A fundraising event program is quintessential to give your fundraising event a sense of direction. Many non-profits, small charities or start-ups make the mistake of organizing the event on the fly, without adhering to a schedule.
This can lead up to a lot of unpredictable situations which might end up affecting the event’s progress.
So, if you want to avoid all the mishaps and do things the proper way, you’ll have to put together an event program that you and your team will stick to zealously.
Thankfully, we have put forth a step by step guide which will help you set up everything within the right time frame.
A Convenient Fundraising Event Program
Your objective is to make sure that all your guests receive the program. For that, you will have to keep in mind of the audience’s demographic and pick a format that is more convenient for them.
You can use event apps, which are software made to help you with the organizational part of the event. They allow you to quickly set up the program and ship it in an easily readable format to all the guests who have a smartphone and have connected to your app.
These kinds of apps also provide a lot of useful features, such as allowing you to make modifications to the schedule and notifying people about it.
Keep in mind that the classic paper format isn’t obsolete. You can print your program on paper and hand it out to the attendees. This format is ideal if your audience base is an older demographic who are less likely to download apps.
The Importance of the Starting Day
If your event is spanning multiple days, the first day is of utmost importance. It’s the day in which your fundraising event program is made public and set in motion.
An opening ceremony is the first thing that you should begin your event with. It serves as a proper introduction for all the attendants.
Afterward, depending on your event’s theme, make sure to distribute the activities evenly, so that they don’t overlap.
Also, make sure to include some breaks between the activities, so that people have time to digest the information.
Keep the Best Parts for Last
As the events unfold, you would want to have the most attendants during the event’s hallmark. To achieve this, you have to set it at a time where most people have the possibility of attending.
The best time to set it is usually during the evening when most people are free from work and can attend your event without worries.
As a rule of thumb, when you’re planning your fundraising event program, make sure to set the highlight of the event as a final act or close to the event’s end.
If you set it too early, there is always the risk of people leaving right after the said act ends.
Leave Some Room for Entertainment
There is one thing missing on your event program – an entertainment act.
Breaks are good for a breather, but they’re not engaging enough. What your event needs is a dose of entertainment on the schedule.
