New York City hosts hundreds of nonprofit events every year. From global and national organizations to local schools and charities, the competition for fundraising dollars is fierce. What will it take to make your event stand out amongst the crowd? Here are 4 event-hosting secrets to get you started.
Get Guests’ Attention Early and Often
Start the hype for your event early and keep it up. Donors are in high demand and their schedules fill up fast. By waiting to send out invitations you are running the risk of missing out on the attendance of one of your key contributors. Once invites have been sent out, keep in touch with attendees to keep them excited about the upcoming event. Don’t let your event take them by surprise when the date finally arrives.
Keep these contacts (usually emails) brief and be sure to include exciting news about the upcoming event. Were you able to land a top chef for the evening? Will there be a performance by a celebrity guest or a speech by a distinguished attendee? Share this information as it comes in and keep your guests talking right up until the day of the event.
Eliminate The Babysitter
While some couples may relish a night out on the town without the kids, others would be more than happy to use the babysitter as an excuse to head home early or not attend at all. Invite the kids to come along and eliminate the babysitter.
A kid-friendly event doesn’t necessarily have to be “kiddie”, but plan to have some games or a show to keep the young ones entertained so that their parents are able to focus on the business at hand.
Book an Interesting Venue
Rather than inviting guests into your own facility, show them to a night on the town. Give guests VIP access to a New York landmark or invite them to discover one of the city’s hidden gems. While your cause should be front and center at any event, providing an interesting backdrop will give your guests one more reason to come out and show their support.
Create a Memorable Moment
An interesting venue and amazing cuisine are great ways to bring people in, but a year from now none of your donors will remember how good the cheesecake was. What guests will remember is that special moment in the night when a great entertainer had them dancing, or an impassioned speech had the crowd on its feet.
The truth is, celebrity guests, performers and speakers make it a whole lot easier to create a memorable moment. A performance by a favorite pop star or a speech from a well-known writer, politician or television personality can go along way. However, if that isn’t an option, a truly heartfelt speech by one of the key players in your organization will leave the crowd with plenty to remember.
Before you send your chairman out to give a speech in front of hundreds of guests, make sure that they’re the right person for the job. While a poor public speaking performance isn’t the end of the world, missing out on a real opportunity to get your donors excited could be. Make sure the speech is well practiced and prepared and take full advantage of your guests’ attention.
Would you like more details about hosting your next Fundraiser or Nonprofit Event at 583 Park Avenue? CONTACT US today. One of our event coordinators will be in touch with you shortly.