I recently led a workshop on planning successful fundraising events at the Center for Nonprofit Management and shared some of the best practices I've learned over the years as a Consultant.  

I'd like to share my top 10 tips with you:

1. Decide your audience: Figure out who you want to attend your event

2. Decide what kind of event to do:  What would your audience be most interested in attending? Make sure your organization has the capacity to do it

3. Give yourself six months to plan the event:  Working backwards from the event date, put all of these things on a calendar

4. Involve your board, staff and volunteers:  Figure all of the various ways you can involve and engage staff, board and volunteers both in the event planning and the event itself.

5. Pick the right location:  Pick a location that is easy for your audience to get to.  Also, pick a venue that’s going to be right for the event your doing. 

6. Aim to raise at least as much as you spend:  While fundraising events accomplish other important things like raising your organization’s profile, you want to earn making at least twice of what you spend

7. Keep the program short: Make sure you have a tight agenda and that you’ve let everyone know how long they have to speak. 45 minutes or less

8. Figure out the pitch beforehand: Figure out who will do this and when they will do it during the event. Practice beforehand.

9. Thank your attendees: Thank them for coming when they arrive, when they leave and afterwards with a letter if you can.Be sure to evaluate afterwards:  Taking time to evaluate will help you with future events 

10. Be sure to evaluate afterwards:  Taking time to evaluate will help you with future events