Events

Events are one of the most expensive fundraising strategies, with a typical cost of 50 cents per dollar raised and high donor lapse rates. This post shows how to properly evaluate your event’s success by measuring the right metrics, calculating true ROI, and using those insights to decide whether to continue, change, or cut events from your fundraising mix.

Special events cost an average of 50 cents per dollar raised once you account for staff time and indirect costs — and grants aren't much better. A simple ROI formula and a series of questions to help you decide what's actually worth your effort.

Nonprofit auctions can be highly effective fundraisers when built on the right foundation. This post outlines three essential tools and strategies every organization needs in their auction toolkit — covering item procurement, bidding technology, and donor experience — to run a smooth, profitable auction event.

A small, intimate gathering of 10–20 guests — no ask, no pressure — is one of the most effective ways to introduce your board's network to your mission. Seven planning steps, plus the critical follow-up that turns attendees into donors.

Event donors represent a valuable but underutilized pipeline for recurring giving, and this post offers a playbook for converting them into monthly donors both online and in-person. Key tactics include planning for hybrid event formats, making explicit recurring-gift asks throughout the event, and welcoming new monthly donors with a strong onboarding experience.

Hybrid fundraising events — combining in-person and online experiences — are not a pandemic-era workaround but a permanent evolution in how nonprofits engage supporters. This post explains what hybrid events are, why they are more equitable and creative than traditional formats, and why supporters will increasingly expect them even after COVID-19.

When one in-person gala accounts for 80% of a nonprofit's budget, losing it to a pandemic can be catastrophic — but this case study shows how going back to basics saved the day. The solution: building an annual giving campaign, cultivating foundation relationships, and creating sustainable donor pipelines that don't depend on a single event.

Virtual auctions aren't just digital versions of in-person events — they need multi-day bidding windows, live-stream finales, and mobile-friendly software. Five planning steps plus pricing guidance: start bids at 30–50% of FMV, buy-it-now at 150–200%.

A survey of 702 nonprofit professionals revealed that 87.6% had upcoming events affected by COVID-19, with the vast majority forced to cancel, postpone, or shift to virtual formats. This post highlights key findings from the survey and offers resources to help nonprofits adapt their event strategies during a period of prolonged social distancing.