Comments on: Should Your Nonprofit Host a Fundraising Event or a Party? http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2009/02/03/should-your-nonprofit-host-a-fundraising-event-or-a-party/ Written for do-it-yourself nonprofit marketers and one-person nonprofit communications departments. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:40:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Gail Perry http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2009/02/03/should-your-nonprofit-host-a-fundraising-event-or-a-party/comment-page-1/#comment-82593 Gail Perry Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:09:23 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=1111#comment-82593 Hi David, thanks for your thoughtful take on my post. Yes the world is crashing around us but if we can't find a way to stay optimistic, then we are lost. I am CERTAINLY not in favor of spending lavishly OR directing donor dollars into events rather than the mission. However, we are in the social business, like it or not - through all our many events - donor thank you events, board member socials, lunches, dinners, cultivation events, volunteer appreication events. My point is that we need to focus on our guests and make sure they are comfortable and having a decent time. I have seen important donors clinging to the wall, obviously uncomfortable, while the staff is focusing on the food, the program, or the decor. I say it is time for us to put our attention in the right place - on our wonderful guests, and make sure they are having a good experience. They are just so often overlooked when they are the real reason we are staging the get-together. Hi David, thanks for your thoughtful take on my post. Yes the world is crashing around us but if we can’t find a way to stay optimistic, then we are lost. I am CERTAINLY not in favor of spending lavishly OR directing donor dollars into events rather than the mission. However, we are in the social business, like it or not – through all our many events – donor thank you events, board member socials, lunches, dinners, cultivation events, volunteer appreication events.
My point is that we need to focus on our guests and make sure they are comfortable and having a decent time. I have seen important donors clinging to the wall, obviously uncomfortable, while the staff is focusing on the food, the program, or the decor.
I say it is time for us to put our attention in the right place – on our wonderful guests, and make sure they are having a good experience. They are just so often overlooked when they are the real reason we are staging the get-together.

]]> By: Kivi Leroux Miller http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2009/02/03/should-your-nonprofit-host-a-fundraising-event-or-a-party/comment-page-1/#comment-82406 Kivi Leroux Miller Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:31:34 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=1111#comment-82406 David - I don't think Gail is saying that you have to spend lavishly to throw a fabulous party at the expense of the mission. If you are going to hold fundraising events, shouldn't they be something your donors enjoy attending, rather than stuffy or low-energy affairs they attend out of duty rather than because they actually want to be there? Gail is about focusing on the guests and making them feel like a part of the organization. You can energize people about the mission and encourage them to give without boring them to death or spending lots of money. You can do it inexpensively in a way that is actually fun and pleasurable for your donors. That's what "parties with a purpose" is all about. David – I don’t think Gail is saying that you have to spend lavishly to throw a fabulous party at the expense of the mission. If you are going to hold fundraising events, shouldn’t they be something your donors enjoy attending, rather than stuffy or low-energy affairs they attend out of duty rather than because they actually want to be there? Gail is about focusing on the guests and making them feel like a part of the organization. You can energize people about the mission and encourage them to give without boring them to death or spending lots of money. You can do it inexpensively in a way that is actually fun and pleasurable for your donors. That’s what “parties with a purpose” is all about.

]]> By: David Kinard http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2009/02/03/should-your-nonprofit-host-a-fundraising-event-or-a-party/comment-page-1/#comment-82397 David Kinard Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:03:28 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=1111#comment-82397 Kivi: I am surprised you published this guest article. It seems contrary to your usual useful fare. Frankly, I am not sure what I find more offensive...Gail's assertion that "Lots of benefits will accrue to organizations who can pull off the best party in town...," or her belief that non profits should strive to be known as the "folks who stage fantastic parties." The disconnect here between the mission of the organization and what your guest is suggesting reminds me of Marie-Antoinette who said, "Let them eat cake." It appears that throwing parties and making them "fabulous" is on the same par with ensuring the budget balances, people are fed, homes are built, medicine is distributed, and children are educated. But perhaps she's right. In these tough economic times, maybe "there is too little fun to be had in the world anyway" and we should focus on entertaining people to the point where our events become all the rage. The Philadelphia Foundation, which funds charities in Pennsylvania, was able to save $100,000 last year by CANCELLING its 90th anniversary celebration and by publishing its annual report online only. Shame on them! They deprived the good donors of Pennsylvania of a good time. Frankly, I want to see my donor dollars go directly to the mission of the organization. And I am less likely to give to an organization who follows here slogan: "Let’s hear it for parties!" -- David Kinard, PCM Kivi:

I am surprised you published this guest article. It seems contrary to your usual useful fare.

Frankly, I am not sure what I find more offensive…Gail’s assertion that “Lots of benefits will accrue to organizations who can pull off the best party in town…,” or her belief that non profits should strive to be known as the “folks who stage fantastic parties.”

The disconnect here between the mission of the organization and what your guest is suggesting reminds me of Marie-Antoinette who said, “Let them eat cake.” It appears that throwing parties and making them “fabulous” is on the same par with ensuring the budget balances, people are fed, homes are built, medicine is distributed, and children are educated. But perhaps she’s right. In these tough economic times, maybe “there is too little fun to be had in the world anyway” and we should focus on entertaining people to the point where our events become all the rage.

The Philadelphia Foundation, which funds charities in Pennsylvania, was able to save $100,000 last year by CANCELLING its 90th anniversary celebration and by publishing its annual report online only. Shame on them! They deprived the good donors of Pennsylvania of a good time.

Frankly, I want to see my donor dollars go directly to the mission of the organization. And I am less likely to give to an organization who follows here slogan: “Let’s hear it for parties!”

– David Kinard, PCM

]]> By: Tupperware Avalanche » Blog Archive » Snack Wreck http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2009/02/03/should-your-nonprofit-host-a-fundraising-event-or-a-party/comment-page-1/#comment-82371 Tupperware Avalanche » Blog Archive » Snack Wreck Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:31:58 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=1111#comment-82371 [...] went to the strangest charity party last week. The venue was weird (a bank), the charity was weirdly targeted, the various associated [...] [...] went to the strangest charity party last week. The venue was weird (a bank), the charity was weirdly targeted, the various associated [...]

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