February 25, 2021
We learn best by seeing what others do – it’s a fact! Fundraising during a pandemic can be tricky, but ClickBid is here to help! It’s difficult to know where to start, especially if you’re making your first leap on a virtual event. With the rise of hybrid and virtual events, it is essential to create a ‘share worthy’ event that your guests will remember while also taking part online or partially online!
There is no longer a geographic restriction with virtual events so that anyone can attend, and you may get higher fundraising totals with the expanded audience and less overhead costs. We have been compiling a list of fundraising ideas and tips that many groups are doing and would love to share the ideas.
Virtual Cooking or Mixology Class Best Practice
Whether you are making homemade pizza or mixing up a mojito, cooking, and mixology classes are the perfect event for virtual audiences. Your organization can partner with a local chef or mixologist and stream the virtual fundraising event live. Charging admission with ClickBid’s ticket page and having different tier levels for gifts is also an important element. Purchasing an additional ticket or making an additional donation will allow your guest to participate in a live chat or hang out with the cook or mixologist after the class is over. Also, your guests can donate while watching the live stream! Read our best practice on how to implement this feature in ClickBid’s software. Go to Training/Support > Training Hub / Best Practices > Best Practices to view our category on Virtual Fundraising Ideas.
Additional Packages / Food Pickup Best Practice
The most crucial part of holding a virtual event is maintaining the importance and enhancing your guests’ experience. When having a virtual event, offering your guests the ability to pick up food from a local restaurant to enjoy while watching your event is a great way to enhance your guests’ experience. Offering additional packages for your guests to purchase is a great way to receive extra fundraising. Partner with local businesses or restaurants will provide guests the opportunity to enjoy excellent food while at home watching your virtual program. With ClickBid’s Ticket page, you can sell different ticket levels and options for your guests to purchase, also with the ability to choose a meal selection. Read our best practice on how to implement this feature in ClickBid’s software. Go to Training/Support > Training Hub / Best Practices > Best Practices to view our category on Virtual Fundraising Ideas.
Social Media / Picture Contest Best Practice
If you are holding an entirely virtual event, you must create engaging opportunities for your guests throughout your fundraiser. One way you can engage your guests is by holding a picture or social media contest. Have your guests share photos on social media with your custom hashtag, or ask guests to submit an image to the competition for voting! Allowing your guests to ‘vote’ for their favorite photo will allow you to collect extra fundraising dollars by charging a voting fee or donation. Engaging your guests to participate in this contest will enhance your event and allow your guests to have some fun. Having a special prize for the winner of the competition will encourage more guests to enter to win. Read our best practice on how to implement this feature in ClickBid’s software. Go to Training/Support > Training Hub / Best Practices > Best Practices to view our category on Virtual Fundraising Ideas.
There are many tips for hosting a virtual or hybrid event that can make your experience run smoothly. The first tip is to engage your audience. Keeping the same mentality as you would for an in-person event, your guests must have a similar experience while being online or through a virtual platform. Creating memorable experiences for your guest to remember and allowing your guests to have some fun while attending is essential to hold an unforgettable event. Another helpful tip for virtual events is to communicate heavily with your audience. On your event’s landing page, make sure your event details are easily viewable and straightforward to read for your guests. Making sure your audience is aware of when, where, and how your event will occur is very important and will avoid possible confusion. Also, communication with your guests will make the checking-out process and item pickup/delivery very easy for your organization. The next tip is to stay organized throughout your event. Staying organized will help your organization avoid any hiccups or stay clear of any show-stopping accidents that can seriously impact the success of your event. Delegating individuals to be in charge of separate aspects of your event may help the flow and the planning process of your event. With everyone working together, you’ll have a much easier time staying organized and planning a successful event.
