Trends for Fundraising in 2021
Like most events, COVID-19 brought a crashing halt to fundraisers in 2020. Replacing galas and corporate events with digital parties has not been quite the same, but as the event industry adapted to the changing climate, so did fundraisers. If you are planning a fundraising event this year, these are the trends you’ll want to incorporate for a stand-out celebration guests will love.
Use social media to promote and easily gain donations
The internet has made sending money easier than ever. Gone are the days of needing to spend time counting cash and depositing checks to get an idea of how much money your event brought in. And whether you have a virtual or in-person event, accepting online contributions means you can have a donation clock running at every moment of the fundraiser to increase excitement and participation.
Social media is an easy way to not only get the word out about your event but to also accept donations. Platforms like Instagram can accept donations for non-profits with the simple placement of a Donation sticker in users’ Stories, making awareness for the cause double as an opportunity to bring in additional money. Create a hashtag for the event that will create buzz and word-of-mouth advertising online. Design images attendees and supporters can post and repost to cast a wide net. You never know who you may reach online, new supporters are just a click away.
Virtual events
As much as you and your guests may be missing get-togethers, virtual events are here to stay. Hosting an online event allows you to open your fundraiser up to more people and get creative with it. What was once a local art gallery opening for people in town to walk through can now be a fundraiser for the arts, with guests from all over able to experience the showcase with a virtual tour.
Virtual events also give unique opportunities that your company or organization may not have previously taken advantage of when events were in-person. Host a virtual concert as a fundraiser that viewers can pay to watch at home. A virtual show open to anyone means you can select talent beyond just the local music scene while also drawing in the artists’ fans from all around the world to come, contribute, and gain awareness.
Host hybrid events
Give guests the opportunity to attend in a way they feel comfortable. For some, that may be in-person, for others, it may be online. If local guidelines permit socially distanced gatherings, bringing guests together to fundraise can increase enthusiasm for the cause. Make sure to provide a high-level of engagement for your virtual at-home crowd to make the event run cohesively. Leverage video content to your advantage so all guests can have the same viewing experience. Don’t skrimp on the production value of your live stream, especially if your event is open to the public (no RSVP link required) or will live on your website once the event has concluded.
To make the hybrid event a success, equip at-home guests to have just as good of a time as in-person celebrants. Set a dress code for all guests. Consider sharing your menu or signature cocktail recipe in an email prior to the event so guests participating at-home can create their own themed foods and immerse themselves in the same experience.
Bring Non-Profit and For-Profit Companies Together
A fundraising partnership between for-profit and not-for-profit companies can produce significant positive outcomes. A rise in these collaborations this year will mean a bigger signal boost for non-profits, casting their message to a wider audience. For-profit companies can team up with non-profits in numerous ways, whether it’s offering their product or service to help support an event, running a fundraising event of their own with the mission of their employees generating funds for a non-profit, or even a for-profit company creating a long-term relationship with a non-profit they can promote to their audience in order to bring awareness.
What trends are you looking forward to seeing at your favorite fundraising events this year?