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December 2011 Deborah Spector, Founder Creative Solutions & Innovations [email_address] December 2011 SPECIAL EVENTS During Turbulent Times

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Why Special Events? <ul><li>Special events are key to successful fundraising. They: </li></ul><ul><li>Bring attention to your mission. </li></ul><ul><li>Improves bottom line performance and market share through new donors & sponsors. </li></ul><ul><li>Create a meaningful way to thank your existing supporters. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Bring Attention To Your Mission <ul><li>You do events to further your mission: </li></ul><ul><li>What do you do? </li></ul><ul><li>Why is it important? </li></ul><ul><li>What is your organization’s vision for a better world? </li></ul><ul><li>How will you achieve this? </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Increase Revenue <ul><li>Fundraising events are held to raise money. They need to generate revenue. </li></ul><ul><li>Cultivation events are investments into potential donors. They are not designed to raise money. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Thank You, Thank You <ul><li>You cannot say thank you enough! </li></ul><ul><li>A Special Event is the perfect way to say thank you. </li></ul><ul><li>Your donors & sponsors need to know their contribution allows you to focus on your mission & provide your services. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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TAKE AWAY: Be sure you are clear on what type of special event you are holding – fundraising or cultivation. December 2011

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EVENTS AS PART OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN <ul><li>Bequests </li></ul><ul><li>Recognition Events </li></ul><ul><li>Capital Campaigns </li></ul><ul><li>Launch events for public phase </li></ul><ul><li>Major gifts </li></ul><ul><li>Targeted Events </li></ul><ul><li>Annual Giving </li></ul><ul><li>Volume Events </li></ul><ul><li>Event360 – www.event360.org </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Experiential Marketing <ul><li>“ Research shows that face-to-face events have a greater return on investment than most other forms of advertising or public relations.” </li></ul><ul><li>Mike Cleary of Abcom </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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TAKE AWAY: Events are the experiential aspect of your development efforts. Without them people may not know or care who you are! December 2011

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December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031 Brainstorming is a great way to answer key questions!

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Brainstorming: Create Your Vision <ul><li> Vision is your grand scheme of how you perceive your event, what it should be, who will attend, what you hope to accomplish. </li></ul><ul><li>Vision gives you the energy to move toward your goals. A visioning exercise allows everyone around the table to share in the ownership of the goal and as such the success of the event. </li></ul><ul><li> </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Visioning Exercise <ul><li>Is having an event a good idea? </li></ul><ul><li>What event can reach our goal? </li></ul><ul><li>Is there a link between this event and our mission? </li></ul><ul><li>Do we have enough time to plan? </li></ul><ul><li>Can we find a reliable event chair with enough time and energy? </li></ul><ul><li>Do we have adequate volunteer and staff support? </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Develop a SWOT Analysis <ul><li>Strengths Weaknesses </li></ul><ul><li>Opportunities Threats </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Special Event Timeline December 2011

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Creating a Budget December 2011

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Revenue Follows Good Communications <ul><li>“ Any group that does not have an effective communication program will raise only a fraction of the money they would otherwise attract.” </li></ul><ul><li>Fundraising Guru Roger Craver </li></ul><ul><li>Strategic Communications for Nonprofits </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Promoting Your Special Event <ul><li>Plan publicity early </li></ul><ul><li>Budget ahead </li></ul><ul><li>Define your target audience </li></ul><ul><li>Set Goals </li></ul><ul><li>Develop a strategy </li></ul><ul><li>Know your deadlines </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031 #6

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Website Newsroom December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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WOM Communication December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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WOM Communications <ul><li>While other marketing channels slow, WOM skyrockets. </li></ul><ul><li>Great way to involve leadership and other volunteers in your marketing efforts. </li></ul><ul><li>Twitter, FaceBook and MySpace support WOM efforts. </li></ul><ul><li>Invitations are key to WOM. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Social Networking Sites <ul><li>Twitter.com – tell everyone about your fundraiser in 140 characters </li></ul><ul><li>FaceBook.com – tell everyone in your network about your fundraiser </li></ul><ul><li>LinkedIn.com – professional nonprofits ‘share’ information about fundraiser </li></ul><ul><li>YouTube.com – create a video for your fundraiser </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Sponsorships <ul><li>A sponsorship is a contract entered into between a company and an organization for marketing purposes that includes rights and benefits. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Keys to Sponsorships <ul><li>North American businesses spent more than $17.2 billion sponsoring events in 2010. These included charity galas, athletic contests, concert series, and the like -- according to IEG Sponsorship Report. </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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<ul><li> </li></ul><ul><li> </li></ul><ul><li> </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Electronic Fundraising December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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www.donate.net December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Resources <ul><li>Sponsorships: </li></ul><ul><li>Patricia Martin , Made Possible By: Succeeding With Sponsorship Jossey-Bass, 2004 </li></ul><ul><li>Communications: </li></ul><ul><li> Kathy Bonk, Henry Griggs, Emily Tynes, The Jossey-Bass Guide To Strategic Communications For Nonprofits , Jossey-Bass, 1999 </li></ul><ul><li>MarketingProfs - http://www.marketingprofs.com/ </li></ul><ul><li>Using Social Media: </li></ul><ul><li>Using FaceBook for Your Nonprofit- http://www.techsoup.org/community/facebook/index.cfm </li></ul><ul><li>Special Events: </li></ul><ul><li>How to Make the Most of Your Special Event - http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/a/specialevents.htm </li></ul><ul><li>Alan L. Wendroff, Making the Most of Special Events, Jossey-Bass, 2003 </li></ul>December 2011 Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

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Thank You! Interested in sample budgets & event management timelines? Contact [email_address] December 2011