Corporate Training By Zack Academy - Event Management - Fundraising Event Management

Why Should You Take This Event Management - Fundraising Event Management Course?

Fundraising events provide an opportunity for non-profits to secure essential income but also help to educate donors, guests and volunteers of the organizational mission. Whether a gala dinner, cultivation event, walk-a-thon or benefit concert, this course will examine the fundamentals of fundraising event management. Through this Event Management - Fundraising Event Management course you'll learn who the key players are within a non-profit, event budgeting, income projections and ticketing, marketing outreach, food and beverage, logistics management, as well as how to employ strategic tools such as silent and online auctions, live appeals, video components, etc. to help increase the financial success of a fundraising event.

Learning Outcomes Include:

• Gain an understanding of the similarities across fundraising events and the key elements that can make them successful.
• Create a working budget for a fundraising event, develop income projections, manage ticketing and incorporate tools onsite/online to help raise additional income.
• Learn how marketing plays an important role when influencing donor/guest experience pre- during and post event.
• Learn how to select honorees, and create a leadership structure for your fundraiser.

The Following Topics Will Be Covered:

Why Host A Fundraising Event

• When events make sense, and when they don't
• Understanding what resources need to be committed
• Measuring success

Leveraging the Psychology of Philanthropy

• Why donors give
• What sponsors look for
• Why volunteers participate 
• Converting attendees into evangelists

Successfully Utilizing Committees

• Types of Committees and their roles
• Formation and structure
• Profile of the ideal committee member
• Tips for managing committee deliverables

Landing & Keeping Event Sponsors

• What elements can be sponsored
• Creating a sponsorship packet that sells
• Delivering value for sponsors
• Exchange of goods and services

Budget & Regulatory Issues

• Setting achievable goals
• Fixed vs. variable costs
• Developing an integrated fundraising plan
• Setting ticket & sponsor pricing tiers
• Fair market value + IRS regulations
• Are you certified to fund raise? What planners need to know
• Comps: when and how to utilize strategically

Galas - Strategy

• Leadership structure: honorary chair, event chair, honorees, committees
• Honoree selection and expectations
• Ticket and sponsor level pricing

Galas - Logistics

• Securing the right venue
• Negotiating tactics
• Selecting food & beverage that reflect the organization
• Dealing with donated alcohol
• Program development: timing of awards, dinner service, auctions & speeches
• Seating logistics: who should sit where, and why

Auction

• What makes a successful auction item
• How many items should you have
• Keys to securing quality auction items
• Calculating fair market value & tax deductability
• Setting minimum bid levels and increments
• Consignment items: pros, cons and advice
• Silent auction logistics
• Live auction logistics
• Registration, close out and cashiering
• Online auction logistics

Other Fundraising Event Concepts

• Golf outings
• Keynote speaker events
• Arts, wine & music events
• Other creative ideas

Alternative Methods of Fundraising

• Social media
• Video or live appeal (balloon auction, straight ask, etc.)
• Tabletop appeal (envelope, bid cards, etc.)
• Mobile platforms (Text-to-Pledge, BidPal, iML, etc.)

Marketing Outreach

• Invitations & RSVP tracking
• Website
• Social media
• Press and media relations
• Event journal
• Socialite magazines & photography

Onsite Branding

• Step & repeat photo ops
• Utilizing wire images and hashtags
• Tabletop & bar educational signage, journal
• Staging & set design
• Photo/video: shot lists, post-event marketing usage
• Thank you gifts

Volunteers & Staffing

• In-house staff: roles & responsibilities
• Tips for securing quality volunteers
• Orientation & training: where many non-profits fall short
• Skills placement
• Managing volunteer teams

Post-Event Responsibilities

• Keeping honorees engaged
• Thank you notes, acknowledgment letters
• Expense tracking & final budget
• Surveys and tracking guest experiences
• R.O.I. analysis & event debriefing

Syllabus

Why Host A Fundraising Event

• When events make sense, and when they don"t
• Understanding what resources need to be committed
• Measuring success

Leveraging the Psychology of Philanthropy

• Why donors give
• What sponsors look for
• Why volunteers participate 
• Converting attendees into evangelists

Successfully Utilizing Committees

• Types of Committees and their roles
• Formation and structure
• Profile of the ideal committee member
• Tips for managing committee deliverables

Landing & Keeping Event Sponsors

• What elements can be sponsored
• Creating a sponsorship packet that sells
• Delivering value for sponsors
• Exchange of goods and services

Budget & Regulatory Issues

• Setting achievable goals
• Fixed vs. variable costs
• Developing an integrated fundraising plan
• Setting ticket & sponsor pricing tiers
• Fair market value + IRS regulations
• Are you certified to fund raise? What planners need to know
• Comps: when and how to utilize strategically

Galas - Strategy

• Leadership structure: honorary chair, event chair, honorees, committees
• Honoree selection and expectations
• Ticket and sponsor level pricing

Galas - Logistics

• Securing the right venue
• Negotiating tactics
• Selecting food & beverage that reflect the organization
• Dealing with donated alcohol
• Program development: timing of awards, dinner service, auctions & speeches
• Seating logistics: who should sit where, and why

Auction

• What makes a successful auction item
• How many items should you have
• Keys to securing quality auction items
• Calculating fair market value & tax deductability
• Setting minimum bid levels and increments
• Consignment items: pros, cons and advice
• Silent auction logistics
• Live auction logistics
• Registration, close out and cashiering
• Online auction logistics

Other Fundraising Event Concepts

• Golf outings
• Keynote speaker events
• Arts, wine & music events
• Other creative ideas

Alternative Methods of Fundraising

• Social media
• Video or live appeal (balloon auction, straight ask, etc.)
• Tabletop appeal (envelope, bid cards, etc.)
• Mobile platforms (Text-to-Pledge, BidPal, iML, etc.)

Marketing Outreach

• Invitations & RSVP tracking
• Website
• Social media
• Press and media relations
• Event journal
• Socialite magazines & photography

Onsite Branding

• Step & repeat photo ops
• Utilizing wire images and hashtags
• Tabletop & bar educational signage, journal
• Staging & set design
• Photo/video: shot lists, post-event marketing usage
• Thank you gifts

Volunteers & Staffing

• In-house staff: roles & responsibilities
• Tips for securing quality volunteers
• Orientation & training: where many non-profits fall short
• Skills placement
• Managing volunteer teams

Post-Event Responsibilities

• Keeping honorees engaged
• Thank you notes, acknowledgment letters
• Expense tracking & final budget
• Surveys and tracking guest experiences
• R.O.I. analysis & event debriefing