Nonprofits spend countless hours — and considerable money — to stage gala dinners, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, and other events that aim to draw attention to their work and rally their supporters to give to their organizations. MORE
Fancy dinner. They can buy themselves dinner. Wine and cheese tasting. Reception. What do all these events have in common? They are generic. Any nonprofit can host these events. They are not special to your donors. They are not especially meaningful. MORE
A spaghetti dinner fundraiser is a classic fundraiser , but it is classic for a reason: It’s remarkably easy and it is a near sure-fire money-maker. For those who are unfamiliar with how to run a successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser, don’t worry, there’s not much to know. MORE
I try and cook a healthy dinner and do some meal prep for the next day. Wendy Hayes. Welcome to the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series! MORE
Yours might be a five-course fundraising dinner, or it might be a casual Christmas party at a colleague’s home. This time of year, nonprofit organizations often celebrate their important work (and their coworkers) with parties or other special events. MORE
For the campaign focused on your annual dinner, you might decide that an interview with your guest speaker on a morning radio show two weeks before the event will help drive attendance and donations. MORE
Charity dinner. If you’re a 501(c)3 organization, many grocery stores will donate gift cards you can use to purchase supplies for your charity dinner. When your charitable cause needs large amounts of money, charity fundraising events can be your best option. The huge funds generated by these events can be used for a single project or the ongoing operations of your charitable organization. MORE
Leave work around 5 or 6pm for a relaxing night at home or meet up with my girlfriend for dinner and talk about our day. Stacy Harbaugh. MORE
4:30 pm: Fill out my timesheet, reorganize my desk, and head home to make dinner and get ready for the gym. Kristen Olsen. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. MORE
Events (dinners, golf tournaments, 5k races, etc.). If you’re stuck wondering how to involve your supporters with your mission, look no further. Here are 35 ideas from a stream of my consciousness. Surveys. Quizzes. Invitations to join a board or committee. Games. Polls. Videos. Advocacy or activism opportunities. Podcasts. Testimonials. Online chat tools. Webinars. Streaming live events. Question and answer sessions. Tell your story opportunities. Infographics. Reports or eBooks. MORE
– I always bring lunch from home, though more often than not it’s leftovers from last night’s dinner or a salad I throw together on the spot. Menucha Saitowitz. MORE
It’s very lonely being a CEO so I like to get together for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with my pals so we can blow off steam and share fresh ideas. So I’m out having lunch with one of my fellow CEO buddies. I do that a lot. MORE
Are you telling the story in front of a group of 100 people, at an intimate dinner, or during a Twitter Q&A tweet chat? Storytelling is not only a fantastic way to relate to other humans on a personal level, it is also a fantastic marketing and fundraising tool for nonprofits. MORE
Are you telling the story in front of a group of one hundred people, at an intimate dinner, or during a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session? In my last post, I described some of the benefits of combining the powerful one-two punch of great stories and social media. MORE
During my time at The Chronicle of Philanthropy , I received thousands of releases from organizations about annual dinners, fundraising events, and award recipients. For example, think about what makes your annual dinner unique. MORE
3:45 – 4:00 pm – An afternoon cup of tea and an energy ball, as I know I won’t eat dinner until late tonight. Then I eat dinner (leftovers from the night before), do the dishes (also left over from the night before), watch a little TV and head to bed to read. Sarah Tarnopolsky. MORE
Invite them to participate in an exclusive dinner, lunch or event that proves impact or provides other benefits (such as a sense of community). According to an article in the Journal of Economic Psychology saying thank you can actually have a negative effect on your relationship with a supporter. The researcher notes that gifts, in particular, “reduce feelings of altruism ” causing your expression of gratitude to backfire in your face. MORE
Remember when you were 15 and your mother would tell you to clean up your room, call your grandmother, and come down to dinner all within the same five minutes? MORE
Once when I went out to a very nice dinner with my husband, the owner came over to our table and asked us how we liked the food. Donor retention (how many donors continue to give to your organization after their first gift) is at an all-time low. It’s abysmal and worrisome. MORE
Valentines dinner and silent auction fundraiser at Gardner Museum The Board of Directors of the Gardner Museum of Architecture and Design, invite everyone to their special Valentines Dinner Fund Raiser on February 14. MORE
For me, social change can be as simple as the inspiration that sits across from you at the dinner table. My dad, Scott Rampy, is a free agent advocate, activist, and fundraiser working to end multiple sclerosis. He’s also humble. MORE
– I do a quick workout at home (still recovering from knee surgery, so no running yet, just weights), then make dinner around 5 pm. Kallie Rollenhagen. MORE
After dinner, I’ll open my laptop to monitor for any social media activities, trending hashtags, and reply to any unanswered emails. Kristina Kelly. MORE
Verbal recognition during dinner and name and logo displayed during live auction. It’s just that simple. MORE
A couple of years ago, I was invited to an unusual dinner party. This was my introduction to the Jeffersonian Dinner. Ready to have that dinner party? (This is a post I wrote for LinkedIn and wanted to share!). MORE
The past few weeks have been busy speaking- and webinar/seminar-wise, with a focus on the secret to messaging that connects — understanding the folks you hope to engage and motivate to act. That’s my rap of late: because it’s so important but so often overlooked. Knowing what matters to your network (a.k.a. target audiences), and how they live their lives, is your key to engaging and motivating them. But knowing your network is vital for reasons far beyond effective marketing. MORE
They could be… [pick one… eating dinner, playing golf, sleeping, working, reading, meeting with another charity, etc.].” Here are 5 proven reasons why fundraisers won’t call their leads to ask for donations: Fear of rejection: This is the most common reason for call reluctance. It’s simple and basic. No one likes to be rejected but it is part of your job. Just reach out. Nine out of ten times, your hot lead will be glad you did. MORE
Peter Panepento. If you have been reading our blog the last year, you will probably recognize Peter Panepento. Peter is the principal at Panepento Strategies , a full-service content, digital, and social strategy firm for nonprofits and socially-minded companies. MORE
As a result, a piece about why people should support your organization or attend your fundraising dinner isn’t likely to fly. A well-placed op-ed can help your nonprofit call attention to an important issue or change minds about a controversial topic. MORE
Back on 24 August I received my dinner invitation from ‘friend’ Hillary Clinton. Actually, of course, it was a pitch to offer up my contact info to go into a draw that might win me dinner with the candidate on the campaign trail … Friend — I’d like to get to know you, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than sitting down to dinner together. MORE
You’re not going to try to sell him a story idea or get her to come to your annual dinner. When was the last time you reached out to a reporter without a story to pitch? MORE
Little Susie didn’t get breakfast today and she won’t get dinner either because her mom is on drugs and her dad is in prison.). I get it! I get it! Tell stories! There’s been a lot of talk about storytelling for fundraising recently. MORE
Flickr: Chip Griffin. The pressure is on to connect and mobilize your people as the world in which we work grows increasingly complex, crowded, and uncertain. Why not recruit folks already connected with your organization to help as marketing and fundraising ambassadors? MORE
Time for another walk and dinner for Stella. After my dinner I clear out my in-box to zero and update my to-do list. Thomas Negron and Ruby. MORE
Or a good conversation for dinner chat with husband. What’s for dinner? Amie Bennight. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Want to be featured in this series? MORE
I’ll leave work at around 5 pm to make myself some dinner and go for a quick run in preparation for a fundraiser 5k I’m participating in next month. MORE
This action-triggered donation program feeds a family of four dinner for an entire week whenever guests book a stay directly at OmniHotels.com. MORE
Kids are back, hubs rolls in, we figure out a dinner plan. Erika Olson. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Please share too! MORE
Knowing the rules can also help you set the right expectations when you do something as simple as offer complimentary admission to reporters at your annual fundraising dinner. True or false: I can offer a reporter free admission to our annual dinner. MORE
– We have a lot of community events over lunch and dinner that often make the day longer, but I typically leave the office at 5pm. I exercise before my husband gets home, then we eat dinner while watching a show on Netflix. Melanie Swiftney. MORE
Last night, I was asked for some tips to help my fellow board members with a fundraising dinner on Thursday. “What do you do when you’re not at an anti-trafficking dinner?” The dinner program will do that. MORE
They are busy living their lives, taking care of kids, watching TV, worrying about their jobs or retirement security or next date, cheering for their team, planning vacations, grocery shopping for tonight’s dinner. How often does your donor think about you? Don’t kid yourselves folks, most of your donors never think about your organization spontaneously! MORE
Missy knows what she wants and every afternoon, she waits in her usual spot for her dinner. Gotta go – Missy is ready for her dinner! Missy is one of four cats that live here with us. We adopted her from a local shelter about 10 years ago and she’s a sweetie. MORE
Dinner Related Topics Fundraiser Ideas
MARCH 9, 2010
A spaghetti dinner fundraiser is a classic fundraiser , but it is classic for a reason: It’s remarkably easy and it is a near sure-fire money-maker. For those who are unfamiliar with how to run a successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser, don’t worry, there’s not much to know.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Back on 24 August I received my dinner invitation from ‘friend’ Hillary Clinton. Actually, of course, it was a pitch to offer up my contact info to go into a draw that might win me dinner with the candidate on the campaign trail … Friend — I’d like to get to know you, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than sitting down to dinner together.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
JANUARY 29, 2013
A couple of years ago, I was invited to an unusual dinner party. This was my introduction to the Jeffersonian Dinner. Ready to have that dinner party? (This is a post I wrote for LinkedIn and wanted to share!).
SocialButterfly
SEPTEMBER 3, 2010
For me, social change can be as simple as the inspiration that sits across from you at the dinner table. My dad, Scott Rampy, is a free agent advocate, activist, and fundraiser working to end multiple sclerosis. He’s also humble.
Getting Attention
NOVEMBER 24, 2010
The past few weeks have been busy speaking- and webinar/seminar-wise, with a focus on the secret to messaging that connects — understanding the folks you hope to engage and motivate to act. That’s my rap of late: because it’s so important but so often overlooked. Knowing what matters to your network (a.k.a. target audiences), and how they live their lives, is your key to engaging and motivating them. But knowing your network is vital for reasons far beyond effective marketing.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
OCTOBER 3, 2016
3:45 – 4:00 pm – An afternoon cup of tea and an energy ball, as I know I won’t eat dinner until late tonight. Then I eat dinner (leftovers from the night before), do the dishes (also left over from the night before), watch a little TV and head to bed to read. Sarah Tarnopolsky.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
JULY 25, 2014
Fancy dinner. They can buy themselves dinner. Wine and cheese tasting. Reception. What do all these events have in common? They are generic. Any nonprofit can host these events. They are not special to your donors. They are not especially meaningful.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
Events (dinners, golf tournaments, 5k races, etc.). If you’re stuck wondering how to involve your supporters with your mission, look no further. Here are 35 ideas from a stream of my consciousness. Surveys. Quizzes. Invitations to join a board or committee. Games. Polls. Videos. Advocacy or activism opportunities. Podcasts. Testimonials. Online chat tools. Webinars. Streaming live events. Question and answer sessions. Tell your story opportunities. Infographics. Reports or eBooks.
J Campbell Social Marketing
AUGUST 14, 2014
Are you telling the story in front of a group of 100 people, at an intimate dinner, or during a Twitter Q&A tweet chat? Storytelling is not only a fantastic way to relate to other humans on a personal level, it is also a fantastic marketing and fundraising tool for nonprofits.
A Small Change
APRIL 27, 2015
Verbal recognition during dinner and name and logo displayed during live auction. It’s just that simple.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MAY 12, 2016
Nonprofits spend countless hours — and considerable money — to stage gala dinners, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, and other events that aim to draw attention to their work and rally their supporters to give to their organizations.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
During my time at The Chronicle of Philanthropy , I received thousands of releases from organizations about annual dinners, fundraising events, and award recipients. For example, think about what makes your annual dinner unique.
Fundraiser Ideas
DECEMBER 1, 2011
Charity dinner. If you’re a 501(c)3 organization, many grocery stores will donate gift cards you can use to purchase supplies for your charity dinner. When your charitable cause needs large amounts of money, charity fundraising events can be your best option. The huge funds generated by these events can be used for a single project or the ongoing operations of your charitable organization.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
DECEMBER 8, 2016
For the campaign focused on your annual dinner, you might decide that an interview with your guest speaker on a morning radio show two weeks before the event will help drive attendance and donations.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
Or a good conversation for dinner chat with husband. What’s for dinner? Amie Bennight. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Want to be featured in this series?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MAY 22, 2017
Leave work around 5 or 6pm for a relaxing night at home or meet up with my girlfriend for dinner and talk about our day. Stacy Harbaugh.
iMarketSmart
JUNE 1, 2016
It’s very lonely being a CEO so I like to get together for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with my pals so we can blow off steam and share fresh ideas. So I’m out having lunch with one of my fellow CEO buddies. I do that a lot.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
AUGUST 22, 2016
– I always bring lunch from home, though more often than not it’s leftovers from last night’s dinner or a salad I throw together on the spot. Menucha Saitowitz.
Getting Attention
JANUARY 24, 2017
Flickr: Chip Griffin. The pressure is on to connect and mobilize your people as the world in which we work grows increasingly complex, crowded, and uncertain. Why not recruit folks already connected with your organization to help as marketing and fundraising ambassadors?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
OCTOBER 27, 2016
As a result, a piece about why people should support your organization or attend your fundraising dinner isn’t likely to fly. A well-placed op-ed can help your nonprofit call attention to an important issue or change minds about a controversial topic.
Fundraising Coach
NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Last night, I was asked for some tips to help my fellow board members with a fundraising dinner on Thursday. “What do you do when you’re not at an anti-trafficking dinner?” The dinner program will do that.
J Campbell Social Marketing
JULY 5, 2017
Are you telling the story in front of a group of one hundred people, at an intimate dinner, or during a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session? In my last post, I described some of the benefits of combining the powerful one-two punch of great stories and social media.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JANUARY 12, 2016
Peter Panepento. If you have been reading our blog the last year, you will probably recognize Peter Panepento. Peter is the principal at Panepento Strategies , a full-service content, digital, and social strategy firm for nonprofits and socially-minded companies.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JULY 21, 2016
Knowing the rules can also help you set the right expectations when you do something as simple as offer complimentary admission to reporters at your annual fundraising dinner. True or false: I can offer a reporter free admission to our annual dinner.
iMarketSmart
FEBRUARY 22, 2016
Invite them to participate in an exclusive dinner, lunch or event that proves impact or provides other benefits (such as a sense of community). According to an article in the Journal of Economic Psychology saying thank you can actually have a negative effect on your relationship with a supporter. The researcher notes that gifts, in particular, “reduce feelings of altruism ” causing your expression of gratitude to backfire in your face.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 14, 2016
After dinner, I’ll open my laptop to monitor for any social media activities, trending hashtags, and reply to any unanswered emails. Kristina Kelly.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 20, 2017
– I do a quick workout at home (still recovering from knee surgery, so no running yet, just weights), then make dinner around 5 pm. Kallie Rollenhagen.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
4:30 pm: Fill out my timesheet, reorganize my desk, and head home to make dinner and get ready for the gym. Kristen Olsen. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words.
iMarketSmart
MAY 23, 2016
They could be… [pick one… eating dinner, playing golf, sleeping, working, reading, meeting with another charity, etc.].” Here are 5 proven reasons why fundraisers won’t call their leads to ask for donations: Fear of rejection: This is the most common reason for call reluctance. It’s simple and basic. No one likes to be rejected but it is part of your job. Just reach out. Nine out of ten times, your hot lead will be glad you did.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
They are busy living their lives, taking care of kids, watching TV, worrying about their jobs or retirement security or next date, cheering for their team, planning vacations, grocery shopping for tonight’s dinner. How often does your donor think about you? Don’t kid yourselves folks, most of your donors never think about your organization spontaneously!
J Campbell Social Marketing
JUNE 17, 2014
Once when I went out to a very nice dinner with my husband, the owner came over to our table and asked us how we liked the food. Donor retention (how many donors continue to give to your organization after their first gift) is at an all-time low. It’s abysmal and worrisome.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
APRIL 27, 2017
You’re not going to try to sell him a story idea or get her to come to your annual dinner. When was the last time you reached out to a reporter without a story to pitch?
iMarketSmart
DECEMBER 1, 2014
Little Susie didn’t get breakfast today and she won’t get dinner either because her mom is on drugs and her dad is in prison.). I get it! I get it! Tell stories! There’s been a lot of talk about storytelling for fundraising recently.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 12, 2017
I try and cook a healthy dinner and do some meal prep for the next day. Wendy Hayes. Welcome to the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series!
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
I’ll leave work at around 5 pm to make myself some dinner and go for a quick run in preparation for a fundraiser 5k I’m participating in next month.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
This action-triggered donation program feeds a family of four dinner for an entire week whenever guests book a stay directly at OmniHotels.com.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
JULY 7, 2015
Remember when you were 15 and your mother would tell you to clean up your room, call your grandmother, and come down to dinner all within the same five minutes?
Mission Minded
NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Yours might be a five-course fundraising dinner, or it might be a casual Christmas party at a colleague’s home. This time of year, nonprofit organizations often celebrate their important work (and their coworkers) with parties or other special events.
Get Fully Funded
JANUARY 25, 2011
Missy knows what she wants and every afternoon, she waits in her usual spot for her dinner. Gotta go – Missy is ready for her dinner! Missy is one of four cats that live here with us. We adopted her from a local shelter about 10 years ago and she’s a sweetie.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
Kids are back, hubs rolls in, we figure out a dinner plan. Erika Olson. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Please share too!
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