excellent addition to your event.

Heidi is a world-leading live painter who creates memorable interpretive paintings which capture the essence of an event.

With an incredible use of colors and brush strokes, Heidi will convey the atmosphere of your fundraiser into a painting by highlighting the most important details of the event and the passion of those attending.

At the end of the night, you will be able to auction or raffle off the painting to raise money for your cause.

If you are interested in booking Heidi Schwartz for your event, you can get more details here.

5. Candles for Charity Sale Event

Start by reaching out to companies in your area, asking them to donate a box of candles which best represents their brand, candles which you’ll then display at your event in hopes of selling.

Chances are most companies will jump at the opportunity to promote their brand, so they will also put some real effort and thought into creating beautiful, unique and high-quality candles.

To generate buzz around the event, you can take pictures of the candles which will be up for sale and post them on your organization’s social media accounts. Encourage people to bring their friends and family members and shop together.

Also, consider hosting a short class at your event where donors will learn the basic of making candles; it will give them one more incentive to attend.

This is a particularly great idea for the festive, winter months when everyone’s appeal for buying nice-smelling candles seems to grow exponentially. Other good times to run this type of fundraiser are just before Easter, Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving.

6. Talent Show

This is one of those fundraising events ideas which let you tap into your local talent pool.

You can keep it low-key and ask a few gifted people in your community to showcase their talents. You can even host the event outside, in a garden, for instance.

If you want to do more than raise awareness for your cause, though, then you can kick it up a notch. Organize auditions and team up with a local theatre or community center to host the competition.

To raise money, you can ask an entry fee for the event. It’s also a good idea to get a professional entertainer onboard to get more people excited about attending.

Look for someone like top ventriloquist Kevin Johnson who has experience with nonprofits and whose high-energy show can appeal to children, seniors and everyone in between.

7. Challenge Fundraiser Event

Build your next fundraising event around challenging people to give up their dessert for one day.

The concept is pretty straightforward. Ask event attendees to donate the amount of money they would spend on a dessert that day. You could even create compelling visuals and print out statistics which show the impact of their donations.

For instance, how the amount of money one would spend on a bowl of ice cream could be used to feed a starving child in an undeveloped country for an entire day.

This is a great way to not only raise money for your cause but also send a powerful message: that even the smallest donation can make a big difference in the life of someone who needs it.

To expand your reach, encourage your donors to share their gesture on social media using a special hashtag you’ve created. It’s a great way to attract new supporters to your organization.

Never Run out of Fundraising Events Ideas Again!

How? Well, a great place to start is to sign up for our weekly newsletter! You’ll get plenty of awesome tips and resources you can use to plan events which raise more funds.

Also, don’t forget that you can get your daily dose of inspiration by checking out some of the other articles listed on our blog.

So if you’re looking for the best entertainment to take your fundraising event to the next level, you can always reach out to us at 615 283 0039.