More than fundraising software, we also provide€¦ · VP Digital Fundraising Services,...

2 | Taking Your Fundraising Events Virtual // Tweet @MobileCause

MobileCause easy-to-use fundraising and

communication software enables you to raise more,

engage supporters and grow your donor database.

More than fundraising software, we also provide

one-on-one strategy with our Digital Fundraising

Strategists and 24/7 support to grow your nonprofit

like never before.

With MobileCause, you can:

• Acquire new donors

• Retain current donors

• Inspire recurring donations

• Increase average gift size

• Strengthen donor relationships

• Lower the cost of fundraising

ABOUTMOBILECAUSE


Christy Noel

VP Digital Fundraising

Services, MobileCause

WEBINARAGENDA

Successful Virtual Fundraisers

Creating an Impactful Virtual Event

Creative Virtual Fundraiser Ideas

7 Strategies for Increasing Virtual Event Revenue


CREATING YOUR VIRTUAL EVENT


• Pick the same date or a new one

• Announce event changes via social media,

text and email

• Promote your virtual event frequently

• Use text-to-donate to facilitate donations

• Give presentations, show videos, live Q&A,

recognize donors, interview beneficiaries

• Use livestream, pre-recorded videos or a

combination

• Encourage interaction

• Display live thermometer and donor wall throughout

the event and give “shout outs” to donor names

Turn Your Live Event into a Virtual One


• Get input from community and volunteers,

what do they think would be fun?

• Reach out for special guests and celebrities:

you never know until you try

• Create a reason to watch “live” - lesson, unveiling,

entertainment, share experience together

• Use a host or emcee to maintain an even flow

Getting Started


A few different ways to host a virtual event or campaign:

• Virtual Gala

• Day of Giving

• Peer-to-Peer Challenge

• Virtual Charity Run

• Celebration Days

• Voting Competition

• Matching Gifts

• NPO TV

• Online Auction

Virtual Fundraiser Ideas

Download our infographic for more Virtual Event ideas >

https://go.mobilecause.com/virtual-fundraising-event-ideas-infographic-20


Promoting Your FundraiserLet supporters know right away of program changes

and announce your upcoming virtual event often

• Use all your channels: email, social media, phone

calls and text message

• Don’t be afraid to send reminders the same way

you would with an in-person event

• Tag supporters, staff, sponsors and volunteers in

social posts to encourage sharing

• Utilize Table Captains to spread the word

• Always include links to your Event Page and/or

livestream


• Use a host or emcee to keep an even flow to

program

• Share short videos about your campaign

• Go to live remote speakers to create connection

• Use a program outline rather than a script, include:

▪ A warm welcome

▪ Intro to your mission and campaign

▪ Ways to give

▪ What’s to come: guest speakers,

performances, Q&A, etc.

▪ Thank yous to sponsors, volunteers, donors

and staff/committee

Virtual Event Program Basics

Download our interactive ebook:

How to Create a Compelling Virtual Fundraising Event >

https://go.mobilecause.com/virtual-events-ebook-20



• Lead with video or livestream on Event Page to

grab attention

• Share videos about your campaign, impact,

mission or beneficiaries

• Use livestream for concerts, entertainment,

in-the-moment interviews and fundraising updates

• Record presentation and unveil it to appear live

• Stream on multiple platforms, if desired

Maximize Livestream and Videos

Get the lowdown on the tech you’ll need on our blog:

The Essential Tech Elements for Virtual Fundraising Events

https://www.mobilecause.com/blog-the-essential-tech-elements-for-virtual-fundraising-events/


Download our ebook:

5 Steps to the Perfect Virtual Fundraising Event Program

• If you have a fundraising goal, reinforce how much

is needed to achieve it

• Make appeals throughout and promote your

text-to-donate info and other ways to give

• Give live shout outs to donors as names appear

on donor wall

Positioning a Powerful Ask




• Schedule a dry run

• Set up and practice using all equipment and

technology

• Play videos and switch between screens

• Test audio sound and volume (exactly the way it

will be used during your event)

• Have speakers practice their speeches

• Make a donation using text-to-donate and mobile

donation forms

Before Going Live


Add virtual components to future in-person

fundraisers

• Helps increase reach beyond your immediate

community

• Enables those who can’t attend to participate

• Livestream your in-person program with

presenters and live event thermometer

• Get creative with virtual-only components –

pre-show entertainment, behind the scenes prep,

pre-event games and challenges

Going Forward:Combining Virtual with Live Events


7 STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING VIRTUAL EVENT REVENUE


1. Creative Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Fun ways to use peer-to-peer to engage supporters

and boost fundraising total

• “Vote” by donation for favorite dancers, chef,

dog, PJs, performance

• Encourage “Table Hosts” to fundraise and hold

watch parties

• Get board and sponsors involved leading up to

event

• Allow guests to submit entries to garner votes


2. Registration

Ask guests to request a ticket or register for your

virtual event

• Paid tickets boost fundraising and create

exclusivity

• “Free” tickets help track registrants

• Offer free swag with tickets/registration

• Add option to donate on your ticket form

• Receive automatic text with tickets and receipt with

virtual event details


3. Sponsorships

Businesses that support your event in return for

promotion

• Promote sponsors in all event materials

• Include logos and links to their site in emails and

on website and Event Page

• Shout out sponsors during your virtual event

Source: Nonprofits Source, “Corporate Giving Trends,” 2018

➢ 90% of businesses indicate that partnering with

reputable nonprofits enhances their brand


4. Online Auctions

Virtual auction page where donors can browse and

place bids on items or experiences

• Use online auction software for bidding

• Send notices when a supporter is outbid

• Can hold online auctions for longer duration than

at in-person events

• Drives more bidding and increases participants

• Announce start and end times across

communication channels

➢ Digital auctions generate 120% more bids per item and 60%

increase in revenue per item when compared to paper-based

auctions

Source: Handbid


5. Text-to-Donate

Makes giving easy for donors, anytime, anywhere

and from any device

• Create branded, event-aligned keyword and

shortcode

• Promote your text-to-donate details widely

across channels

• Share keyword and shortcode during event on

screen and verbally

• Demonstrate text-to-donate in action during your

virtual event


6. Event Page

All your important event details in one convenient

place

• Can use one link in all of your communications

• Supports all your forms and CTAs

• Optimized for livestream or embedded video

• Promotes “replay” and repeat viewing


7. Broaden Your Reach

Virtual events allow donors from around the world

to attend

• Promote broadly and strategically across channels

• Tag supporters and sponsors on social media

• Encourage your network to share event widely

• Share text-to-donate details in posts and

communications

• Increase engagement with photos, videos, impact

stats and hashtags on social media

➢ Fun Fact: because of early and wide promotion, many

virtual events raise a majority of their total prior to

“going live”


SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS


• Event changed from paid sit-down dinner with

no ask to free virtual event with different ways

to give

▪ Traditional presentation but recorded

▪ Vote for Your Favorite PJ contest (fundraiser)

• Raised $176,387

• Large influx of peer-to-peer and text-to-donate

new donors

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation:Gala in the Garden 2020


• In-person dinner and meet and greet with

HGTV’s Boise Boys changed to livestream Q&A

with gift card to national drive-thru restaurant

• Raised over $35,000

• 73% increase in attendees

• Grossed more than their in-person dinner

previous year

Genesis Community Health


• Annual gala dinner pivoted to virtual

fundraising gala

• Raised $200,000+

• Doubled their previous in-person attendance

• Increased net total raised

• Expanded audience from 4 states to 24

Believe Big


• General Assembly, decades-long annual

national gathering with 3,000-4,000 attendees,

moved to virtual

• Primarily business meetings with several worship

services, each collecting for a specific fund

• 3rd highest registration in General Assembly history

• Raised over $230,000 in total, the most in the last

5 years

Unitarian Universalist Association


• Annual in-person luncheon went virtual

• Pre recorded videos and edited presentation to

feel “live”

• Raised over $108,000, mostly during virtual event

• 324 donors, plus 10 sponsor gifts

• Net Total Raised: $98,000 (up 11% from 2019)

Courage KennyRehabilitation Institute

For more examples of successful

virtual fundraising events, check out our ebook>

https://go.mobilecause.com/successful-virtual-fundraising-events-inspiring-stories-from-nonprofits-ebook-20


With these effective tools and strategies,you’ll be primed for hosting a powerhouse virtual fundraising event that brings in as much, or more,

revenue than your in-person events.

To speak directly to an expert about implementing MobileCause

software and strategy for your organization please:

➢ Call (888) 661-8804, TEXT MCDEMO TO 51555 or visit

MobileCause.com/Demo

More than just comprehensive fundraising software, MobileCause alsooffers nonprofits the one-on-one strategy and support needed to maximize their resources and grow their mission.

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More than fundraising software, we also provide€¦ · VP Digital Fundraising Services,...

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