- Starting planning too late
Planning is the first and the most critical part of any fundraising event. As such, it should start as early as six months before the event date. However, most nonprofits start this phase too late and can, as a result, skew the entire fundraising event. It can also lead to fatigue and stress among the workforce due to the last-minute rush, which could have otherwise been done early enough. As a nonprofit leader, ensure that you have adequate time to prepare for fundraising. Also, make sure that you address issues as they emerge and prepare for challenges that pop up on the way as you go about with your operations. Your activities during this time should explore aspects such as the goal of the fundraising, details of the event, people involved, and the event communications.
- Failure to understand the cost of the events
The main goal of a fundraising event is pretty obvious — to raise money for a specific cause. In doing so, many nonprofits often try to cut event costs to ensure they make profits as much as possible. While cost-cutting is important, one must always understand that fundraising costs money, and failure to understand the budget will end up limiting the amount of money you receive. Always understand critical aspects of fundraising events such as venue, entertainment, support staff, catering, and event software, among others. Always remember that nothing is for free. Preparing your mind for this will allow you to plan.
- Depending on a single channel for sharing
Sharing information is one of the critical aspects of a successful fundraising. Unfortunately, many nonprofits use a single social sharing channel. This limits the sharing ability and the reach of fundraising messages. Nonprofits must take advantage of various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and websites to increase the reach of their messages. The widespread the message, the more the donors and the higher the fundraising amount you can receive for your course. By using different types of messaging and channels, multiple followers can be attracted and more money raised.
- Depending on the cause to persuade attendees
Mistakenly, many nonprofit managers think that the cause alone is enough to attract donations and donor money. However, this is not true. If this was the case, there would be no need for fundraising events. Unlike what many people may think, soliciting money for a particular cause is more complicated than what people may think. Do not expect people to come to your event because your cause is noble. Instead, persuade your donors to attend your event and donate and motivate potential donors.
- Making awareness a priority instead of action
Creating awareness for a nonprofit is necessary for raising the right amount in an event. However, awareness alone does not directly translate into funds and support. While awareness is crucial, actions need to follow it since this will impact your nonprofit. Inspire potential donors by being transparent in your fundraising goals and developing a plan of action.
As you continue to plan your next fundraising event, let the above lessons always guide as reminders. Always have fundraising event best practices and try as much as possible to avoid mistakes that can affect your planning.
