3 Brilliant Ways To Become a Fundraising Superhero This Year
As event managers, we want the same things: To raise money, fill the event quickly, and get things done as efficiently as possible. Sound familiar?
When faced with the question: “How do I maximize my fundraising?” there are many ways to get creative and raise more money!
Let’s start with sponsors.
Running around and signing up tons of organizations to sponsor your event might do the trick, but it’s very labor intensive. Imagine what would happen if you could make your sponsorship packages do the selling work for you!
If you can make your package options irresistible, then not only will you have no problem finding sponsors, but you’ll have no problem charging more money and, therefore, raising more revenue!
When it comes to your registrants (golfers, runners, walkers, bowlers, etc.), the name of the game is this: People are often willing to BUY more than you can ever SELL them.
The key to maximizing fundraising is to give people opportunities to buy high-value, interesting products and experiences at your event. This will help you capitalize on the fact that your registrants WANT to give you more of their money, all you have to do is give them something awesome to spend it on!
At BirdEase, we work with event managers all over the country and have seen some of the best techniques out there for raising money. In this article, we’ll cover some fantastic techniques that can help you become the Fundraising Superhero your organization needs you to be!
Brilliant Way #1: Create “No Brainer” Sponsorship Opportunities
If you’re going to be selling sponsorships, it’s important to make your packages a “no brainer” so companies feel incentivized to jump on board. Let’s discuss some ways to entice your prospective sponsors and keep them coming back year after year…
- Put your sponsor’s logo on your website
Ensuring your sponsors see a return on their investment is key to keeping them. A critical step in helping them see the value is to display their logo in association with your event as often as possible. You may already be planning to do this on your “Day of Event” materials like the event banner, hole signs, tee shirts, etc… But your website will likely be seen by far more people, especially if you’re promoting it on social media.
- Advertise them somewhere on each page
Consistent visibility on your website is key. If you’re using BirdEase, it’s easy for you to display your sponsor logos on a dedicated Supporter Carousel that appears on every page of the website.
- Advertise the particular package that your sponsor purchased
Specific recognition is a great way to showcase your sponsors. When a package is sold, label that sponsor accordingly on your website. This way, registrants and fellow sponsors can see which company donated the money for that particular package!
- Have an “Our Supporters” Page
Pull it all together for your sponsors and recognize your sponsors and donors all in one place. Click here to see an example.
Brilliant Way #2: Offer “Add-On” Packages That People Will Buy
It’s important to give your registrants as many opportunities as possible to spend money on your event. While some may only want your main registration packages, there are many people who have extra money to spend and want to spend it on you and your cause. Here are some examples of Add-Ons that will create additional revenue for you, and enhance your registrant’s experience:
Drink Packages
You know people are going to buy them– So why not let them do so ahead of time? This gives you the opportunity to raise more money and get a better handle on your fundraising prior to your event!
Mulligan Packages
Mulligans are a genius way to capture additional dollars from each registrant (everyone needs a “second chance!”). You might want to consider limiting these to 1 per person, though… otherwise your event could go on all week!
Raffle Tickets
Raffles are a common way to increase fundraising. All that’s required is that you offer high quality items and make it easy for people to purchase the tickets!
Offer an “All-In-One” Ticket
Here’s how to gain maximum value from every registrant: Bundle your Add-Ons and offer them as a single package! This ensures that you deliver maximum value to all of your participants while enjoying maximum benefit for your organization.
Brilliant Way #3: Have a “People Auction” (Yes, you read that right)
Your community probably has local “celebrities” who would be willing to contribute their time to help your event. These people might volunteer to be a guest “caddy” or “partner” in your event.
Many event managers have found great success by giving registrants the opportunity to bid on the chance to hang out with these superstars during the event. Ideas can range from local baseball players to the Mayor of your city, the local weatherman, or other highly recognizable figures.
Here are some other ideas:
.Financial Advisors
- Many people have questions about their personal finances and would love the opportunity to spend the day picking the brain of a local expert on the subject.
Doctors, Physical Therapists, Personal Trainers
What a great opportunity to ask general health questions and get great advice!
Automotive Professionals
This is a chance for your attendees to learn some of the “ins and outs” in the automotive world. You’ll likely have no problem finding a local auto salesperson to volunteer for this (since it might result in a sale at some point!).
