This week on the Nonprofit Jenni Show, play a round of Nonprofit Trivia with Michelle Gustafson from Caritas of Austin to test your knowledge about the types of charity events donors love! (We think it’s most fun to play along while listening to the podcast, but keep reading for a written summary of this week’s trivia game…)
First, a quick update on Jenni’s Book Club for nonprofit leaders!
I had so much fun hosting a pilot book club for nonprofit leaders in June, and I can’t wait to host my second pilot group in September! You’re invited to join our virtual book study to connect with other nonprofit leaders and read our next professional development book together: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
The application deadline for the September pilot book club is Monday, August 16, so apply now before you forget!
Question 1: What event elements make donors feel engaged with your mission?
Think about it: When a donor attends your charity event, which parts of the event make them feel like they’re an important part of your mission?
In a 2016 study published in the Nonprofit Times, 1,136 donors report they feel most engaged at fundraising events when they:
Get to make a difference with the cause they support,
Learn how your nonprofit and programs operate,
Hear personal stories from those impacted by your nonprofit,
Get to meet people who have been impacted by your nonprofit, and
Have fun!
Many donors also say they appreciate opportunities to interact with volunteers, other donors, and your nonprofit’s team. And nearly two-thirds of donors want to receive texts, emails, and reminders both leading up to and immediately following the event.
Question 2: What types of activities do donors enjoy the most at charity events?
Have you noticed that donors seem to have more fun at certain types of events than others? According to a 2019 GiveSmart survey of 600 donors, the most enjoyable types of fundraising events include:
A concert or event with dancing,
A gala or party,
A fun run or race,
A silent or live auction, and
A workshop or training
Add a silent auction component to your next fundraising event with help from my Silent and Online Auctions Guide!
Question 3: How do donors typically learn about the events they attend?
It’s great to try and raise general awareness about your event, but which communications channels are the most effective at bringing attendees through the door? The aforementioned GiveSmart survey finds that most charity event participants learn about upcoming events through:
In-person conversations (For example, when a board member or other supporter invites their friends to attend);
Snail mail;
Personalized emails (About 34-44% of donors attend events when they receive a personalized invitation email addressed specifically to them, but this percentage drops to 28% when a general email blast is sent out);
Facebook; and
Your nonprofit’s website (For example, when you create a clickable banner announcing upcoming events on your nonprofit’s homepage.)
Never underestimate the power of a peer-to-peer conversation! When it comes to attracting event attendees, volunteers, and even new donors, direct appeals are always most effective.
Listen to the Full Episode
Listen to this episode of Nonprofit Trivia for even more tips about charity events, and to hear Michelle and me discuss real-life examples of successful fundraisers:
Listen now on Apple Podcasts
Listen now on Spotify
Listen now on Google Podcasts
Jenni’s Favorite Resources This Week
Social Media for Non-Profits Summit — Coming up September 22, I’m speaking at this virtual summit to help you make a social media content calendar. Other speakers will present on a wide range of social media topics as well! Use the code JENNI10 to get 10% off your ticket price. (Full price tickets are $39-47 depending on whether you purchase an early bird ticket.)
Content Creation Webinar — Need an intro to content creation before the Social Media for Non-Profits Summit? My friends at Nonprofit Megaphone are hosting a free webinar TOMORROW to help you learn how to create engaging website content!
Little Green Light’s Fundraising Resources — I’m thrilled that LGL sponsored this podcast episode because they offer all kinds of fundraising resources for nonprofit leaders! I especially recommend their “Guide to Acknowledging Gifts” ebook to help you follow up with event attendees and keep them engaged long-term.
My once-per-week email newsletter — Get a short summary of every podcast episode plus free marketing and fundraising resources!
Personal Update + Connect With Jenni
You may not remember this, but I actually launched my pilot book club program two months ago in June. At that time, I had just added the newest member to my dog family — this little puppy named Olli! I took this photo of Olli with my June book club pick when she was one month old.
Well, now Olli is three months old, and she's growing SO FAST! (Scroll up to the beginning of this post to see what she looks like now with my September book club pick.)
If you've scheduled a call with me recently, you've probably heard Olli happy-barking in the background. She's very talkative, loves to play, and always needs to be chewing something because she's teething.
I've been asked by multiple people now, "Will your puppy be featured in the September book club?" The answer is YES. Olli isn't very literate yet, but Angela Duckworth's book about how to turn your personal passions into sustainable, successful work is the perfect reading material to help her practice. :) Sign up to join Olli, me, and our nonprofiteer friends as we read next month!
Go forth and do good,
Jenni