online fundraising for nonprofits Archives - Mainstream | Live Video Agency

4 Essential Elements of Successful Virtual Fundraising Events

Jon Silver — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 19:44:59 +0000

The past year of pandemic issues forced organizations to get creative with supporter engagement. From distance learning, and work meetings, to weddings, and social gatherings, more and more organizations are turning to virtual events. Non-profits, looking to engage with their supporters and raise funds for noble causes, are no exception. Virtual fundraising can have an impact and raise significant funds without an in-person gathering of supporters. With the right tools, we are helping our clients continue to engage with their supporters and thrive.

1) An Experienced Event Management Partner

With so many moving pieces and a dizzying array of platforms for communication, virtual events can be an intimidating undertaking. Non-profits looking to maintain their efficacy and grow their mission can rely on established and results-driven organizations like Mainstream Media. Mainstream Media simplifies the process of coordinating these types of events and brings the best options to light – creating dazzling events that appeal to donors.

2) Impeccable Organization

Produced by Civics Unplugged, Commence 2030 was a first-of-its-kind celebration of Gen Z “civic superheroes.” These individuals go above and beyond for their communities and “commence” a brighter future for our country’s democracy. The event featured speeches from world leaders: Senator Cory Booker, Andrew Yang (entrepreneur and founder of Move Humanity Forward), and Dwayne Johnson (Hollywood superstar) to name a few. In addition, Audrey Tang (the Digital Minister of Taiwan), participated. Kathy Roth-Douquet (the founder of Blue Star Families, the largest military families network) also spoke.

At the last minute, the event had to pivot from an in-person affair to a virtual gathering. But Commence 2030 did not diminish the lofty goals set for their event just because they went virtual. With impressive celebrities and an in-house events team keeping it all organized, everything came together and went smoothly.

Staying organized with Mainstream Media and using the Tiltify platform, Commence 2030 received dozens of donations throughout the event. With Tiltify’s built-in graphics overlays, the audience stays informed with up-to-the-second donation updates.

“From the ideation phase to the virtual production phase, the team was such a pleasure to work with and validated that virtual events need professional tech production. Overall, this was a huge success, and I would highly recommend using this team for future events.”
– Alexis Fritchy, Event Coordinator

3) Engaging Graphics and Lively Visuals

In 2020, the Project Glimmer hosted their 10 Year Anniversary show. They honored four-time Grammy nominee Jewel and co-host of The View Sunny Hostin with their Star Awards.

The Project Glimmer team had impeccable standards when it came to graphics. Keeping the audience engaged and entertained was a very high priority. Mainstream Media created dozens of dynamic graphic elements: text-to-call tickers, a live donor scroll, and a donation thermometer kept attendees engaged throughout. And some special “visual awesomeness” was a great addition for when they met their fundraising goal. Project Glimmer’s goal was to raise $100,000 during the event; they ended up exceeding it, raising over $125,000!

“Working with Mainstream Media has always been an absolutely easy process. They instantly tuned into the concept & execution of our clients Virtual needs and partnered with us seamlessly.
– Charlie Kennedy, Show Up Events!

4) Integrating Pre-Event and Post-Event Extras

For the Sacred Heart L’esprit de Sacre Coeur, Mainstream Media produced a virtual live stream auction on the GiveSmart platform. The client managed pre-event communications, live and silent auction bidding, and embedded a live streamed video into the platform. Utilizing this “one stop shop” for donors and viewers simplified the process and created a cohesive experience for attendees.

Mainstream Media coordinated a full day of pre-recording at the school with various members of the staff and committee. The videos included remarks from the Head of School, and a prayer given by a sister of the congregation. There was additionally a reflective message from a parent, and committee. Additional bonus extras were provided to VIP attendees, such as a cocktail recipe and demonstration video by a mixologist. Furthermore, an integrated virtual photobooth encouraged attendees to engage with the event and share it across their social channels. Families enjoyed taking fun pictures, and the resulting images provide useful marketing opportunities. To top it all off, attendees took home a virtual “SWAG Kit” to remember the event. As a result of all these efforts, the event exceeded the client’s goal and raised over $520,000.

The Valerie Fund benefit is typically hosted in a luxury New York City ballroom, with black-tie fashion and exquisite floral centerpieces. Major donors attend The Taste of Giving annual event and all funds raised go towards assisting children fighting cancer. Mainstream Media worked with The Valerie Fund’s webhosting team to stream right on their website. With an integrated donation button and chat feature, viewers could comment about live donations, and react to videos. Donors were even able to give well wishes to Valerie Fund kids.

The live stream event was supported with a graphics package that paid tribute to the beauty of the live event. Mainstream also incorporated glamorous pictures from past events and produced graphics with the feel of an in-person event. A celebrity auctioneer and a live auction bidding organization to host a live auction ensure success of meeting fundraising goals. Overall, The Valerie Fund exceeded their goal and raised over $1,000,000 at this event.

“I chose Mainstream to do my most important NYC fundraiser when I had take it virtual. Lauren, my producer, guided me through with all of the right questions. She listened to my ideas and was a wonderful collaborator who validated my concerns. We raised over a million dollars to help the kids with cancer and blood disorders. Our guests are still talking about how great it was, despite not being in the room together.”
– Lori Abrams, Director of Development

During these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever for organizations to keep their supporters involved and informed. You should hire the right production partner and use engaging graphics. So, if you provide a seamless guest experience , virtual events can enjoy the same benefits of in-person events. Clearly from the client testimonials above, Mainstream Media helps clients succeed in meeting fundraising goals and audience engagement. Online fundraising events don’t have to be intimidating, and don’t have to be a struggle. Hiring an expert like Mainstream Media makes it easy to clarify messaging and engage with supporters to achieve results.

The 3 Best Online Fundraising Platforms for Nonprofits

Sarah Noel Block — Tue, 11 May 2021 15:05:30 +0000

Everyone has a cause that pulls on their heartstrings, and people with compassion are willing to invest time, energy, and money to support that cause through a worthy nonprofit organization. However, many nonprofits find it difficult to get the word out about who they are and what they do, and this can be a potential barrier to their fundraising success. That’s where online fundraising platforms come in. Whether your nonprofit is trying to save the environment or provide educational opportunities for underserved communities, here are the best online fundraising platforms for nonprofits.

The Top 3 Online Fundraising Platforms

What is the best online fundraising platform for nonprofits? It depends on your long-term goals. The perfect service for one organization may not be the ideal fit for another. Each has its pros and cons, so let’s break down our top three online fundraising platforms.

GiveSmart

Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or home computer, patrons can donate through GiveSmart if they have a device. Making it easy for your supporters to give funds is a fabulous way to ensure that they’ll contribute. After all, you don’t want to counteract their feel-good experience of helping your cause by making it complicated. And simplicity is precisely what GiveSmart does best.

GiveSmart makes the experience of donating hassle-free and safe, and they have an excellent support system. GiveSmart offers help 24/7 and has a plethora of tutorial videos to show you how to use their platform to fundraise successfully. They also have a help center filled with step-by-step instructions and other resources, such as articles and checklists.
Depending on how tech-savvy you are, you can choose to set up your fundraiser yourself or upgrade to have one of their pros help you along the way. Charities can also use the service for online auctions, ticket sales, event management, guest relations, and gathering donations via text.

Their site describes their service as “robust” and states that you’ll have “encouragement every step of the way.” Yes, you’ll be working hard. However, GiveSmart will be by your side cheering you on and giving you motivation from the first contact through the final stages of your fundraiser. That positivity combined with a painless user experience can set up your efforts for success.

Our Favorite Thing About GiveSmart

The GiveSmart platform has a set cost, so you know what you’re getting into from the get-go. That can be a substantial positive if the event raises a lot of funds. However, if your fundraiser doesn’t do well, the annual fee may eat a chunk of what you’ve collected. GiveSmart has a lot going for it with their support and user experience, which can equal more funds for your organization.

OneCause

If having a custom fundraising website is essential to your organization, then OneCause is the ideal choice. Users can create a site for a virtual fundraiser, an online auction, or an in-person fundraising event. OneCause emphasizes using software to inform patrons of your fundraiser while making it easy to donate toward your cause.

The platform also offers creative ways to recognize sponsors, and everything can be integrated into your social media accounts. OneCause makes it easy to access reports — 125 different types! — so that an organization can evaluate what’s working and what isn’t.

Another plus is OneCause’s plethora of helpful articles. They cover how to use their service and how to set up your fundraiser for success. Topics range from the importance of telling a compelling story about your nonprofit to strategies for increasing engagement for your fundraiser.

Like other online fundraising platforms, OneCause has an annual fee, allowing organizations to host year-round online events. Donors can choose to offset a portion of the annual fee as they make their charitable donations.

Our Favorite Thing About OneCause

This online fundraising platform helps users think creatively about fundraising. OneCause supports various options, such as online auctions and hybrid events, combined with in-person and virtual fundraising. However, they also offer other assistance such as helping nonprofits appoint charity ambassadors and providing guidance on organizing a year-end fundraiser to finish strong. The platform is a great place to start if you’re looking for ideas on what type of online event is best for your organization.

Pledge

Once known as Pledgeling, Pledge is forward-thinking when it comes to raising money. They are currently offering the only virtual camera app dedicated to fundraising, called PledgeCam. The app provides a unique take on how to fundraise live. A donation thermometer increases as your funds do, which generates excitement during your live fundraiser. Supporters can donate and see what others are contributing in real-time.

Another positive point about Pledge is that it allows you to integrate raising funds into online retail sales. Customers shopping online can donate toward your cause as they are checking out. Having this option increases both funds and awareness as folks learn about your charity. Those who make purchases can also choose to round up their payment as a donation.

Pledge has also partnered with the new live audio platform Clubhouse. This allows nonprofits to talk about their charity on Clubhouse and raise funds at the same time. Doing this is a fabulous way to answer questions, poll your audience, and interview those who benefit from your nonprofit, all in real-time. Also, instead of charging an annual fee, Pledge works on a tip-based model where organizations can express their thanks by leaving a gratuity.

Our Favorite Thing About Pledge

When it comes to thinking outside the box, Pledge comes out on top. Creative partnerships, such as the one with Clubhouse, really give Pledge an edge. Their top priorities are fundraising and raising awareness for good causes. Pledge’s website even has an “Explore Causes” tab where users can browse and choose a nonprofit to donate to, which is another fabulous way to spread the word. All of these touchpoints can add up to a successful fundraiser for your organization.

Need Help with Your Online Fundraiser?

We at Mainstream Media can help bring your fundraising dreams to life. Our professional live stream and video production services can kick things up a notch for your organization.

Having a production partner like Mainstream Media available to help set up and manage your platform ensures you get 360-degree support. For example, incorporating real-time donation data into your stream encourages participation and increases donations.

Contact Mainstream Media today to see how we can help make your fundraising event a huge success.