Here's an idea that can make it easier for guests to accept your gala invitation: childcare services. Providing this service for free or for a reduced price is attractive to those with young children who might otherwise turn down a chance to attend your event. Although this is something I most often see offered by schools, nonprofit galas can also make this work. In the video, you'll see examples and hear about three auction teams who offered childcare services during their ... Read On >
Audience Development
Three tips for boosting attendance at your virtual gala
This I know ... If you are able to get people to watch your virtual gala, you'll raise money. The challenge for all of us these days is that our hours are filled with multiple distractions. It can be harder to get your guests focused on logging in and attending. I myself have been an organizational mess the last few months. I've forgotten meetings. I've double-booked myself. I shown up in Zoom when it was a teleconference meeting. I can only imagine what a wreck I'd be if ... Read On >
Unintended consequences of watch parties during Zoom-style virtual galas
English ivy was brought to the United States for ornamental purposes; it looks so pretty scampering up a wire. But the ivy's introduction had some unintended consequences. It grows so aggressively, it overtakes small trees and damages mortar in brickwork. Unintended consequences are also apparent in our virtual galas. Nearly every week I am asked to troubleshoot a new problem that has surfaced, typically because someone has tweaked one area in an effort to improve the event. The ... Read On >
The rise and fall of YP (young professional) post-parties at galas
Between five and ten years ago, I started hearing chatter about involving young professionals (YP) at the fundraising gala. "We need to get the younger generation involved," was the general vibe. In practice, this often evolved to selling a lower priced ticket to the gala. If a regular gala ticket was $150, the YP price might be $30. If the standard ticket was $500, the YP price might be $125. This reduced price ticket allowed YPs to join full-priced guests and sponsored tables for ... Read On >
The Seating Meeting: Developing an auction seating chart
"We should talk in the morning," one Auction Chair told me, "I'll be tied up with the seating meeting all afternoon." Ah, the seating meeting. It's one of the most dreaded of auction committee meetings. =============================== What is the seating meeting? It's when the Gala Co-chairs (or a small sub-section of the gala committee) convene to determine the auction seating chart. =============================== Why is a seating meeting important? Where a guest sits ... Read On >