Special events can be relatively resource heavy and often have little immediate impact. However, done right, they can be one of the most effective ways to raise funds for your mission. During this Performance Lab, participants will learn: 1) How to engage, retain and nurture event volunteers to reach your financial goals 2) How to successfully grow a small special event into a signature event 3) How to advance your organization’s mission through a special event 4) How to assess events and their overall impact on your organization

1. Create a real impact with
your Special Event!
Lauren Barrett
Donor Path
Wednesday, September 24, 2014

2. Why Special Events?
What does your special event do for your organization?
What is the purpose of the event?
Special Events: build relationships, connect constituents to your cause,
help engage new constituents, generate publicity

3. Lauren’s experience
American Cancer Society
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
Relay For Life – Daffodil Days
Volunteer for National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
wine tasting and restaurant event

4. Why do people get involved
in your event?
Connection to the cause… but the event makes them feel like they are
doing something to give back, often makes them feel special

5. What makes your event special?
Uniqueness of your event –
what makes it / you stand out from the other events similar to yours?

6. What does it take to hold a
GREAT special event?

7. How to engage, retain,
nurture event volunteers to
reach your financial goals
- personal phone calls, emails targeted to specific groups, in person meetings
- happy constituents = more $ raised.

8. How to successful grow a small
special event into a signature
event
-engage constituents, local community, sponsors with a similar mission.
- Patience, gratitude, time, dedication!

9. How to advance your organization’s
mission through a special event
- utilize constituents, local community & publicity from event.
-If you are communicating effectively to your constituents, they should be able to help you
spread the word about your mission.
EX: emailing to team members for fundraising…
always try to include a mission moment, or tie a fundraising request to how that would benefit the mission.

10. How to assess events and their
overall impact on your
organization
How successful is your event?
- Reaching monetary goals
- Reaching goals for # of teams, attendees
- Mission moments being fulfilled?

11. What can you start to do to
engage your constituents?

12. Questions?
Thank you for your time!
Lauren Barrett
laurenbarrett912@gmail.com