Last updated on February 7th, 2019 at 06:21 am
Myths are everywhere around – they are interwoven within our daily patterns. Some of them are culturally inherited to such an extent that we do not even realize to what degree they dictate our actions.
Not even fundraising event planning is exempt from such preconceived notions.
You would think planning a fundraiser would be pretty straightforward, but you will be surprised to notice there are some fallacies event planners are often faced with.
You may encounter the following 4 myths among your peer fundraisers, or you may even find aspects yourself thought true about nonprofit events planning.
#1 Small Nonprofits cannot Plan for a ‘Major Gifts’ Approach
To many, a ‘significant gift’ approach is left out of event planning. Major contributions are larger donations which exceed the economic thresholds an organization set. If a smaller NGO sets a $1,000 limit, anything above that is considered a ‘major gift.’
Too many small NGOs get stuck in this area where they cannot attract larger donation because they shy away from setting a higher donation bar.
Myth busted: Changing the major gift policy should be on your planning checklist if you are a small non-profit seeking to break out.
Adjusting the donation range serves small and middle-sized NGOs better than planning for cautious targets.
#2 Peer-to-peer Fundraising Is Only for Certain Kinds of Fundraisers
Crowdfunding has been soaring the past years, but somehow it is still associated with events like fun runs, marathons or larger events.
Moreover, more significant events, as we know, mean more considerable amount of financial resources.
Myth busted: In fact, it is counterintuitive to get stuck in this mindset when peer-to-peer fundraising is so accessible. Not only that, but it also empowers current donors to take part in the process actively. Via crowdfunding, you can ask them to share your event.
Peer-to-peer fundraising also helps you aim for a targeted, more flexible audience you can activate in several ways.
Last but not least, this fundraising practice grants you extra time and resources to find the best entertainment for your cause.
#3 Fundraising Event Planning Should Ditch Classic Fundraising Methods
The increasing number of software tools and online marketing strategies have impacted the fundraising sector as well. Now and then, it seems that fundraising event planning should follow the latest trends and neglect what is thought of as ‘outdated.’
Myth busted: Classic fundraising practices are still viable. The best way to go about them is to look closely at your organization’s needs and align them with digital strategies, to get the most out of each.
Direct mail fundraising requests are one of the strategies thought of as obsolete. However, the truth is, they are so widely used because they are tested, and they still work.
People are still willing to click on a subject line asking for donations and to contribute to causes they learn about via their inboxes. The key is to win their trust.
#4 Nonprofit Fundraisers Can Do Without Customer Service and Donor Feedback
These are the kind of small details which could make a difference between a stalling and a booming donor count.
Still, a general false impression is that they could be overlooked in the fundraising event planning process.
Myth busted: a sound plan should always take into account customer service and donor follow-up. Don’t let loyal contributors slip by just because you did not show interest in hearing their voice.
Identifying these 4 fundraiser fallacies will save you precious planning time. Plus, being aware of them helps your long-term fundraising event planner approach, so that you employ the best practices when designing your future – successful! – events.
At Grable Group, we have your back: on our website, we frequently post on event planning, fundraising or corporate events tips ‘n’ tricks.
We even offer a free eBook comprising valuable event planning advice, so be sure to get on our site and download it or keep up with our posts by joining our weekly newsletter (subscribe by filling in your email address in the newsletter tab on the right of our homepage).
