ICYMI: Last One Picked - Millennials Fear Being Left Out - The NonProfit Times

ICYMI: Last One Picked - Millennials Fear Being Left Out - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "ou’re in the process of organizing a fundraising event. Do you have your venue and entertainment booked? Check. Is your fundraising team hard at work engaging donors and driving up attendance? Check. Are you taking advantage of FOMO?

FOMO, or “fear of missing out,” is a colloquialism among Millennials, according to author Darian Rodriguez-Heyman and KC Fox, senior marketing manager at Eventbrite. It might also be used as a means of driving youth toward your next event, the duo said during a session at the recent Association of Fundraising Professionals’ international conference in Boston."



'via Blog this'

Charity organizers struggle in crowded field of events | TribLIVE

Charity organizers struggle in crowded field of events | TribLIVE: "After a two-year hiatus, Best Buddies Pennsylvania and supporters decided to resuscitate their 5K fundraiser last fall.

They knew the competition was steep.

Like places nationwide, greater Pittsburgh has observed an inundation of charity walks packing the calendar most weekends from late spring through early fall."



'via Blog this'

'Star Wars' Charity Event Forced to Change Theme After Lucasfilm Cease-and-Desist Order - NonProfit PRO

'Star Wars' Charity Event Forced to Change Theme After Lucasfilm Cease-and-Desist Order - NonProfit PRO: "Hard to see, the Dark Side is—especially when you can’t use your lightsaber to light the way.
Newmindspace, a Toronto-based nonprofit, has rebranded its popular charity lightsaber battles as the “Cats in Space Tour” after it received a cease-and-desist letter from Lucasfilm’s lawyers for using trademarked terms, the Toronto Star reported."



'via Blog this'

How to Calculate A Fundraising Event's Opportunity Cost

How to Calculate A Fundraising Event's Opportunity Cost: "Large fundraising events can be fabulous ways to celebrate your cause and your mission. Too often, however, they are used as a main fundraising vehicle in an organization’s fundraising plan. While they can certainly bring in large amounts of money on one night, they come with steep opportunity costs that must be weighed to understand the true return on the event’s fundraising.

Let’s look at an example of understanding the impact of a big fundraising gala and the opportunity costs associated with it."



'via Blog this'

St. Francis House of Boston Gala Sets a Record by Raising $750K

massnonprofit news ::: "November 5, 2015 — St. Francis House of Boston, the largest day shelter in Massachusetts, recently set a record at its annual gala, raising $750,000, beating its goal by $50,000, to support the men and women it serves by providing rehabilitative and housing services."



'via Blog this'

Challenges and Benefits of Nonprofit Event Fundraising | GuideStar Blog

Challenges and Benefits of Nonprofit Event Fundraising | GuideStar Blog: pring is here and so is the event fundraising season! Events that raise money for causes and nonprofits can take many forms from 5k runs and walk-a-thons to endurance bike rides. In recent years, nonprofits have expanded these activities to include mud runs, polar plunges, even head-shaving! But just like any large undertaking, planning a fundraising event has its benefits and challenges. They can bring in a lot of revenue for the organization, but can also put tremendous strain on a nonprofit’s resources. The operations and logistics can test your organization’s limits; however, the reward can certainly outweigh the risk if executed correctly.

Nonprofit groups find trick is treating donors to fun, frights - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Breaking News

Nonprofit groups find trick is treating donors to fun, frights - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Breaking News: The Scullville Volunteer Fire Company used to make its money the same way as most volunteer fire companies do, by hosting Bingo games and spaghetti dinners and having its firefighters stand on street corners collecting spare change.

But since its annual Terror in the Junkyard haunted hayride started 13 years ago - bringing in an annual profit of about $15,000 - the fire company has quit the traditional money-making methods and focuses its fundraising efforts solely on the month of October.

"My brothers and sisters in the other companies -

Events can require more effort than they raise in revenues | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com

Events can require more effort than they raise in revenues | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com: Special events are one of the most commonly used fundraising methods and yet many of us in the nonprofit fundraising profession have a love-hate relationship with them.

Hand Up Gala provides gourmet meals for homeless in Cleveland | cleveland.com

Hand Up Gala provides gourmet meals for homeless in Cleveland | cleveland.com: But the Hand Up Gala, happening on Friday, Oct. 18, takes a different twist. This event not only benefits programs for the homeless, it's the homeless who will get to sit and be served meals on tables swathed in table cloths and accented with centerpieces.

YPO to Celebrate 58th Annual Gala VEGAS LIVE, 11/2

YPO to Celebrate 58th Annual Gala VEGAS LIVE, 11/2: Every year, the YPO Gala is a must-attend social event which benefits an exceptional arts organization, and our 2013 Gala will truly be a night to remember," said Patricia Mederos, President of YPO. "We are so grateful to this year's gala sponsors without whom YPO would not be able to further its mission of opera education."

Founded in l955, YPO is supported by a group of women who work without staff to advocate educational music programs and the Florida Grand Opera,

Ask an Expert: New Fundraiser Lacks Experience, a Budget, and Organizational Support - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Ask an Expert: New Fundraiser Lacks Experience, a Budget, and Organizational Support - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A fundraiser starting a program to help immigrants asks how she can overcome big challenges in her newly created position. She asked to stay anonymous.

Houston enjoys its biggest charity season ever: The year of the $1 million gala makes a big difference - 2012-Jul-11 - CultureMap Houston

Houston enjoys its biggest charity season ever: The year of the $1 million gala makes a big difference - 2012-Jul-11 - CultureMap Houston: The Aubergine-themed Ballet Ball was just one in a long line of charity fundraisers that crossed the $1 million mark this past season. Never before has Houston seen such an outpouring of charitable dollars associated with society-driven fundraisers. In the wake of a struggling national economy, the city's philanthropic spirit, rather than shrinking, seems to be growing.

CultureMap counted 21 charitable fundraisers from January through May that raised $1 million or more.

Home for Little Wanderers Gala Raises $961K from 1,100 Guests

massnonprofit.org ::: May 28, 2012 — The Home for Little Wanderers, a private, nonprofit child and family service agency based in Boston, recently announced that it raised $961,000 through its annual gala, which drew more than 1,100 guests, the greatest number of attendees ever, beating its goal by a substantial margin.

It’s Party Time! | Michael Rosen Says…

It’s Party Time! | Michael Rosen Says…: I’m conflicted about nonprofit special events.

On the one hand, organizations are often fuzzy about the objectives behind a special event. Staff is often not quite sure if the event is to raise money and, if so, how much? Or, is the event to attract media attention? Is it to build new relationships? You get the idea. Also, events require a great deal of effort, often for only a modest monetary return even if the objective was specifically to bring in the dollars.

Fundraising Events: a losing proposition for your nonprofit organization? | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog

Fundraising Events: a losing proposition for your nonprofit organization? | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog: Oh sure, events can and do raise money. Yet it’s rare that event ROI analysis methods factor in the enormous – and I do mean enormous – amount of time devoted by staff to the planning of events.

You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Charity events buck tradition to draw young crowds - The Denver Post

Charity events buck tradition to draw young crowds - The Denver Post: Many of the benefits grabbing the buzz — and the bodies — these days are those planned by the young professionals who come to the table with fresh ideas and no fear of taking chances with themes and locations that never would have flown in their mothers' day.

Formats that were popular a decade ago — cocktail hour/silent auction, seated dinner, speaker, live auction and dancing — haven't vanished and certainly still have their place. But just as the new group of planners calls event settings "venues" rather than "locales" and refers to caterers, florists and musicians as "vendors," they're rethinking the approach to raising money.

Aaron Hurst: How Prudential Broke the Gala Addiction

Aaron Hurst: How Prudential Broke the Gala Addiction: What was the problem with galas?
Most galas cost $1.33 to raise a dollar. They are not really generating sufficient ROI in both of their goal areas - connecting people with their mission and raising money -- to justify the cost. And most organizations don't include the calculation of staff time and most certainly don't quantify the volunteer hours of gathering auction items or anything else that goes into making a successful event. So the real costs, based on having sat in on many gala planning committees, is probably a couple multiples of that dollar thirty three to every dollar

Getting Ready for Gala Season

Getting Ready for Gala Season: Organizing a fundraising gala is not getting any easier. Aside from the fallout of an unpredictable economy that keeps previously generous hands firmly in pockets, any number of unexpected hurdles can suddenly appear on the scene.

The Vancouver Aquarium, for instance, found its annual Night At The Aquarium fundraiser threatened not by inclement weather or economic constraints. The culprit was the unexpected fifth game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs featuring the local Canucks. With BC Place's almost 60,000 seats filled by roaring fans, and thousands more crowding the city streets to watch the action on giant outdoor screens, who would be left to eat, dance, or bid on silent auction items?

Museums roll out the red carpet for Hollywood - latimes.com

Museums roll out the red carpet for Hollywood - latimes.com: "Welcome to gala season in the art world, the time when L.A.'s leading museums roll out red carpets and stage black-tie parties to raise money — and their public profiles. Last month LACMA grossed nearly $5 million with an event that drew Kardashian, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Teri Hatcher and Christina Aguilera, who also performed. This month the Hammer Museum raised $1.3 million with a festive dinner (minus the red carpet) co-chaired by Will Ferrell, where Jane Fonda introduced honoree Alice Waters. And the Museum of Contemporary Art takes the stage Nov. 13, with artist Doug Aitken choreographing the activities and"

BRING ON THE GALAS - Association Bisnow - Washington

BRING ON THE GALAS - Association Bisnow - Washington: "Dust off that suit and gown. Gala season is upon us yet again. We talked to Washington event planners about the top fundraiser trends this year. Though the glam is still there, they tells us the era of uber excess is over."