Special Events That Yield Great Results!

Presented by Mary Ann Maltz

Executive Director, March of Dimesand

Terry QuinnDevelopment Director, Trinity Episcopal School

It’s about more than having a great party

Copyright © 2005 - Laurence A. Pagnoni & Associates, Inc. (LAPA)

Wrapping paper ain’t gonna get you there

Raise funds Attract new donors/cultivate existing

donors Engage board members and leadership

volunteers in fund raising and donor cultivation activities

Increase visibility for and awareness of your organization

Message your mission or highlight a specific program

Meet an unfilled niche in your donor base

Work smart

Do you have access to the right chair and key volunteers?

How strong is your donor base? What is the competition – is the market

saturated and is your event unique? How many events do you have? Is it appropriate to your mission? What resources do you have to work with? How much money do you need to raise to

make this event worth the effort required for success?

Be sure to factor in staff and volunteer time

Volunteers – you’ve GOT to love ‘em Carefully recruit volunteers and make sure they

understand their roles and responsibilities BEFORE they sign on

Don’t make too many key decisions before you involve your volunteers

Train volunteers - especially in conveying your mission

Make sure everyone understands the budget and how they work within it

Use your timeline as a checklist - stay on time and on track

Plan for future success - consider a support group and succession planning

Reality check

You can’t reach your goals without a strategic plan

Appropriate pricing is essential Involve volunteers in the budgeting

process - buy-in is critical Present a budget report at all committee

meetings Under-project income and over-project

expenses Keep your expenses at 25% or less

Make an offer they can’t refuse

Determine motivations for giving Peer to peer solicitations are essential Make sure volunteers are comfortable

answering questions about the event and your organization

Event satisfaction is key to future success Follow up with a proof of performance

visit

Revenue Enhancers

Live auction Silent auction Sealed bid auction Casino Raffle Mystery gift boxes Dip for diamonds Midway games Putting contest, closest

to the pin, etc.

It Doesn’t End with Dessert!

Send out handwritten thank notes to volunteers and donors

Evaluate your event with a wrap-up meeting shortly after the event

Have a volunteer appreciation party Promptly send out donor thank letters and IRS

receipts with information about how your organization is going to spend the money you raised at the event

Hand deliver proof of performance packets to sponsors

Add event donors to your mailing lists Mail out a donor/volunteer survey

Thank you!