Hi Everyone!
First, I want to start with a BIG apology for my blogging hiatus. A family vacation and a busy work schedule (outside of blogging) kept me away. But now, I am back with a stockpile of ideas to write about.
I am going to start with the events of this past weekend. This post is split into two topics. The first section describes a personal revelation I had as a blogger. But, that may not interest you! So, feel to go straight to the meat and potatoes advice about fundraising events in the section following, Thanks!
Humbled—Introducing Your New and Improved Blogger
So, I went to an absolutely stunning gala for the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I had never been to such an upscale fundraising event—and I was amazed.
The tent was decked in chandeliers and featured an elegant bar that encircled a tower of orchids. The cloud-like room draped in billowing white fabric was accented with beautiful young women dressed in silver sequined strapless mini dresses. To complete their totally Mod look, they sported electric blue bob wigs that were topped off with Paula-Abdul-style headsets, allowing them whisper logistics to their twins who spanned the venue.
They were super cool…and I was out of my element.
I took a few deep breaths and parked myself in front of platter at a sushi bar equipped with easy-access tongs to fill and refill my plate. As I took comfort in noshing, I wondered, “What could I learn at this elaborate event that will help my readers?”
Most of you have restricted fundraising event budgets. You rely on homespun charm and resourceful genius. And with the exception of the auctioneer, your staff is primarily volunteer and inexperienced. I confess to a moment of arrogance thinking that the scope of financial and professional resources (donated or otherwise) trained on pulling off this event felt a bit like cheating.
I was swiftly humbled.
In fact, as the evening unfolded, the rug was completely pulled out from under me again and again, as I cried, cheered, and felt the room come together for a common goal.
I giggled with the friend sitting next to me as we sorted out what sequence to attack our eight pieces of silverware! And, the paradigm I had built in my head about how I think fundraising events stack up came collapsing in.
The net of it all is, when it comes to fundraising events, whether the budget is $1,000 or $100,000, authenticity and passion prevail. It is a spectrum of goodwill that deserves respect at every level. And, in reality, to meet the MASSIVE collective financial needs of non-porofit organizations large and small, we absolutely need that entire spectrum of events to bring in dollars from all types of donors.
So, shame on me for thinking that you have to bootstrap to be authentic.
The good news, for you, is that your blogger grew up and expanded her horizons. Once I opened my mind, I learned A LOT on Saturday night that is highly relevant to you and your event! Regardless of where your event falls on the spectrum of fundraising, you can benefit from this post. Please read on!
Put The IMPACT of Your Organization Center Stage—What I learned from Harrison
It is safe to assume that every person who walks in the door to your event embraces the mission of your organization. But, it is erroneous to assume that every person who walks in the door of your event grasps the impact of your mission.
And, while the mission of your organization undoubtedly touches heart of your attendees, it is the impact of your mission that will get them in their gut. In fact, putting the impact of your mission center stage can cause a group of attendees to coalesce—reacting collectively, sharing empathy, and experiencing enlightenment.
To that end, I would like to introduce you to Harrison Zuckerberg.
Harrison was honored at the JDRF event I attended, this weekend. He is ten years old and has had Type-1 Diabetes for most of his life. At six years old he started a movement called T-1 Enlightenment to raise awareness for finding a cure to Type-1 Diabetes. It is this work that he was honored for.
The video, below, of his speech is only four minutes long. About two minutes in, you will see possibly the best example I could find anywhere of putting the impact of your mission center stage.
In the ten minutes following Harrison’s speech, the audience (approximately 400 people) committed $139,000 toward the JDRF’s efforts to Forward a Cure! These were incremental donations above and beyond funds raised by the live and silent auctions and the ticket sales.
Now, don’t for a second be intimidated by the process of putting the impact of your mission center stage. Not every organization is lucky enough to have a Harrison. But, there are many ways to accomplish this that are within reach.
The first step (And the most important one!),
is to define your organization’s impact in its simplest terms.
Make your impact relatable to everyone in the room. Harrison is a great teacher for us on this! He tells us, in tactical terms, how every day of his life as a ten-year-old boy will change when he is cured of Type-1 Diabetes.
For a live case study in accomplishing this, I called a college friend, Christina, who is the president of the board of trustees of a massive watershed association in New Jersey—a powerful group that protects watershed areas across 470 square miles of the state.
Most likely, an attendee at a fundraising event for Christina’s organization will know that a watershed association’s mission is to ensure the protection of the natural resources of a watershed through education, advocacy, land preservation, and stewardship.
And, while we can all grasp that mission in our head, it isn't something that we can feel in our gut—something we will talk to our friends about. That’s why we need to crack open that mission and expose the organization’s impact on the community.
Throughout our conversation, my passionate and intelligent friend Christina kept using heady and scientific terminology such as, “non-point source pollution,” “impervious surfaces,” “soil degradation,” and “open space,” as she waxed on about the expansive work of the organization. Honestly, it was a little confusing, and not at all compelling.
So I stopped her. And, I asked Christina to imagine her community without the watershed association.
“Oh!” She said. And, she paused.
That was the trick. The conversation turned more…well conversational! And we got to some relatable impacts that an event audience would quickly embrace. They broke down into little “what if, stories” that could be communicated in a speech, montage, or video. Here is one such “what if story.” Just imagine Christina at the podium speaking to you…
Imagine a wooded area. A canopy of trees allows rain water to disperse evenly across the forest bed. The soil gently filters the droplets. They gather underground yielding to natural flows that lead to tributaries, streams, rivers, and eventually lakes and reservoirs.
Now replace that wooded area with an average big box store. 500,000 square feet of absorbent soil is traded in for impervious roof and parking lot asphalts. The rushing waters channeling across these non-porous surfaces dislodge and take on oil, grease, phosphorus, road salt, and other manmade debris.
The water is artificially routed to rivers and streams. Naturally ill-equipped to handle the volume, these waterways are diverted and manipulated to efficiently deliver this “fresh” water to our reservoirs.
Without our organization—WITHOUT YOU—contamination of our drinking water supply would go unchecked. But, with all of us working together, standards including multi-level garages, porous pavement, parking lots beneath stores, and re-development of existing vacant properties, are put in place help to support both our ecosystem and our economy.
Christina’s donors definitely have interest in funding stewardship and education. However, they are PASSIONATE about seeing to it that the oil, radiator fluid and gasoline from expansive big box parking lots don’t end up in our drinking water supply.
Supporters of JDRF, want to find a cure for Type-1 Diabetes. But, they are PASSIONATE about seeing to it that children with Type-1 Diabetes, like Harrison, can go to a sleep at night without fearing they will slip into a diabetic coma.
So, put your organization’s impact center stage at your event,
and transform your caring donors into PASSIONATE supporters!
And remember, the bliss is in the details!
Warm regards,
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
“We had such a great time! Why didn’t more people come to the fundraiser?”
That’s what Mrs. Q., my 4 ½ year old’s preschool teacher, asked me on Monday morning. And, you know, it's a great question. After doing some due diligence, I think I know why.
The preschool has a history of lovely annual fundraising events. This year was no different! The event was held at a very convenient and well-liked local pub. The evening was relaxed with a great DJ who played 80s music (You spin me right round, baby. Right round, like a record, baby…).
In addition to throwing a great party, the moms organizing the event did a great job of publicizing the event. THEY DID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS!
- Notices were sent home with the kids with plenty of time to hire a sitter.
- Email reminders were sent weekly
- A price cut was offered to people who bought their tickets early
- Auction items were put up online for preview and bidding
- And, a week prior to the event every parent had to walk by a balloon bouquet with a sign… “Have You Bought Your Tickets Yet?”
And yet, attendance at the event was really low. My heart went out to the organizers because they had done such an excellent job, and everyone who went had a blast! But, more guests in attendance mean more money raised. And, I am sure the organizers left the evening feeling a little frustrated and wondering what more they could have done.
At the event, I had a chat with my wise friend, Shelby—my go-to mom at the school for getting perspective. She said, “Sometimes you just do all you can do.” She was right. And, I am sure like me, she felt like the event organizers checked the box on every event planning best practice in the book.
So...that got me thinking. Maybe the book is missing something! And, after a little research, I realized that--in fact--we need to add a chapter to that book. And, when we do, the solution to low attendance is definitely within reach!
As Fundraising Event Planners, We Need to Improve Our E.Q.
To set the stage for the ideas I am offering up, I am going to roll back the clock and dust off a buzz word from when I was getting my MBA—E.Q. or Emotional Intelligence. Here is how Wikipedia explains it:
As a group, fundraising event planners are highly successful from an I.Q. perspective. We cover all the logical communications requirements—date, time, place, menus, auction information, and we provide frequent reminders. But from an E.Q. perspective, we are missing the boat.
To get to the bottom of this, I asked people who decided not to attend this event one simple question,
"Why didn't you come?"
Beyond simple calendar conflicts, here are a few reasons why people didn’t attend the fundraising event this weekend:
- I couldn’t get a sitter, and I didn’t want to go alone.
- I was afraid I wouldn’t know enough people and I would feel awkward.
- I was afraid everyone else would know each other and I would feel left out.
- I was afraid I wouldn’t remember people’s names—I feel like I should know them by now.
- I have been to fundraising events that are a total snoozer.
- I didn’t really want to give up my Saturday night for this.
Of course, these reasons will change some from one event to the next. But, I think you will agree that they are universally experienced on some level.
Now we have some real things we can solve for!
I am going to use the preschool fundraiser as a case study in the ideas below, but many of the ideas could be applied to your fundraising events!
Emails that Address Social Anxiety Head-On
Emails that to pump up the fun factor of the event and dispell any social anxiety fears can be sent out in the final week of ticket sales. Address issues head-on with lighthearted treatment of the concerns that are holding people back from attending. Below, are two emails that could have been used for this event.
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EMAIL SUBJECT: YES, there will be name tags!
Hey All,
We know that you have options on how to spend your Saturday night, so we are putting some things in place to make sure you know the fundraiser will be a great night!
You Don’t Have to Worry About Forgetting People’s Names! We will have NAME TAGS. Plus, we will include your kid’s name, their teacher’s name, and provide color coded stickers so that you will know at-a-glance if you are talking to the parent of one of your child’s classmates.
You Can Sit with Your Friends at Dinner! We will have place cards available at check in. All you have to do it grab your place card, put it at a place setting, and tell your friends to put theirs next to yours. Guaranteed awesome dinner conversation!
You will have Natural Opportunities to Network! Whether it is while you wait for the bartender to mix your drink, while you browse through the auction items, or while you are on line for the buffet, the evening is filled with natural opportunities to start conversation with the person next to you! This is a great group of parents, and you are guaranteed to make new friends!
So, rest assured this will be a great way to spend your Saturday night!
We can’t wait to see you there!
Carol, Nicole, Penny, and Mary (The Fundraiser Committee)
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EMAIL SUBJECT: Didn’t get a babysitter?
So you are interested in attending the fundraiser, but you didn't get a babysitter and you don’t want to go alone. Well, we are here to tell you, you won’t be alone!
- We will have friendly greeters at the door to make you feel welcome and even walk you to the bar to get your first drink, if you like!
- Other parents, including Sara Thompson and Emily Jones, are coming on their own! Look for them, they will be happy to have you join the conversation.
- Your kids’ teachers will be delighted to see you! What a nice opportunity to get to know each other outside the classroom.
- Plus, we are a community of people with a long history of enjoying each other at this event. We promise you will only feel alone for the 30 seconds from your car to the front door of the event!
So, please come! Don’t let a little thing like not having a date to walk in with keep you from a wonderful evening among friends.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Carol, Nicole, Penny, and Mary (The Fundraiser Committee)
Signage to Highlight the Fun Factor
Highlight the diversity and interest of your non-profit's community by communicating Silly, Fun and Fascinating Facts about its members! This chalk board is located at the entrance of our school and used for announcements. Other facts could have included:
Which teacher has served chateaubriand
at 30,000 feet?
Which Mom worked at NASA?
Which Dad was an Olympic rower?
Everybody has something about them that is intriguing--I am actually the mom who worked at NASA!
Let people know that at your fundraiser, there will be a room full of people who will laugh, listen and be great conversationalists! Fun facts like these can be rotated daily in the final week of ticket sales to create a buzz.
Personal Notes That Make People Feel Wanted
Everybody wants to feel wanted. And, in this electronic age, a handwritten note truly has the ability to stand out and make someone feel special. Below is an example of something a teacher or administrator could place in students' cubbies during the final week of ticket sales to reach out to parents who have not yet purchased tickets.
Amp Up Your E.Q, and Amp Up Attendance
Whether or not these specific tactics can be applied to your organization, I hope that you all feel encouraged to start to develop your E.Q. as fundraising event planners. Just keep in mind...
Our guests are all human.
They need to be nurtured and coaxed and reassured.
Being informed simply isn't enough!
This was a heady and long topic today! Honestly, it took me ages to get to the heart of the issue. But, I think this line of thinking could be very valuable to all of us. I hope you feel like your time spent reading was a good investment!
Remember, the Bliss is in The Details!
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
This Saturday, I went to a wonderful fundraising event for an elementary school in Stamford, CT. I had the chance to observe some amazing fundraising excellence in action. Plus, the night was extra special for me, because, I went with my Dad.
Arm-in-arm, this 42-year-old mom walked into the ballroom with her 76-year-old father (and employer). I felt so proud. It was the 1978 Father-Daughter Square Dance at the Annual Girl Scout Jamboree all over again.
As a result, while mulling how I should report my fundraising findings from the event back to you, I found myself in a reminiscent mindset. Did you know, I first worked for Dad three decades ago?
In the summers just preceding my teenage years, I helped my parents run an aerial sightseeing business out of the rustic Trade Wind airport on Martha’s Vineyard. Featuring tales of the hundreds of flights launched from the bumpy grass runways, my back-to-school essay, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation," was always the most exciting story from the class. (Once I was even published in our local newspaper, Our Summer Sailplane Service, 1982!)
And so…this week I am giving a nod to those long ago essays about summers with my dad and submitting to you for your grading my Monday-back-to-work essay on “What I Did This Past Weekend!” (I hope I get an A+!)
First off, this was a very impressive event. I was most struck by the event team’s focus and organization—This group orchestrated the evening more like a Navy Seals Unit than a temporary assembly of volunteer moms.
I got a real kick out of overhearing one G.I. Jane answer another’s question with … “You will find that at Central Ops.” Um…turns out that “Central Ops” was the registration table. Really, they were incredible!
I can’t possibly cover everything that was great about the evening one post. So, I am going to dedicate this post to what I think they did best.
They made it EASY for me to spend my money.
Here are five ways I think they excelled in making the spending experience effortless and enjoyable for their guests.
1. Express Checkout
The Express Checkout option on registration really set the tone that this group truly respected my time. Nobody likes the long lines at checkout at fundraising events. Knowing that the end of the evening would simply involve grabbing my invoice and picking up the items I had won was great. I felt like I had wings!
For those who haven’t done this, express checkout simply involves asking for credit card information at registration with the understanding that all purchases will be charged on that card after the event.
Receiving a clean and clear email receipt within 24 hours of the event closed the loop on this process, and really made me feel like event organizers were ultra considerate of, not only my time, but also my financial information.
2. That “Already Paid” Feeling!
By the time I stepped in front of the first silent auction item that piqued my interest, I had actually already signed my receipt. And, for whatever reason, this gave me a sense of bidding freedom. Spending money was inevitable, predestined even! I was just going through the motions of making the bids I was intended to make.
3. Pre-populated Bids
Every bid sheet had the incremental amounts of the bids pre-populated in the column. The incremental jumps between bids ranged from $5 to $50 depending on the value of the item. For example, restaurant vouchers went up by $5 increments, while a 2-week sleep away camp went up by $50 increments.
So, all I had to do was write my bidder number or sign my name. I didn’t have to run through my typical mental routine…What is an appropriate next bid?…What are they expecting?…What will make me look like serious bidder?
It was all so easy! There was no debate in my head to slow my progress or detract from the evening. Just sign and step…and, sign and step…and, sign and step. You get the idea!
4. Table Service
The meal can chew up (pun intended) dozens of valuable fundraising minutes at an event. Don’t simply dedicate this time to digestion! At this event, a very friendly woman came by the table with silver “Mystery Envelopes.” These envelopes were $20 a piece and contained vouchers that were at least a $20 value.
Now, I know we don’t want to leverage peer pressure too much as fundraisers, but we can’t ignore the opportunity altogether! Truth is you really don’t want to be the only person at the table who doesn’t purchase a Mystery Envelope! Plus, there is a silent competition going on around the table…who will select the most valuable envelope! The gentlemen next to me won, he got a $50 jewelry gift certificate.
5. The Power of the $20 Bill
Your guests may enter the event with a set amount that they want to spend on live or silent auction items. But, they also have a wallet with at least $100 of twenties in it as well. Give them lots of reasons to spend that money!
For this event, there were three additional $20 options for spending money.
- $20 got you three raffle tickets to win an iPad
- $20 got you a Mystery Envelope
- $20 got you a stunning 8x10 black and white photo of your child (More on this in a later post—it was fantastic!)
There were about 150 guests at this event. Many were couples, so let’s guess that there were 100 possible purchasers. If each purchaser freed three $20 bills from their wallet at the event, that added a total of $6,000 to the money raised!
It was such a memorable night. And, it was all in the name of research! Dad and I are tapping into the local fundraiser circuit to figure out how we can improve our offerings in our FundraisingRides business.
Not a bad gig, right? We get to go to parties, meet new people, have a great meal (Yummy steak on Saturday!), and learn about the amazing things people just like you are doing for your non-profits!
My plan is to bring you more helpful details about the fundraisers we attend in the coming months. In the meantime, share your fundraising event details with me in our online form and get a chance to win a hot air balloon ride for two! Dad and I can’t travel across the country…so if you have some great ideas to share with the group, please submit them!
And remember, the bliss is in the details,
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
I want to let you in on a secret. My greatest asset is also the thing that is most likely to trip me up. Here is how it usually goes down. Something out in the world really strikes me in a good way, next thing I know, a child’s voice in my mind convincingly whispers...
“...I can do that.”
It is this voice that throws me into a Lucille Ball-like tizzy—acting swiftly, debunking deterrents, hurdling (or hurtling!) road blocks, and making bold assumptions. I am proud to say, that I have a little better track record than Lucy. (Although, that voice has compelled me to make Paella time and again with the same porridge-like results.)
Today, I am here to report on a project that I can put in the “win” column. It all started as I was meandering around my fabulous new Pinterest account when I came across a Holten Rower video. Have you seen this? Well, you have to. No, really you do. Watch the video below. Go ahead, click play!
I bet you feel groovy, now. Has there ever been more soothing artwork? The rhythm of the tipping coffee cups, the determination of the cascading hues, and the blossoming of the rainbows. Ahhh. Did you hear that??? There she is again…
“...I can do that.”
At my first opportunity, I dove for the basement. I wrested a giant old canvas from the piles, dug out my ancient acrylics, and found a tarp. My 12 year-old and 4 year-old daughters swiftly caught the fever. They threw on their pants with holes and followed me in a procession to the garage. (We also may have put a sign on the door, “Top Secret Project in the Garage—No Boys!”)
After a dreamy afternoon of mixing and pouring paints with my girls, I had established a proof-of-concept (as well as a masterpiece that is destined for our living room). The result, I ACTUALLY can do this! Not only that, my kids could too.
"Hmmm…" my little voice said,
"There is something more to this."
I got it! How about the most super-fantastic-fun-whimsical-easy classroom fundraiser art auction item of all time!
Monday morning, I headed to the art store to make this new endeavor official (in my case it was my favorite art store mecca Jerry's Artarama ). Here is what I bought:
One 12”x12” canvas $5.41
One 8”x8” canvas $3.12
One 4”x4” canvas $3.20
Eight 75ml tubes of acrylic paint $1.99/each (make sure one color is white)
Elmer’s Wood Glue $4.24
(I will also use a varnish for this project, but I had it at home)
So, I spent about $32 at the art store (The paint will easily be enough for two canvases). You will also need Dixie cups (no wax), plastic spoons, one paint brush, paper towels and a couple rags.
I will layout the basic steps, below. Of course, being a classroom art project you will want to bring the kids into the process. The older they are, the earlier they can be brought in. Your youngest artists will be delighted just to pour.
Prior to Painting Day
Put lines of wood glue on the backs of the frames of the 8”x8” and 4”x4” canvases. Center the 8”x8” in the middle of the 12”x12” and center the 4”x4” in the middle of the 8”x8.” Do this at least the night before so that the glue can set.- Get a sheet of white card stock and create a grid. Each child involved in the project will need their own box in the grid (You may need two sheets). Inside each box put a circle. This sheet will be what you use for the kids to record the paint color they poured. After they pour their paint, the child will swipe the paint brush across the inside of the cup and fill in the circle with their color. Then they write their names below the circles in the box. This will be a great addition to the auction table when you display the art!
Painting Day
Step One: Squeeze each of the colors of paint into separate Dixie cups. Fill them about ¼ the way up. To create more colors use additional cups with the original colors plus some white. Then go ahead and mix some of the others together too. You should have at least 30 cups of paint (colors can repeat).
Step Two: Most likely the colors are too thick to pour. You can thin them out with water. Thin out the colors a little bit at a time. Mix them with your spoon, when the viscosity of your paint stops plopping off the spoon and starts pouring off the spoon, you are good to go.
Step Three: Get a kid and put a smock on him/her.
Step Four: Let the child pick a color. If the kids are young, have them stand on stools over the canvas. Have each child pour the paint into the middle of the top canvas. After the first color is poured, the child will be pouring in the middle of the previous color.
Step Five: Have the child fill in their box on the grid. Remove the smock, and go get another kid.
Step Six: Repeat until all the kids have poured and all the Dixie cups are gone.
Here are a few tips
Don’t rush this. Ideally, you can space this project out over at least an hour. Allowing each color to spread a bit before adding the next is a good thing.
Pour in the center. Try to keep the paint pouring in the same spot centered on the top canvas.
Ensure paint spreads evenly. If one side is getting more paint tilt the canvas up a bit to make sure that it disburses evenly across the canvas. I slid spoons under the canvas to tilt it just a bit, as needed.
Leverage the photo opp! Have one parent volunteer dedicated to documenting the creation of the art. These photos will be a great addition to the auction display.
Don’t move the canvas for 48 hours. And, allow canvas to dry at least one week before varnishing.
Try a black or gray canvas! Especially if you have more than one classroom, try painting one of the canvases gray or black before you start. The colors will pop!
This all sounds harder than it really is. Don’t be intimidated! The kids will absolutely love watching the bands of color move down the canvas. They will be so proud!!! And, the format is very forgiving. If a bit of paint drips into another color—don’t worry! It will look great no matter what.
Okay…now go forth and pour paint. Get messy. Get Groovy. And, don’t forget to let me know how it all works out.
Remember, the bliss is in the details!
Jenna --Please see 4/5/12 update below--
We finally got the art project I did with my girls up this weekend! It is 6 ft x 4 ft and looks amazing! The girls are so proud to have their work so prominently displayed in our living room! :)
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
Take it from me…no wait, take it from you! No…that doesn’t sound right either. What I mean to say is, people just like you have shared with me these three super-effective, low-effort, last-minute fundraising event details that you can take to the bank!
Round Up Your Returns
No, I am not talking about the “Yee Haw Ride ‘em Cowboy” type of round up. I am talking about your third grade math teacher type of round up. Evan, who raises money for a private school in Berkeley, CA tells me that the average revenue from this idea is an additional $2,000 to $3,000!
All it involves is one final small ask at the close of the evening. You invite your guests to “round up” at the auction checkout to the nearest $50 or $100 dollar increment.
One thing to keep in mind is that assigning your checkout table workers this responsibility may not be the best approach. They are under pressure. They have to work swiftly and professionally while being gracious and grateful to each and every guest.
Also, your checkout table staff may not be 100% comfortable asking guests for an additional donation, or they simply could forget to ask as the table gets busy.
Why not ensure all guests are presented with the opportunity by announcing it at the podium as you give your guests a final thank you and goodbye.
“Please stop by the auction checkout table to claim your auction items. Also, we are inviting everyone to round up their checks to the nearest $50 increment, tonight. Just a little more from each of you will go a long way in meeting our fundraising goals!”
To back this up, you can print out table tents with clever encouragements and strategically place them on the checkout table near the pens your guests will use to write their checks (see photo above).
Make Your Accountant Smile! Round up to the nearest $50 and give him a nice even number to work with.
Make Your 3rd Grade Math Teacher Proud! Show her that you still remember how to round up to the nearest $50.
You know [insert Exec. Dir. Name] Is Bad at Math! Round up to the nearest $50 and make her job easier.
Rounding up is a great idea! But, you also should keep in mind that you have been asking your guests for money all evening. Plus, at the end of the evening, guests may be a little tired and their buzz has likely warn off.
If you keep the tone of this final push lighthearted and brief, your guests will respect the idea and be more likely to say to themselves, “Aw what the heck!”
Seize the Moment (with Spotters!)
There will be one intensely meaningful moment at your event where your guests will feel deeply connected to your mission and cohesive as a community. You will have their complete attention and their complete commitment--emotionally. At this pivotal moment, you can also inspire a stronger commitment—financially.
Maybe it’s after a member of the community you serve says a few words of thanks. Maybe it will be after a photo montage of the work completed in the past year. Maybe it will be after a beloved board member speaks about the highlights of her years of service to this organization.
When your donors hearts are open their wallets will be open too. Remember your guests are at the event to give money! So, harness the emotional power of that moment to expand the giving power of the audience.
Make a specific heart-felt ask!
“Please raise your paddles if you would like to make a $100 gift (or $500, or $1,000?) to ensure that we continue to [insert wording specific t that inspiring moment and the services you deliver]!”
Now, don’t get distracted by the rush of wind racing through the room as dozens of paddles are raised high! BE ON YOUR TOES AND BE PREPARED!!! You need the three “P”s…Paper, Pens and People!
Let me bring the challenge home…Stand three feet away from your computer and sway from side to side. Now you have 10 seconds to write down all the auction numbers in the picture above….GO!
Why only 10 seconds? Because your donors’ paddles will soon start to drift and twist.
A woman might turn to the guest to her left to exchange a few meaningful words, or a guest will reach for his drink or try butter his roll one-handed, or perhaps a guest will not want to keep her arm raised because her dress shifts in an awkward way when she does so.
But, that’s okay! All you need to make the most of this moment are several well-positioned , well-prepped (and sober) spotters placed strategically around the room before “the ask.”
They should be assigned specific table numbers or quadrants of the room to ensure that every paddle number is captured on paper and can be added to the guests’ totals at the checkout table.
Turn Low Value Into High Worth
Got a few auction donations that are low in value or a little mundane? Don’t worry, EVERYONE gets them! And, while you probably don’t want to put them in your auction (by association, they can diminish the value of other items on the table), you also don’t want to hurt the feelings of the very nice people who contributed them to your event.
Not sure how to handle it? Fear not, these items can be blessings in disguise!
Sandie who raises money for a community health clinic turned on a dime and it paid off. Not feeling great about including the low value items she received on the auction table (such as inexpensive jewelry, an oil change certificate, movie tickets and a crisp $50 bill), at the last-minute, Sandie added a bucket raffle to her event.
To her delight, the bucket raffle generated almost as much as the silent auction! Sandie sold tickets at three donation levels and guests dropped their raffle tickets into little buckets in front of each of the items. To keep the auction checkout process running smoothly, she set up a separate line for the raffle winners to pick up their items. Well done, Sandie!
Now, I am not usually an advocate of adding things to your event at the last minute, but my guess is that even if your event is tonight, you could add at least one of these ideas to the evening without too much risk.
The annual auction only comes around once a year! Your donors will never be more apt to give than they are when are surrounded by like-minded people who embrace your mission. You have permission to make the most of it!
And, remember, the bliss is in the details,
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
“Haven’t I met you before?” That’s all that kept looping through my head when I met Tom Weitbrecht at an event sponsored by The Non-profit ToolBox, just outside Boston, in the Fall of 2010.
With a sparkle in his eye, an endearing “Bah”ston accent, and a handshake that felt like it was from an old friend, Tom said, “Nice to meet you, Jenna!” With a first impression like that, I am pretty sure that everyone thinks they have met Tom before!
It was at that meeting, that I became passionate about the topic that we are discussing today. Honestly, it is a topic that many non-profits put to bed years ago. And because they are occupied with so many other decisions, they simply don’t think to revisit it.
But, it is time to freshen up your due diligence and open up a dialog. Let me help get the ball rolling by giving a shout out to the group: If you don’t use a professional auctioneer for your fundraiser, it is time to RETHINK!
Okay, I know what you are thinking, “Jenna! Auctioneers cost money. They take a cut out of the funds we raise at our events.” Yes, they do. But, let’s take that notion and turn it upside down for a second. What are the costs of not having a professional auctioneer at your event?
What do you hope to bring in at your auction this year.. $10K, $20K…$50K? The auction is likely the single most important hour of your fundraising efforts for the entire year! There are high expectations and high stakes—that makes it high risk! Can you think of any other high risk financial situation where you don’t turn to a professional?
Anything that takes the auction off track--even in the slightest way--could distract bidders or make them lose interest and erode the funds you raise during that crucial hour.
But, the great news is, anything (or, in this case, anyone) that keeps your auction on track—or, better yet, elevates the experience to entertainment and excitement for your guests, will increase the funds you raise during that crucial hour!
So, I have two goals, today. My first goal is to inspire you to revisit the topic of hiring a professional auctioneer. My second goal is to give you the resources you need to make the right decision for your nonprofit. To that end, I am going to make cyber introductions to two auction professionals and their valuable online video content.
Out-of-this-World-Super-Helpful Online How-to Videos from Two Auctioneers
So, let’s circle back to my old friend, Tom (oh wait, he isn’t my old friend, I keep forgetting). Tom is the principal and chief charity auctioneer of The Strategic Auction Alliance and he has helped raise millions of dollars for charity organizations.
Above, is a mini video with a handful of helpful auction tips and a demonstration of Tom’s auctioneering skills. After you check that out, I highly recommend carving out some time to watch his free webinar: Obtaining Quality Auction Items.
The 25-minute seminar is jam-packed with HUGE ideas that you WILL implement. Plus, the recorded 35-minute Q & A session following the formal talk answers all the questions you will have swimming around in your head.
I also want to introduce you to Sherry Truhlar who is the founder Red Apple Auctions. I have never met Sherry, but I am a big fan of her video content. She passionately disseminates massively practical event details that will have a meaningful impact on your auction!
Sherry is dynamic and incredibly energized. She specializes in three to five minute videos that are a slam dunk in addressing, debunking and blowing out auction details. Above is one of my favorite videos where Sherry has a great no-bones-about-it opinion about how to (or more accurately how NOT to) announce the start of the auction! Below are three links to her short auction guides selected from her vault of helpful video content.
How many items should you sell in your benefit auction?
How to design the perfect auction bid paddle number for your event.
How to display silent auction items at your benefit auction fundraiser.
What I like about Sherry and Tom is that they know the best way to build trust is to be open and authentic. And, thank goodness for us, they are skilled in using web-based tools and media channels to cast a wide net and broadcast their good thinking to all of us do-gooders.
Just so you know, I have no affiliation with Tom or Sherry. And, as I publish this post, they have no idea that I am singing their praises.
So, there you go. It is time to RETHINK the auctioneer! Then REACT to these ideas. And, don’t forget to let me know how it all turns out.
Remember, the Bliss is in the Details!
Jenna
P.S. Do you have great auction tips to share, what to do and what not to do? Submit your ideas and get a chance to win a hot air balloon ride for two people!
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
Here in Connecticut, it has been an uncommonly mild winter. Sixty degrees, yesterday! And, yet, in my core, it still feels we are in the midst of our hibernation season. The days are short, sunshine is scarce, the produce in the grocery store is lackluster, and our small downtown has been robbed of its rhythm and buzz with so many families on vacation.
So, I was thinking it is a perfect time for a blog post that features vibrant colors and a festive feel. Today, we will cover a bit of the basics with centerpiece design.
Now, I know, this is not a complicated topic. But, so many of you are [rightly] focused on the more challenging details of fundraising events such as driving ticket sales, attracting sponsors, acquiring auction items, and settling on entertainment. I thought that perhaps a no-brainer list of best practices and a couple ideas for inspiration could be helpful.
Back to Basics
- A low design will create an atmosphere where table guests can all see each other and help spark conversation.
- This is especially important if businesses or groups are buying entire tables!
- Always test your design before acquiring all your supplies.
- Create a prototype to share with committee members.
- Make your design easy to replicate.
- If you can prep the centerpiece prior to the event and delegate assembly to team members, all the better!
Make Your Centerpiece a Sponsorship Opportunity
The Centerpiece offers an advertising opportunity with a captive audience for the duration of the entire meal!
Bring your prototype design to local businesses and offer signage on the table or better yet, integrated into the design! Be sure to keep in mind the cost of the goods it will take to create all the centerpieces and add on a premium for the value of the advertising.
(It also may be a good idea to add in the cost of two large pizzas so that you can offer your creative team a pizza party for the centerpiece assembly night!)
Bring your theme tableside
Think outside the box! Are there small colorful items that tie to your theme that can be used to create a centerpiece? Nothing like overhearing your guests say as they sit down, “Oh look, that’s so clever!”
I took a stab at this idea with the centerpiece above for a casino night. I used some mini playing cards, floral picks, a little floral foam, curling ribbon, poker chips and some handy dandy scotch tape.
The Impact of A Color Theme
Many of you have written to me about how you have elaborately incorporated color themes to transform mundane event rooms (i.e. a high school gym) into lively celebration spaces.
Water pearls (sometimes called jelly balls or jelly beads) are all the rave for showcasing color themes in the centerpiece. They are reasonably priced and work great with submersible accent lights (if they are in your budget).
For the design to the left, I used very inexpensive felt sheets along with a small amount of glittery accent tulle with floral picks for the flowers. Coordinating water pearls with a table mirror and accent ribbon tied the look together.
The “Favor”ite Centerpiece
This idea came to me from Linda who raises money for a prep school. Her event was in the Spring and she was able to get a flats of violets at very reasonable prices. She wrapped the individual plants in aluminum foil and set them on risers in the center of the table. In addition to adding fresh color to the table, each plant was the favor for the guests.
Being February in Connecticut, I didn’t have the benefit of Spring plantings to choose from! But, thanks to a local ShopRite, I got 4-inch prim rose pots on sale for $1.49! A little pink ribbon fastened to floral picks, some brown paper lunch bags, and glittery tulle brought this breast cancer-themed centerpiece and party favor together!
Fresh flowers are gorgeous, But…
If you can get a florist, local supplier, or grocery store to donate flowers for your event, more power to you! But, before you check off the box done, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- When will the flowers arrive? Will you have the (talented) manpower available to create the arrangements?
- Figure out how long it takes to make one arrangement…then estimate the time for make as many as you need.
- Are you arranging the flowers the day before? Do you have the means to transport the arrangements to the venue without damaging them?
- What will you be arranging them in?
- Do you need floral foam (and is that in your budget)?
- Can you borrow the containers and some table mirrors from a local florist?
- Do you need ribbon or pebbles or gems to bring the design together?
- Most importantly, keep in mind that with a fresh flower arrangement, you will be adding responsibilities to the oh-so-valuable last-minute prep time for the event!
This is a topic that so many of you have expertise on! Please, write comment below, or send me emails with photos of your designs. Your peers want to see what you can do (and so do I)!
Don't worry, I didn't forget! I have our last two balloon ride winners to announce!
- Among our contest entrants that didn't win in a category, Sharon who raises money for Cancer, MS and Cruedtzfelt-Jakob Disease was picked from a fish bowl.
- Also, one of our email subscribers was selected from a fish bowl, but I haven't heard back from her via email. So, will announce her first name and the type of organization she raises money for when I hear back from her, next week.
Thanks everyone...and remember, the bliss is in the details!
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
So, I thought this would be fun. But, choosing winners from a wildly creative, incredibly generous, and indisputably deserving group of people is simply a painful process. It means people have to not win (ugh…I can’t even bring myself to say “lose”).
So, to soften the blow of not awarding everyone hot air balloon rides, I have two announcements:
One: I will put all the names of the contest entrants who did not win a
hot air balloon ride in a fish bowl and draw one additional winner at random.
Two: I will give an opportunity for people—like first-time event planners—to win a
hot air balloon ride. So many of you are following the blog, submitting comments, and sending me emails. I don’t want you to miss out! So, I will randomly select one of my EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS to win a balloon ride for two. Please subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the upper right-hand corner of this page by midnight, Wed. Feb 22
nd.
I will announce both these winners in my post next Friday, Feb. 24th. Thank you to FundraisingRides for providing all the hot air balloon rides to our winners!
Winner for Creativity, Innovation and Originality
Marit, Who Raises Money for a Humane Society
Every year, Marit’s Humane Society puts on an auction event called Wine, Kibbles and Bids! For the table centerpieces, Marit and her team acquired empty wine bottles and soaked off their labels. Then, she and her team crafted new labels with the pet-themed wine name alternatives featured below.
Marit was able to get flowers for the wine bottles donated so that all she had to do was pay for the printing of the labels. The bottles were then used as door prizes for her guests to take home.
Why I really LOVE this idea…
- It is always a good thing when you can incorporate a clever and upbeat reminder of your organization’s mission into your event space.
- This idea not only served as a centerpiece but also as a conversation piece helping to spark interactions among all the guests at the tables.
- You can take this idea and run with it! The concept could be applied to an event theme or the mission of the organization. For example, a library could create wines that incorporate authors’ names, a casino night could use gambling terms, a historical society could use the names of U.S. presidents. Just make a list of common wines, and a list of relevant names, put them together and see what you come up with! (If you are having trouble being clever, maybe have a glass of wine would help—Personally, I think I am very clever after a glass of wine.)
Winner for Ease of Replication
Evan Who Raises Money for A Private School
I promise—not every winning detail involves alcohol! But, I do have two in a row.
Evan included an Instant Wine Cellar Raffle at his school’s Annual Soiree. Guests were invited to bring a bottle of wine to the event. These bottles were collected and displayed on a table in the middle of the auction room. When guests brought a bottle, they were given five raffle tickets and invited to purchase additional raffle tickets…$5 for one ticket, $20 for five tickets, $100 for 25 tickets. The winner of the raffle walked away with 50+ bottles of wine—an Instant Wine Cellar!
Why I really LOVE this idea…
- Everyone has at least one bottle of wine in the house they can grab as they walk out the door. Guests don’t have to prep ahead of time to bring something valuable and feel connected.
- For the winner, every time he/she uncorks a bottle of this wine he/she will think of—or better yet, tell the story of—the fundraising event.
- The only cost to the non-profit is the roll of raffle tickets—which you are probably ordering already. Kudos, Evan!
Winner for Low-Budget Ideas That WOW!
Colleen, Who Raises Money for a Private K-8 School
This is such a good idea, my guess is that some of you have heard of it before. But, I had not. And, I asked a number of friends, and they had not either. It is so EASY and sounds like so much fun. I simply had to award the ride for this category for Colleen’s “Heads or Tails” idea.
All you need are glow wristbands and a quarter and an emcee—oh and it would help if the event was in the evening so you can dim the room. When guests arrive you sell them a glow wristband for $10 for a chance to win a cash prize (you can decide on the amount), activate the wristband and be sure they put it on.
Just before the start of the auction (if you are having one), have all the people with bracelets stand up. Dim the lights. The emcee announces that they are flipping a coin and all those guests with bracelets need to decide if they are “heads” or “tails.” If they are “heads,” they put their hand on their head. If they are “tails” they put their hand on their…well you get the idea!
The emcee then flips the coin and announces the toss. If you guessed correctly, you stay standing. If you guessed wrong, you sit down. Those still in the game get to keep their original guess or switch it up. This continues until only a handful of people are left standing. The emcee then invites the final few up on stage to complete the game until there is a winner.
Why I really LOVE this idea…
- You get guests laughing and completely engaged in the event.
- You have a natural way to get guests to pay attention to the stage at the onset of your auction.
- When you give a cash prize…the guest is most likely to spend that cash at your event!!! Make sure you get the cash in the winner’s hands right away so they have the opportunity to pay with it at checkout.
Winner for Unprecedented Style and Design
Casandra, Who raises Money for Teens in Foster Care
Okay…just look at the young woman in the photo below wearing the hat and arm warmers--and tell me if you could award this category to anyone else! I confess, her smiling face pretty much had me the moment I opened the email from Casandra. Then I read her story and it only got better from there.
Casandra’s church mission group used the ministry tagline of “Clothed in Love” for this event. The goal of the fundraiser was to raise money for and awareness about the plight of teens in foster care. (And this was their FIRST event, by the way. Not sure how they will top this!)
Empowered by three talented seamstresses in their church community and a little online research, the fundraising team “Up-cycled” donated clothing items into refreshing styles to feature in a fashion show. The three inspired items above were crafted with totally repurposed materials:
- A knitted sweater was transformed to a hat and armwarmer set with accent buttons lifted from another garment.
- An unlikely assortment of traditional men’s shirts were given a new life as a flirty tiered skirt.
- A collection of men’s ties were congregated to create a whimsical skirt paired with a fitted cardigan repurposed from a boxy crew neck.
The up-cycled styles were included in the auction at the event. And, considering the fact that Casandra used the word “FUN” (in caps) four times in her contest entry, I am guessing that the women planning the event had just as much FUN as the attendees. Go Casandra!
Why I really LOVE this idea…
While few of us have three enthusiastic seamstresses on hand to create trendy fashions, we all have the means to be creative and energized and optimistic. I can only imagine the first meeting of Casandra and her team…loud conversation, free flowing ideas, laughter, and lots of… “oh, oh, oh…and we can also [insert great idea]!”
The fact that they hadn’t done this before, didn’t get in the way. There may have been moments of doubt, but they were undoubtedly brushed away by the momentum of shared mission.
Winner for The Tiniest Detail with the Biggest Impact
Heather, Who Raises Money for The United Way
There were so many amazing entries in this category! It was great in some ways because the number of creative entries certainly validated that the detail-oriented concept for this blog is relevant to all of you! However, it was very challenging to pick a winner! But, I think you will agree that Heather is deserving.
Heather was involved in the planning of a very lavish and very large Rio Carnival themed Gala. For her VIP entrance, Heather’s team crafted glittery tasseled keys for use as tickets. At first, I thought, “Well, that’s super-pretty, but huh?” Not being educated on Rio Carnival lore, I consulted the handy dandy Wikipedia for clarification.
In Latin American countries, King Momo is considered the king of Carnivals. His appearance at the event signifies the start of festivities and, traditionally, he is given the key to the city by the mayor of the town hosting the festival
So, not only did Heather hand her VIP attendees a stylish ticket and clever keepsake, but also she was effectively saying to her guests… “Now that you’re here, let’s get this party started!” Awesome job, Heather!
Why I really LOVE this idea…
- This dazzling detail impacted guest before they even entered the event. It set a tone for all who entered that this would be a night to remember!
- Heather got the 350 recycled keys as well as the coordinating retired graduation tassels donated! And as she put it, “All that it cost us was a lot of hours painting keys!”
Winner for The Detail That [Nearly] Led to Disaster
Jessica, Who Ran Her Team’s Relay For Life Fundraiser
Do you see the Detail that Nearly Led to Disaster? Yes? Well then you truly are detail-oriented and you are in the right place! You will love Jessica’s story because you will be able to imagine yourself doing the exact same thing in her shoes.
I am going to go ahead and quote Jessica straight from her contest entry so that you can feel her pain (and rejoice in her redemption!).
The first round of tee shirts had a big donor's name spelled wrong....an “A” needed to be an “E.” Being the crafty person that I am, I said, ‘Wait, we can get iron on ‘E’s and put them over the ‘A’s. I went to Staples had a bunch of the same type E's and put them on transfer paper, and I was good to go.
Well, that worked except that you could still see a bit of the ‘A’ in the background. As I'm walking around my house talking to myself....a bright idea came to mind..."Wait I have white tee shirt paint"!!! I sat at my kitchen table with my white paint and a tiny brush (helps to have all this stuff at home) and covered all the parts of the ‘A’ on each shirt, individually. Best part was that they came out soooo good that even those who knew about it couldn’t really tell! It paid off!
Why I really LOVE this story…
We all make mistakes…sometimes, they are BIG ones! It is mostly because we take on too much. Plus we are risk takers, we put ourselves out there, especially when it is for a cause we believe in—and [thank God] that’s never going to change!
So, getting comfortable with making mistakes and shifting quickly to what I call “Problem Solver Mode” is essential. When you read Jessica’s words, you can just get into her head and see how she was relentless in “Problem Solver Mode.” Getting jiggy with this mindset will enable you to turn on a dime when things go wrong during an event and turn lemons into lemonade (more on this topic in future posts!).
Thank You EVERYONE!
This contest has been a wonderful springboard for the Bliss for my Detail-Oriented Fundraiser blog. I learned so much about what you can do, what you want to do, and what you want to learn about. Thank for being here with me from the beginning. There is so much good stuff yet to come!
And remember, the bliss is in the details,
Warm Regards,
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
"The Bliss is in The Details" may be the mantra for this blog. But, for me, personally, the Bliss is in The Blogging! I am less than a week into launching this blog, and I am already dazzled by your creativity, enthusiasm, dedication and your interest in sharing ideas. Your engagement in helping to create this community of fundraising event planners has been outstanding. Thank you!
Plus, your contest submissions have been even more than I had hoped for (and I have high expectations)! Thank you to everyone who has provided fantastic details from their fundraising events.
And please…if you haven’t done so yet fill out our contest form. I am giving away six hot air balloon rides for two people. No doubt you have plenty of good ideas, 
so the odds of you winning are excellent!
Even if you don’t win a balloon ride, everyone who reads this blog will benefit from the fundraising ideas shared through the contest.
BELOW, and to the LEFT, are teasers about the fundraising event details you will read about in future posts!
You will learn how to make an easy $1,000 by having your guests to bring one small item (that they already have at home)!
You will find out how thousands of dollars of donations could go uncollected, If you forget this live auction best 
practice.
And, you will get the details on how to create a stunning, simple (and super-cheap) centerpiece that doubles as the party favor!
Well, from where I sit, we are well on our way to creating that "bank of fundraising ideas" that I referred to in my first post. And, It is all because of you.
I truly look forward to cataloging and communicating all your great ideas. Next Friday, I will announce the hot air balloon ride winners and their exceptional ideas. Now your challenge is to take these ideas and run with them (Oh yeah...and don't forget to report back to me with your results!).
And, remember, The Bliss Is in the Details!
Warm regards,
Jenna
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.
In my career, I have had the joy of hearing from people across the country, like you, who are planning fundraising events. Some people have done it before. Many are first-timers. All of you comprise the most creative, resourceful and driven group of individuals I have ever met.
You are also…drumroll please…massively detail-oriented.
That’s partly why you were picked to plan a fundraising event in the first place! Whether you were ticking away on your iPhone's calendar app, carrying color-coded folders, or caught organizing the sugar packets during a coffee break–you made the powers-at-be at your nonprofit salivate.
Because, really, attention to detail is the difference between a good fundraising event and a WOW-your-guests-can't-stop-RAVING (and writing donation checks) event.
Whether the details span from the coat check to the coffee service or the cotton candy to the country band, all fundraising events have hundreds of details to manage.
But, that's okay. Because, secretly, you love it!
So let's indulge ourselves a bit! After all, doing good is hard. Volunteering is noble. And you are making sacrifices to do this work. Why not infuse the event planning process with a little bit of what I call “Details Bliss.”
Through this blog we are building a “Bank of Fundraising Event Details” for you to draw on whenever you need ideas. To start the ball rolling, I want to hear about your details! Whether it is a centerpiece concept, a budget appetizer, or the perfect bandana for a square dance, I want to know (and so do your peers)!
To make this detail sharing process exciting, the top six submissions will receive a hot air balloon ride for two people from Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. The winners can use the ride for themselves or as an auction/raffle item at your next fundraising event.
Ready to dive into the details (and maybe win a balloon ride)? Just click here to complete my online form and tell me about the special details from your event--it's quick and easy. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Remember...the bliss is in the details.
All my Best,
Jenna
P.S. I will continue to offer opportunities to win balloon rides over the next couple months. So, be sure to subscribe to the blog. You might have a perfect fundraising event detail to submit for one of my upcoming requests!
This blog is sponsored by FundraisingRides, the division of Soaring Adventures of America, Inc. dedicated to providing non-profit organizations with fundraising opportunities.