Posts By: Heather Crowley

For us here in the Northeast, we are still waiting on Spring to really arrive. We are looking forward to warmer days, blossoms on the trees, the arrival of birds from their winter homes, and the start of EVENT SEASON.

Spring is such a natural time of year for organizations to host events – both annual and special events.  Fun runs are great for community engagement and awareness. Golf outings allow sponsors who have been supportive of your organization to be recognized and to renew their commitment to your cause. Galas are opportunities to introduce your charity to a new audience through featured entertainment, exclusive venues, and pre-event publicity. There is a LOT of good that can come from an event, but that must be weighed against the work, time, and energy that goes into producing a successful event.

When planning something for your organization, be mindful of the commitment you are making of your staff and volunteers and be sure everyone is up to the task. Remember that there is always an upfront cost associated with putting on a great event and the proceeds from participants or attendees can’t always be guaranteed. A realistic budget is important, as is a clear marketing/promotional plan. Recruiting volunteers who have experience in running a specific type of event are key players in the process and should be recognized for their abilities and knowledge. Don’t forget the reason for putting on an event and don’t lose sight of the overall mission and vision of your organization. And, above all, try to enjoy the incredible special event you’ve worked so hard to realize.

A while back, we were working with a client whose membership had not been exposed to the idea of philanthropic giving as a culture. The client’s goal was to increase overall giving by the general membership in an effort to support the mission of the organization. For many years, it was assumed that dues and outside support were enough to sustain the amazing work the group is doing. Unfortunately, this was not the case and it was becoming more and more clear that they would not be able to maintain their level of quality work if something didn’t change to give them an increased revenue stream.

The idea of conducting a Capital Campaign was discussed and after a Feasibility Study was completed it was determined there was an opportunity to increase funding through the membership. But how?

The notion of conducting a formal Capital Campaign seemed almost too extreme to the leadership. Afterall, the members were not used to philanthropic giving and to immediately launch into a “campaign” could be viewed by some as aggressive. Instead, we decided the better approach would be to frame it as a shift in thinking. By taking some of the same elements as a Capital Campaign such as educating stakeholders, involving key influencers, and communicating the needs and benefits of the group, we are achieving the same results without raising concern or comfort level from those we hope to enlist in this effort.  Creativity and flexibility are paramount in any fundraising initiative…think outside the box and don’t be restricted by names.