1. Feel at Home:
How to Foster a More Welcoming
Environment for More Successful
Fundraising Events
August 16, 2023
Bloomerang Nonprofit Success Webinars

2. Sharon Papo, LCSW
Sharon Papo, LCSW is a Fundraising Consultant, Executive
Coach and founder of Indigo Skies Consulting. Sharon thrives on
supporting executive directors and development directors to grow
into effective, badass fundraising professionals. Her specialty is
motivating Boards to fundraise, launching successful capital
campaigns, and growing major donor programs at small and
mid-size organizations. As a consultant, coach, speaker, and
trainer, Sharon is known for her positivity, warmth, and sparkle.
To sign up for her free Fundraising Tips emails, go
SharonPapo.com, or reach out at
sharon@indigoskiesconsulting.com.
Bloomerang Nonprofit Success Webinars
Our presenter today…

3. Poll: Have you ever felt
awkward at an event and
wanted to leave?

4. Agenda
1. Why welcoming events are important
2. Challenges of Post-Pandemic Events
3. Training for staff, board and event
volunteers
4. Key strategies to Build a Welcoming
Atmosphere at the event
5. Q&A
Bloomerang Nonprofit Success Webinars

5. People give to people

6. People are more
generous when they are
having a good time!

7. You only have one
opportunity to make a
first impression

8. Challenges of Post
Pandemic Events
● More social awkwardness and social anxiety
● Some want to touch and be close, others
don’t
● Some are extroverts and others are
introverts

9. Impact of Not
Having a Warm
Welcome
● People reach for their phones and sit in a
corner to not look like they don’t know
anyone
● Other guests arrive, see people on their
phones, feel awkward and want to leave

10. Write in chat: How do
you prepare staff and
volunteers to be
welcoming at your
events?

11. Great Events start with your Team
Training for Volunteers & Staff
● You create a friendly culture through your staff, volunteers and other attendees
● Volunteer sign-up question: “Do you promise to be positive & welcoming?”
● Don’t just train a few “welcomers,” but every single person who is part of event
● Volunteers and staff can socialize before and after event, but when the first person
arrives, full focus is on guests
● Nonverbal communication speaks loudly (smiling, eye contact, etc.)

12. Training for Meaningful Engagement
● Ask guests at registration: “Can you help us? As people arrive, can you talk to them and
welcome them? We want this to be a really inclusive event.”
● Greeters are smiling and chatting with people as they arrive
○ Where are you coming from?
○ What inspired you to come here today?
○ What are you hoping to get out of this event?
○ Do you know many people here? No? Let me introduce you to some people. (Walk
up to someone with good energy ”Hi, this is XXX, they don’t know many people
here. Can you be nice to them?”

13. Create an Inclusive Event
● If someone’s in a wheelchair: pull up a chair to chat
● If you don’t know someone’s pronouns, you can introduce yourself with your
pronouns, or ask for theirs. You can also put pronouns on nametags.
● Big, easy-to-read text on nametags
● If someone is different in some way than the majority of your guests, make a
special effort to talk to them and include them

14. Event Host
Committee
● Hosts key an eye out for
newcomers who are on the
sides of the rooms
● Actively make introductions
between people who have
things in common or two
strangers sitting near each
other
● Help first time attendees feel
more engaged

15. Name Badges
● Everyone wears names badge
● Big, easy-to-read text
● “Host Committee” on name tag
● “VIP” or “First Timer” tag on new
attendee nametags

16. Digital or Written Signage
Remind all guests to be part of building a welcoming atmosphere
● “Talk to people you don’t know”
● “Be positive”
● “Be friendly”
● “Help us create a welcoming atmosphere. Meet someone new!”

17. Share a great event ice
breaker

18. Meaningful “Ice Breakers”
Give people a reason to connect with someone new
● If you tie activity to purpose of event, the more people will lean in
● Meaningful vs. frivolous
● Make it purposeful and valuable
● Have an exercise/activity that allows for authenticity and vulnerability
● Must be non threatening, otherwise it’s creating ice not breaking it

19. Examples of Meaningful “Ice Breakers”
● Share Two truths and a dream
● Bingo cards (find people who …) with prizes for everyone who “wins”
● Cards that are “conversation starters” on tables
○ What inspires you about this organization’s work?
○ How long have you been connected to this organization?
○ When was the last time you belly laughed?

20. Creating a welcoming
atmosphere makes all
participants feel valued,
fosters connections, and
encourages generous
contributions

21. Bloomerang Volunteer can help
Robust communication and relationship management made simple

22. Recruiting volunteers is easy!
Find like-minded volunteers for your organization
With Bloomerang Volunteer, you
can promote your organization
and opportunities to your
stakeholders as well as on social
media platforms to attract new
volunteers.
All in a matter of seconds!

23. Pre-event communication
Everyone feels more comfortable when they know what to expect
Private Opportunity
Details allows you
to share information
and documents
with any volunteer,
board member or
staff registered with
the event.
Form Questions let
you find out more
about your
volunteers.
And Tags and
Qualifications help
you remember what
you’ve learned.

24. Day of communication
Mobile communication take place in real-time
Communicate in
real-time with your
event volunteers and
staff.
All data is synced
with your
Bloomerang
Volunteer platform
and your
Bloomerang Donor
Management system.

25. Post-event communication
Foster relationships with feedback and continued engagement
Robust email automations
make it simple to send out
emails to engage your
volunteers before and after
your event.
Making your volunteers feel
valued for creates a culture
of care.

26. Questions?

27. Resources
Want to find
out more?
Request a demo
or
Speak to a live
person:
1-866-667-4485
10 Ways To Find New Donors
For Your Nonprofit
Organization
The Role of Volunteering in
Philanthropy
Top 2021 Fundraising
Strategies: Adopting a Culture
of Philanthropy
How To Create Extraordinary
Nonprofit Special Event
Experiences

28. Resources
“Connection before content” - Peter
Block
Request a demo
or
Speak to a live
person:
1-866-667-4485

29. Thank you for being
here today!
And thank you for the
work you do in your
community!
Bloomerang Nonprofit Success Webinars