Fundraising Galas in the Face of the COVID pandemic
Cassie Brown, chief experience officer and owner of TCG Events, comments on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting events in Special Events’ article about fundraising galas.
“If the spring events move to fall of 2020, will [organizers] turn around and do another ask in spring of 2021? This is a serious concern for nonprofits. With so many events packed in the fall—hopefully–the competition will be much greater between events. Will attendance drop significantly? Will donors/attendees be fatigued or grateful to be out?”
GOING FORWARD And from here? “Until the ability to gather returns, nonprofits–like all businesses–are going to have to get creative,” Brown says.
“We have seen several organizations go back to the non-event fundraiser,” she notes. “Luckily, the technology for digital silent auctions has gotten so good in the last few years, it is easy to move silent auctions entirely to the online space.”
But it’s wise to rethink auction items, as offering luxury items might come across as tone-deaf. “It is tough to ask people to bid on a safari trip or signed jersey when the world in in such turbulence,” Brown adds.
Read full article below:
Image by