Let’s be real, constant event planning can be exhausting and drain your nonprofit’s resources. While nonprofits often rely on galas, auctions and other large events, these efforts may not be building long-term relationships. In fact, nonprofits retain only 19.4% of new donors each year, suggesting traditional approaches aren’t necessarily creating lasting connections. (Bloomerang).
Event planning consumes resources and can burn out teams. If you’re looking for a better way, you’re in the right place.
1. Piggyback off other events.
Instead of competing with community events, become part of them. Leverage existing energy while positioning your organization as a community participant rather than just another group asking for money. Grab group tickets to a local sporting event, participate in farmers markets or jump in on local holiday events.
Leaning into community events dramatically reduces planning time and resources while also adding to the authenticity of sharing your mission with others. Plus, people are already ready to engage, so half the work is done for you!
2. The power of intimate spaces.
Home-based events, coffee shop meetups or small group dinners create environments where genuine conversations naturally occur. These settings allow supporters to ask questions, share their own stories and feel heard in ways that large events simply can’t facilitate.
Consider hosting one of these smaller events to create an intimate setting and an emotional connection that can translate into long-term support. These events also require less planning and can be easily replicated. Think wine and cheese; your supporters will appreciate the authenticity.
3. Host a transparent campaign.
Honesty and efficiency are always appreciated. Launch a campaign that explicitly communicates your commitment to maximizing impact rather than allocating resources to event planning and marketing.
Create campaigns around specific needs or projects, and clearly communicate how donations will be used. Your donors are smart and like to know that their money is going straight to the good work. This approach often feels more genuine to supporters.
4. Take the event online.
The most effective digital engagement strategies focus on providing unique value that supporters can’t get somewhere else. Consider virtual behind-the-scenes tours, live interviews or interactive workshops. These can be hosted on any live feature on a social media platform or even Google Hangouts or Zoom.
Peer-to-peer fundraising encourages your supporters to actively participate in fundraising efforts. Digital campaigns that empower your supporters to become fundraisers themselves through user-generated content can drive participation.
Pro tip: Give your community plenty of heads-up about when to tune in and what they can expect to see. The magic of digital events? Your audience becomes your promotional powerhouse. They’ll share, tag and spread the word for you.
5. Partner with a local business
Bowling nights, trivia competitions, cooking classes or potlucks are great ways to buddy up with a local business that might already be throwing together one of these activities or might offer group rates or donate space in exchange for promotion.
They work well for nonprofits because they remove the formal pressure of traditional fundraising events while still providing opportunities for meaningful interactions. Supporters leave feeling like they’ve had a fun experience rather than attended a presentation.
Your Path Forward
Reducing event frequency while implementing these alternatives can increase revenue and donor satisfaction—while also preventing burnout for your team.
By focusing on authentic relationship building rather than elaborate event production, you can create more sustainable fundraising success. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.
Looking for tools to help fundraise without events? We’ve put together resources that can support you as you explore these new approaches. Check out our complete guide to modern fundraising strategies and start building more meaningful donor relationships.
