Gala Unlocked

Ahhhh, you just took that first sip of leftover gala wine. Nothing tastes better. You wanna know why? It’s because the big event that you and perhaps an entire committee have taken anywhere from 12-9 months to plan is... OVER!

Gal-a, Gay-la, Guallla, however you want to pronounce it, is a fundraising event. It is most likely your largest (and fanciest) event-related revenue generator of the year. No pressure. From a board member’s perspective this is a glamorous party (wedding reception like) where they can invite their friends, show off a nonprofit where they are part of leadership, and to see and be seen by the who’s who of the community. This all sounds like fun, right? Meh. Don’t get me wrong, there are some fun aspects of planning a gala, like deciding on a theme, collateral design (which includes working with one of our favorite partners, Captivation Agency!) and menu tasting, to name a few.

However, for the most part, you are focusing on the delicate balance of staying on budget. This includes lowering expenses (no gold-rimmed wine glasses this year!), without compromising the integrity of the event, as well as the donor experience and most importantly raising revenue. Let’s take a moment to pause the conversation about numbers. I would be remiss if I did not mention the importance of planning a mission-driven event. This is a wonderful opportunity to get the attention of 200 or even 600 people in one room. As we have all been taught, first impressions matter. For about one-third to one-half of the guests, this could very well be their first introduction to your mission. Take advantage of that, and connect with them before, during, and after the event. I have said this once (actually, about a thousand times), and I’ll say it again, the real “work” and fundraising starts the day after the event. The worst thing that could happen is half of the room doesn’t even know which nonprofit this gala is raising money for. It’s just another “party” they were invited to attend.

Now, back to the numbers. A successful gala should generate increased revenue of at least 10% year-over year, of course this all depends on your annual net profit. Unfortunately, with most fundraising events, there comes a point when it will simply plateau. This could happen in year 10 or even in year 30. There are several factors that play into the trajectory of this happening sooner rather than later. The biggest mistake is thinking you can do the same exact thing you did last year, the year prior, and the year prior to that and get the same results. Same program. Same auction items. Same donor experience. Same rubber chicken. Boring! A wildly successful revenue generator this year may flop next year and vice versa. The magic happens when you create a balanced, strategic, and mission-driven event.

What to know more about unlocking the secrets to a successful gala? Don’t wait! Reach out to Purposeful Outcomes Philanthropy, LLC today!