how to make sure your next fundraiser raises funds!
I love a good cause. If there’s one thing we love it’s a good comedy show. Fun energy. Happy vibes. Smiles all the way around (at least when the comedians are “good” lol). No really, you can’t beat a good comedy show to get those laughs in rotation.
Then you’ve got the fundraiser side of the show. This means sponsor recognition, brand showcase, brand presentation, and team acknowledgement. This too is a crucial part of the event.
Finally, the event details come into play. Food. Decor. Beverage. Bar. VIP set up. Installations that stick.
Events are A LOT of work. Images and video make it look easy and effortless. Hit that behind the scenes footage and you see blood, sweat, and tears. And arguments. And solutions. And last minute fixes. And improv. And there’s more…
Radio Ad Buys
Match your audience to your advertising. You’ll be surprised how many people support their favorite DJ’s whether they are streaming from a radio station on Spotify or online! Radio ad buys are a great place to get traction for ticket sales.
Here are some things to help get you right for your next fundraiser event:
The “small stuff” matters. If talent is asking for something, give it to them or negotiate—especially if you’re asking them what they want! Do not skip this step. If something is important to them, then it’s important.
Produce a thorough run of show. I’ve been lucky to work with people who constantly produce great organizational maps, production sheets, run of show docs, and checklists. If you don’t have things written out with notes for each phase of the show with a built in timeline, you will fail. This is where an AI template becomes your best friend.
Details count. Your color story for the venue. What you decide to do with decor. All the consistency in branding you have throughout the venue with signage, logo placement, and staging…all of this counts. Even the music you play and the first thing people see when they walk in. They’re there for a show, so give em a full and well-planned show!! No detail is too small to think about.
Fundraise. I know. A novel concept. Tell your story. Make it relatable. Talk about why the cause is important. Throw in stats that connect globally. Bring in real life examples. It’s a fundraiser. People expect you to ask for coins. Just don’t lock them in a room like one fundraiser event did to us in 2019. We were stuck.
Post a ton of content—before, during, and after the show. Do you see how saturated all of our social platforms have become with anything? Just imagine sharing about a cause close to your heart. There should be no such thing as over sharing. Share the video. Share the pictures. Share the love and do it immediately (after you complete your campaign calendar for your event content).
INVITE a targeted list of guests. That guest list is important when inviting people to a fundraiser. You’ve got friends, family, and colleagues. Then you have media and sponsors. You should also invite people who support the cause you are focused on. For example, if education then scholars, academics, and organizations who support education. If dementia, then doctors, advocates, and organizations who support finding a cure for or slowing down dementia. You can’t expect to raise funds with the same group of people all the time. That network expansion is pivotal to both your success and the success of the event.
These are all subtle reminders. Dive into each point for more info using the AI prompt “ How do I plan a fundraiser in 3 months with X budget and a target of X amount of people in X city?” :)
