Things to know about organizing a fundraiser online?
Whether you’re constructing a virtual event from the ground up or converting an in-person experience to an online one, you’re bound to run into problems. It’s not enough to just recreate an event you’d have in person and call it a day when it comes to organizing a successful online fundraising event. Virtual fundraising events necessitate a unique, specialized strategy as well as production, marketing, and management experience. Managing logistics, for example, takes up a lot of time and effort when planning in-person events. Virtual events, on the other hand, will necessitate a greater focus on marketing channels and internet tools.
Return to the fundamentals
Take some time to connect with your “why” before you begin. “Why are we hosting this event?” you might wonder. The answer to this question will assist you in making many of the decisions that you will face in the future. Furthermore, now, more than ever, as you transition to a virtual event, expressing your mission should be your top priority. Start with your objective and influence, and explain why you’re doing what you’re doing in these trying times. A compelling “why” that jumps out will entice your target audience and clearly express what will take place during your virtual fundraising and you should learn more about it.
Make a fundraising target.
Goals assist in concentrating energy and directing attention. They bring people together and help them recognize when they have achieved “success.” Goals are important in any organization, but they are especially important in fundraising activities. The primary purpose of virtual fundraising activities is to raise funds. So, before your event, spend some time developing a SMART fundraising target. Remember that virtual events have lower overhead than in-person events, which means you’ll get to retain more of the money you raise. However, an online event’s perceived value may be lesser than a traditional one.
Furthermore, because virtual events have fewer expenses, they can be priced far lower than actual events while still making a profit. The savings made by the organizers might be passed on to the attendees (they save on airfare, car rentals, hotel bookings, meals, and other incidentals). The price of a virtual ticket or registration becomes far more accessible and cheaper as a result of these reductions.
Have a clear idea of who you’re trying to reach.
Because online events transcend geographical boundaries, you can instantly reach a much larger audience than before. This does not, however, imply that you should suddenly go after “everyone.” Knowing who you want to reach is crucial to your success, and it will influence a few aspects of the planning process. If your target audience is international, for example, you should think about time zones and holidays that aren’t always top-of-mind in your home country while planning your virtual fundraising. Different audiences utilize different channels, so choose the one that is most likely to attract the audience you desire.
Make some more plans.
If this is your first time planning an online event, we recommend allowing at least 4 to 6 weeks for most events and at least 12 weeks for major multi-day online events with concurrent tracks if this is your first time. Even though you won’t have to deal with all of the typical complications of preparing for an in-person event, you’ll still need to put together a detailed strategy. At the bare minimum,
Create a budget and a timetable based on the objectives you established earlier. Create a registration page for your event on your website. Create a contribution page on your website. Make a schedule. Highlight major themes and vital points to remember when constructing the agenda. These should pique your target audience’s curiosity. Virtual fundraisers are a great way to generate money for a good cause.
