Planning for Fall 2020 Fundraising Events

Are you trying to figure out what to do with your fall fundraising event? You’re not alone.

It’s a hard time to even think about events. But for so many organizations, events make their work possible and this necessity is leading to a lot of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking around how to accomplish the fundraising work of events.

Here are some things you should consider and plan for even though the future is uncertain.

1. Hybrid events must be an option you consider in Fall 2020. Regardless of where gathering restrictions are at the time of your fall event, you have to consider what we’re calling a hybrid format. This means executing both an in-person gathering and a virtual component that allows donors who can’t or don’t want to join an in-person event to feel included and able to participate. Not everyone will want to gather, and a virtual component will create more reach for you.

2. Follow the CDC recommendations as they continue to evolve. We are in a constantly evolving world as we adapt and change to mitigate coronavirus. What was true last week may not hold this week, so it’s important to continue evolving right alongside it. You have always held a certain liability in holding an event, but the stakes are certainly amplified now, and you want to make sure you are moving forward safely and responsibly for everyone. It’s irresponsible and tone deaf to not be following safety protocols.

3. Adopt safety measures from here on out, regardless of gathering restrictions. With any in-person event moving forward, here are some safety measures you can put in place:
   • Put up hand washing reminders in multiple languages around the venue. Great templates can be found here.
   • Add signs at check-in/registration asking guests that if they feel sick that they should go home
   • You can also remind guests in pre-event communications to please stay home if they don’t feel well, and then offer them an online way to donate instead
   • Set-up hand sanitizer stations throughout the venue to facilitate sanitizing
   • Ask all vendors to follow strict sanitizing guidelines

4. Re-initiate event marketing and outreach efforts in June. Push your event asks out 60 days—at that time the future may be clearer. Right now with such a stringent lockdown, it’s hard to envision the next phase of things. Re-initiate marketing and outreach for table hosts and event sponsors in June. And as for procurement asks, spend time procuring items that will raise the most in this climate. We’re seeing wine sell better than ever and local trips are also doing well, but international travel packages are down because of uncertainty. But most importantly, be mindful of your donors and where they are. Are folks who have supported you in the past really impacted by COVID-19? Maybe don’t ask them this year, maybe just reach out and let them know you’re thinking of them. Asking for donations from people struggling to keep their business afloat isn’t helpful. It may be that you need to strategically rethink your fundraising streams and downshift your allocations of revenue coming from auction items or raffles.

5. Focus on good donor stewardship until then. The priority now is to check in with major donors and practice good stewardship. Your donors want to be a part of the solution more than ever so continue cultivating your relationship with them so that they feel a part of your community.

Even though the future of in-person events and gatherings is uncertain right now, there are a lot of things you can be doing to move your fall events forward to ensure their success.

Photo by Tom Cook Photography