My Opera6 Advices for Coordinating a Great Political Fundraising Feast
Sunday, October 10, 2010 2:07:55 PM
Events could and should be an integral part of your campaign's fundraising plan. Though no campaign need to rely solely on political fundraising dinners to build up the majority of their budget, every campaign ought to have a strategy in place for effectively adopting events as part of their revenue mix up. Here are 6 tips for running a first-class political fundraising dinner:
1. Make it a Team Effort
First-class political fundraising dinners begin with strong host committees. Before planning your event, insert together a 5-10 person host committee tasked with selling tickets and raising money for the event.
Fundraising Ideas
2. Keep Expenses moderate
Donors want to make sure you are adopting their money wisely. Most attendees don't expect caviar and champagne at your feast. Do your best to keep expenses low, and try to have catering and materials donated whenever available.
3. Present Multiple Levels
If the only gift level for your political fundraising dinner is the ticket price, you're missing out on additional giving opportunities. Make sure you propose a low, medium and high giving level for your event (think: tickets (low), tables or sponsors (medium) and VIPs (high)).
4. Make it Beneficial
Your goal must be to make sure it is as easy as possible for people to attend your event. Hold it in a central location, give folks loads of notice, and present online and phone registration and payment.
5. Stay on Top of Your Event
One major mistake candidates oftentimes make with fundraising dinners is that they don't keep close track of progress of ticket sales, sponsorships, and revenue. Don't take your volunteers word for it... keep track and stay on top of fundraising for your event.
6. Follow Up
In direct marketing, they say "the money is in the list." The same is true in political fundraising. Thank your event donors and attendees immediately, then append them to your mailing lists. Keep them updated and informed, and you'll be able to go back to them for more funds later in the campaign cycle.
Keep in mind, with a well written event plan and a good team together, political fundraising dinners may and should be an integral part of your campaign fundraising efforts.
1. Make it a Team Effort
First-class political fundraising dinners begin with strong host committees. Before planning your event, insert together a 5-10 person host committee tasked with selling tickets and raising money for the event.
Fundraising Ideas
2. Keep Expenses moderate
Donors want to make sure you are adopting their money wisely. Most attendees don't expect caviar and champagne at your feast. Do your best to keep expenses low, and try to have catering and materials donated whenever available.
3. Present Multiple Levels
If the only gift level for your political fundraising dinner is the ticket price, you're missing out on additional giving opportunities. Make sure you propose a low, medium and high giving level for your event (think: tickets (low), tables or sponsors (medium) and VIPs (high)).
4. Make it Beneficial
Your goal must be to make sure it is as easy as possible for people to attend your event. Hold it in a central location, give folks loads of notice, and present online and phone registration and payment.
5. Stay on Top of Your Event
One major mistake candidates oftentimes make with fundraising dinners is that they don't keep close track of progress of ticket sales, sponsorships, and revenue. Don't take your volunteers word for it... keep track and stay on top of fundraising for your event.
6. Follow Up
In direct marketing, they say "the money is in the list." The same is true in political fundraising. Thank your event donors and attendees immediately, then append them to your mailing lists. Keep them updated and informed, and you'll be able to go back to them for more funds later in the campaign cycle.
Keep in mind, with a well written event plan and a good team together, political fundraising dinners may and should be an integral part of your campaign fundraising efforts.
