The Field Guide to Fundraising for Nonprofits by Sarah B. Lange

Author:Sarah B. Lange
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440854606
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

Incorporating Your Mission

As you’re planning your special event, be careful not to get so caught up in the details of planning that you forget to incorporate the mission and personality of your nonprofit! This may seem patently obvious, but people forget to do this more often than you’d think.

For example, we worked with a battered women’s shelter that held an annual fashion show using clothing from their thrift shop, but failed to educate guests about the lives of the women they serve. We suggested they have the models hold signs with facts and figures about domestic violence as they walked down the runway so guests could learn in a very powerful way about the scope, frequency, and impact of domestic violence. When we interviewed some of the participants about the show, nearly all of them said they had no idea what these women were up against and wanted to do more to help. So, while we took a bit of a risk and the signs may have caused some initial discomfort, the women who attended became more committed than ever to this agency and its cause.

There was another organization who helped homeless women secure housing and prepared them to enter the workforce. They displayed before and after posters of the women they helped, had some of their clients walk around the room, dressed up, with “I’m an ‘after’” on their nametags, and scattered postcards with some of their client’s stories on the dinner tables. One or two clients were seated at each dining table as well and shared their stories. These strategies allowed guests to see—and hear—firsthand the stories of the women they’d helped, which in turn helped them make a more powerful connection to the agency.

While you’re putting together the plan for your big event, be sure to think of creative ways to incorporate your nonprofit’s mission, brand, and personality, so that people can become more engaged with the cause while enjoying your event.

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