It takes rather a lot to plan and execute a nonprofit occasion. From getting began with goal-setting and budgeting by way of organizing and selling your occasion expertise and eventually internet hosting and interesting with donors, there’s rather a lot to juggle. Fortunately, the fitting fundraising occasion software program could make organizing an impactful occasion a breeze.
However even the software program shopping for course of might be overwhelming for those who don’t know what you’re in search of. That’s the place this useful information is useful!
Right here, we’ll cowl the whole lot you have to learn about occasion fundraising instruments, together with:
At Double the Donation, we’ve labored with many various suppliers within the area, and we gathered a few of our prime ideas for selecting one of the best fundraising occasion software program on your workforce. In the long run, these practices ought to assist information your decision-making course of as you proceed to develop your good toolkit of nonprofit know-how.
To not point out, you’ll be all set to get began with optimum fundraising occasions with the fitting instruments to energy your efforts. Let’s start!
Why Put money into Fundraising Occasion Software program?
Fundraising occasion software program is a important element of any group’s totally built-out tech stack. In any case, a good portion of many nonprofits’ general income is collected by way of participating fundraising occasions. And the fitting instruments could make organizing and internet hosting as simple and efficient as ever.
To not point out, increasingly fundraising occasions are involving more and more technical elements. Even in-person gatherings have gotten depending on behind-the-scenes software program and user-facing know-how to run easily and elevate the occasion expertise.
Thus, in case your group is trying to develop or optimize your occasion fundraising technique, investing in the fitting instruments to energy your efforts is important.
Options to Think about For Your Occasion Software program
The time period “fundraising occasion software program” can embody plenty of totally different sorts of instruments. And every one gives key advantages to your group, the occasions you arrange, and the people who assist your efforts.
Let’s discover a couple of of those key capabilities.
(High tip: As you stroll by way of the next forms of options and performance generally related to nonprofit occasion software program, remember the fact that you’ll have to prioritize choices so as of significance. Think about flagging parts as “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”)
On-line Occasion Pages
With the intention to pull off an efficient occasion, it’s essential that your supporters are conscious of the chance. And the most effective methods to unfold the phrase about upcoming occasions includes participating on-line occasion pages or microsites.
Right here’s what this occasion software program performance ought to embody:
- Pre-built and customizable net web page templates;
- Touchdown web page and microsite choices.
- Personalised branding that matches your group’s current supplies;
- Cellular-optimized pages which might be simple to make use of on screens of all sizes and shapes;
- SEO and accessibility instruments;
Ticketing Companies
Ensure your workforce and your attendees are ready on your occasion with intuitive ticketing performance. Think about these key options:
- Straightforward-to-use on-line ticketing types;
- Free and paid ticket purchases for in-person and digital occasions;
- On-line RSVP administration and automatic receipting;
- Customizable questions, reminiscent of meal preferences and t-shirt sizes;
- A number of ticketing tiers and packages.
Cost & Donation Processing
No matter whether or not you’re internet hosting free or paid occasions, it’s important that your workforce has the instruments for processing funds from supporters. This could embody:
- Accepting funds on-line and in-person;
- Leveraging a number of fee strategies;
- Processing funds for occasion tickets, merchandise, pledges, and extra;
- Amassing donations, along with ticketing and different gross sales.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Functionality
Peer-to-peer fundraising and nonprofit occasions usually go hand-in-hand. A number of the most impactful social fundraising efforts cumulate in a closing occasion to drive engagement and have fun success. Suppose—run/stroll/rides and different “a-thon” model occasions.
Listed here are a couple of peer-to-peer fundraising options to think about in your seek for nonprofit occasion know-how:
- On-line occasion participant registration;
- Customizable participant fundraising pages;
- Gamification instruments, reminiscent of fundraising thermometers, badges, and prizes;
- Donation and pledge processing and success.
Public sale Administration
Charity auctions are many nonprofit organizations’ most worthwhile fundraising occasions time and time once more. So on the subject of occasion software program shopping for, it’s a good suggestion to maintain public sale instruments in thoughts. These usually embody:
- Merchandise procurement and monitoring capabilities;
- Facilitation of stay and silent in-person, digital, and hybrid public sale occasions;
- On-line and cellular bidding performance for attendees;
- Actual-time bid monitoring and different analytics.
Knowledge Reporting
Nonprofit occasions produce plenty of highly effective information. It’s vital to have the instruments you have to acquire, analyze, and leverage that data for the best outcomes! That’s the place an occasion software program’s information reporting performance is available in.
Think about these key options:
- Occasion attendee supporter profiles to trace ongoing engagement;
- Budgeting and income instruments to find out ROI calculations;
- Actual-time occasion information reporting;
- Birds-eye view and in-depth choices.
Matching Reward Automation
Do you know that almost 27 million people work for corporations that match items? However roughly 78% of this group has no concept that their employers supply these applications?
That’s why rising consciousness of match alternatives is important—and your occasion software program may also help! Matching present software program, or occasion fundraising software program with a devoted matching present element, ought to:
- Accumulate supporter employment data by way of e-mail area screening or with an built-in firm search instrument;
- Present donors and occasion attendees with employer-specific matching present tips (eligibility standards, on-line types, and so forth.);
- Routinely comply with up with match-eligible or unknown donors post-engagement to remind people about matching alternatives and drive extra profitable matches to completion.
Organizations that improve matching present efforts by using prime software program choices are inclined to see elevated occasion and different fundraising experiences. In lots of circumstances, it’s the equal of a two-for-one sale on charitable donations!
Integrations
Broaden your occasion software program’s attain with seamless integrations—particularly with the instruments your group already makes use of on a day-to-day foundation.
Software program integrations primarily kind unified programs between various platforms, permitting totally different instruments to talk to at least one one other. Subsequently, integrating your occasion fundraising software program together with your group’s current fundraising options empowers your know-how to do extra with much less handbook duties and configurations.
As you think about fundraising occasion software program integrations, this would possibly embody:
- On-line donation instruments;
- Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms;
- Knowledge administration programs;
- Company giving software program;
- Advertising and outreach options.
The best way to Make Your Fundraising Occasion Software program Selection
As you’re employed to slender down your occasion know-how choices, listed here are a couple of greatest practices to bear in mind:
Think about bundling occasion instruments with a complete fundraising platform. Whereas some occasion instruments are made out there in an à la carte or piecemeal format, others are supplied as a bundle in an general fundraising software program bundle. Within the latter situation, your event-specific know-how could also be built-in immediately with a web based donation instrument, CRM, and extra for an all-in-one resolution. Many organizations want this sort of software program assortment for ease of use and seamless communication between platforms.
Set a software program funds to information your shopping for choices. The most effective methods to slender down your out there choices is to enter the shopping for course of with a set funds in thoughts. This manner, you’ll be able to commit your time to the software program your group can afford. As you search for cost-effective options, make sure you think about base value, startup prices, ongoing charges, expansions or add-ons, scalability, and extra.
Search software program with matching present performance. Past typical occasion software program options, one aspect that may drastically enhance your workforce’s fundraising efforts—event-based and in any other case—is matching present performance. Company matching items allow many donors and occasion attendees to double their impression in your trigger. Fortunately, instruments like Double the Donation combine with prime occasion platforms to allow seamless match identification and automatic follow-ups.
Request a demo to see potential instruments in motion. Earlier than you make your closing choices, it’s a good suggestion to request some demos. Many corporations can present entry to a pre-recorded video, although a stay demo gives a extra personalised encounter. As you expertise the software program in motion, think about how the instruments will look from a consumer’s perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, both!
Closing Ideas
Within the latest previous, occasions of every kind have develop into more and more technology-based—from modern in-person parts to digital and hybrid experiences. And it’s vital that your nonprofit has the instruments to maintain up with the occasions!
As you look to revolutionize your group’s occasion choices with highly effective software program, we suggest exploring Double the Donation’s integration companions. Many of those top-of-the-line fundraising software program suppliers supply impactful instruments that may convey your occasion endeavors to the subsequent stage. Then, don’t neglect to issue matching items into your technique, as properly!
Need to study extra? Try these different academic assets to raise your group’s occasion, office giving, and general fundraising methods:
