How to Host A Virtual Fundraising Event
Have you ever wanted to host a fundraising event but didn't know where to start? Hosting your own virtual fundraiser can be just as rewarding as hosting an in-person event.
We are in the era of digital fundraising. It's estimated that 60% of all donations come from online giving and this number is only increasing as more people give through their mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
But virtual fundraising events are not for the lazy fundraiser. They’re for the savvy, determined individual or team that knows how to get the job done.
If you can wrangle 100 people into a physical space, surely you can wrangle 50 in a virtual event!
Below we’ll walk through how to host your own successful virtual fundraiser event and have some fun doing it!
Lean how to host and run a successful, fun, and impactful campaign.
In this blog post we'll cover:
What is a virtual fundraiser?
How do I create one online?
What are the benefits of running my own virtual fundraiser?
What resources are available for me during the process?
How do I get people involved with my campaign?
Hosting a virtual fundraising event can be a great way to reach donors who might not otherwise attend your offline event where you could provide them with an amazing experience!
What is a virtual fundraising event
Virtual fundraising events are online fundraisers that raise funds for a cause or individual you want to support.
These virtual fundraisers are very different than the traditional model of gathering at a pub for a burger and beer while discussing fundraising ideas. Rather, they take place over social media and other digital platforms that your friends and family can participate in from any location.
The whole point of holding a virtual fundraising event is to invite your friends, family, or colleagues to engage with your fundraiser in new ways, create fundraisers on their own, and support organizations they care about, too.
Benefits of hosting a virtual fundraising event
– Your friends and family can participate in ways they’ve never been able to before.
– It’s a great way to raise awareness for your cause and connect with your community on a personal level.
– You don’t have to be physically present or share travel expenses.
– No one has to know about it until the big reveal at the end!
– People can donate money and gather for a cause they love.
– You get to keep track of all donations made over the course of your event and use that data to promote your next one.
It's never been easier to host a virtual fundraising event. You can raise money for your favorite charity and get the help of people in your community without leaving home!
Here are some tips on how to do it:
• Choose an organization you care about, like The Marine Mammal Center or The Red Cross.
• Get creative with your idea — think about what would be fun and interesting for those who attend. (e.g., make dinner together, have a virtual trivia night, experience virtual magic, etc.)
• Ask friends and family members to donate prizes for raffles or auctions at the event — this is a great way to personalize things! You might also want to create donor levels so that donors know where they stand among other supporters. This will encourage them
Now that we've covered some basics about how to host a virtual fundraiser and why it's so popular these days, let's dive into the nitty gritty details on what you'll need to do to prepare for one.
Virtual fundraising events are about connecting with your friends and community while making an impact in someone else’s life in ways both big and small.
There are two components to any fundraiser: Ask and Give.
The Ask component is when you solicit donations, which can be done online or offline (like by bringing a jar of coins into the pub while you’re on a beer run).
The Give component is when you present the money you have received and make it available to those in need.
How to plan your virtual fundraising event
Set a Goal
This is where you set your fundraising goals and decide what you want to raise for. This is also where you decide if you want to make it a recurring event or have it be one-time only. It’s important to think about the who and why in each request, because this will help determine how much you need to raise per event. It also helps ensure you don’t get too big, too fast!
Make it Social
You can use social media to make your event sticky and get everyone involved. Depending on how many people you’re trying to get engaged, this could be a website where you post regular updates, a Facebook Event, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or whatever social media platform each of your viewers are most likely to use.
Donate or Charge?
Giving money is great, but charging is an effective way of promoting your cause and getting more exposure for the money you raise in return for advertising. Some fundraisers can charge fees for individuals that want to present their own fundraisers and have the option of charging extra (like a $5 donation per person).
This strategy increases awareness for your cause and shows how much impact your supporters can make in the world.
Who should host a virtual fundraising event
Anyone that wants to be part of the solution and make a difference — whether it be raising $100 or $100,000 dollars. The beauty of a virtual fundraising event is you can start small and build momentum as you go along. And if you have social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram - you already have the audience in place to start!
Tips on how to make the virtual fundraising successful and enjoyable for everyone involved
Have fun and make it personal
It’s very important to keep your cause top of mind with your supporters. Make sure you showcase the people you are trying to help and the impact already made on that person’s life. If you give a good story, others will want to share in it too!
Keep it up to date
If people can access information about what they are supporting, they will be more likely to continue their support through the entire event. This means being transparent with your supporters about how many donors have already participated and updating them on how close you are towards reaching your goal.
Rapport and fun
Every fundraiser is different, but the one thing that makes them successful is the rapport between you and your supporters. It’s a two-way street - keep your social media followers engaged by asking questions about groups you are trying to support and showing a genuine interest in what they have to say. You want their help in promoting your fundraiser while allowing them to feel like they’re doing something good.
How to promote the virtual fundraising event
Kick Off
The best way to promote a virtual fundraising event is by announcing the start date and goal amount with a small teaser. This will get people to sign up and give you their email addresses so that they can find out more once the event has started.
Encourage donations in advance
Set a goal for the next iteration of the fundraiser (or as part of a recurring event)
A great way to promote your event is by offering incentives for those who are going to make a donation towards your next fundraiser. Donations can be made instead of paying a fee, or asked for at different points throughout your fundraiser. The more people who donate, the more likely you are to reach your goal.
Show your donors their value at the end!
Once your event has ended, make sure you thank everyone that was involved in the fundraiser. Show them how much money you raised and how many lives have been impacted by their participation.
With crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe, Indiegogo, and Kickstarter, virtual fundraising events have become easier for anyone to organize. The goal is to show people that small events can have an impact on large issues and change the world around us for the better, one small fundraiser at a time!
There are many benefits to hosting a virtual fundraising event. From saving time and money, to having more freedom in the content you create for your fundraiser page, there’s something for everyone when it comes to utilizing this format as an option.
It's important to set a goal for your virtual fundraiser before you start so that you can work backwards from what amount of donations will be needed to reach it; otherwise, how do you know if you're successful?
Anyone with access to the internet can host their own virtual fundraising event.
We’ve given you some of the benefits and tips for hosting a successful virtual fundraising event. Now, it's time to take action!
Contact magician zoom illusionist Jon Finch below if you want more information on how we can help with your next fundraiser or would like us to help promote a virtual fundraiser for you.
