3 Ways Non Profits Can Use Trade Shows

3 Ways Non Profits Can Use Trade Shows

Non-Profit, Trade Show

Trade shows offer a great opportunity to gain exposure and emails for both business and non profits. Here are the best ways for non profits to leverage trade shows.

Have a Booth

This is the most obvious thing to do at trade shows. You can have a booth to promote your organization, sell merchandise, or collect donations. I have also seen organizations sell art work done by those they serve. Whatever you are doing, make sure you are collecting name and emails so you can convert the people who you talk to into volunteers and donors later on. Do a giveaway to collect leads. Your giveaway can be a gift baskets with your branded swag, bottles of wine, or anything that you think the trade show audience would like. 

Partner with a Business who has a Booth

Does your non profit have a business that ir normally partners with? Ask them if they are attending the show and have a plan on how you can partner with them. Do you split the cost of the booth? Do you bring in an audience that the business would not normally bring in but wants to have? Does the business want to sponsor your booth and you will give them credit for the sponsorship along with tickets to the event? Can the business set up a donations box in their booth and promise a match? 

The thoughts on this are endless and can be lucrative for both parties. A business can showcase their commitment to the community while you gain exposure and donations. 

When you do approach a business about partnering with them, make sure that you show them what is in it for them. 

Partner with the Trade Show

I have attended many trade shows that have a non profit associated with them or they rotate the non profits. Trade Show Management will donate a certain percentage of the ticket costs to the non profit and provide space for them to accept donations and spread the word. Again, this arrangement can work for both parties. When you reach out to Trade Show management you need to showcase what they will be receiving from the partnership and how the partnership will benefit them. 

No matter how you decide to leverage trade shows, always make sure you have clearly defined goals that link back to your yearly goals. Knowing these goals can also help your partners decide how they can help you and what is your best move. 

3 Books Non Profit Leadership Should Read

3 Books Non Profit Leadership Should Read

Events, Non-Profit

Leadership in non profits comes in many different ways. You can be elected to the position, you can be hired, or you can start the non profit yourself. No matter how you have come to hold a leadership position in a non profit, you have now been tasked to grow and nurture a business that will help and serve others. 

I have three books that I suggest to every non profit leader.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber

This book is well known but when you think about the businesses from the lens of a non profit, you can see how to avoid volunteer burnout, how to systematize items, and allow the organization to grow beyond the leadership.

The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice by Todd Henry

I love this book because it shows you how to generate ideas for your non profit on a consistent basis. You cannot do the same thing over and over and expect better and better results. You need to shake things up and this book helps you do that. It will also help you balance your time between the non profit and other responsibilities.

Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky

I love this book because it helps to take the ideas you get from the others and put them into action. 

These books are not long or complicated and all come in audiobook versions as well. They are great business books but take the practices that they discuss and apply them to your non profit and your organization will thrive.

Once you are done with these books take a look at How Non Profits Can Eliminate the Lean Months.

 

One Change to Increase Your Yearly Non Profit Sponsorship Raise

One Change to Increase Your Yearly Non Profit Sponsorship Raise

Events, Non-Profit

Sponsorships are often the main way to raise money at non-profit events. They are the high ticket items that allow you to get a higher dollar amount for less work. The biggest issue can be gaining sponsorships for multiple events a year and the businesses you solicit can feel that they are always signing checks. 

You cannot go to the same well over and over without it running dry. 

So what are you to do?

Create a Yearly Sponsorship

This sounds like an easy thing but it requires some serious planning.

You need to know the following

  • What events are you hosting for the next year?
    • The year period is 12 months, it does not have to be from January to December. Decide what 12 month period works for you the best.
  • How much do you want the sponsorships to cost for each event?
  • What else are you going to offer the sponsors?
    • Offer space on your website, email marketing, and social media posts. You want the potential sponsor to feel like they will gaining from the big check they are writing. 

Once you know the above things you need to set the following

  • What levels are you going to offer?
    • Will you have a “title” sponsor for the year? Will you have a three tiered system? 
  • How much are these tiers going to cost and what is included in each level?

The final thing you need is your goals and your plan to gain these sponsorships

  • How many of these sponsorships do you need to sell to raise your goal amount?
  • How many businesses will each person on the committee reach out to?
  • What are the deadlines?

Learn how to write the perfect sponsorship letter.

Best of luck as you serve your community!

 

5 Ways to Elevate Your Non Profit Golf Tournament

5 Ways to Elevate Your Non Profit Golf Tournament

Events, Non-Profit

Golf tournaments are a great fundraiser. It is often simpler than a gala and has the benefit of being run during the day. But golf tournaments are starting to be very routine. Here are 5 ways to elevate your next golf tournament. 

1. Custom tee boxes and flags.

There are companies that offer full packages of custom boxes and hole flags. They are inexpensive and make a great visual impact. Make this a sponsorship opportunity and have the costs covered for you. 

2. Ensure the drink and food cart is out and taking your tickets. 

This seems like a no brainer but so many times I have heard golfers complain that there was no refreshments on the course. Golfing is hard and you want to make sure your players are well hydrated and have snacks whenever they want. Do not make them wait 9 holes to get drinks again. It is also a way for you to make more money. 

3. Bring in retail vendors. 

Brands are always looking for demo day opportunities or a way to sell to their target market. By bringing them in you have given your golfers a chance to demo and even buy new items and they will always think of your tournament and charity when they  use that item. 

4. Have a great registration. 

You do not want to make it hard for people to give you money. Have a website set up where people can register, sponsor, and pay all in one space. Keep this site updated with all the information that your golfers and sponsors will need. This is really where your event starts. Make it a good start. 

5. Personalize wherever possible

Simple things like adding the players names to their carts can go a long way. Include gift bags with snacks, water, and a first aid kits along with any offers your sponsors or vendors are promoting in the cart. You can also get a tee, divit fixer, and ball marker that are customized to your charity. Adding these touches is a great way to make the tournament feel high end. 

Golf tournaments are a great way to raise money but you want to separate yourself from the crowd of all the other. 

Extra: Here is one way that you can raise money and elevate the experience as well. Pay the Pro – a local pro or the golf course pro is stationed at one of the holes and players can pay him to hit their tee shot for them. 

If you need help planning your next golf tournament, set up a 15 minute discovery call to see if our services are right for you.

Picking the Right Time for Your Event

Picking the Right Time for Your Event

Business, Events, Holiday, Non-Profit, Trade Show

The complaint that I hear from the sales people that I work with most often is that the events are never at the right time. I will tell you now, there is no perfect time for an event. Early in the year people worry about taxes and saving money. Spring brings on Graduations and other end of school year items along with a wanderlust for people to travel. Summer is a time for vacations and family. Fall is filled with football, back to school, and shortened days. Year end brings the Holidays – the worst time to hold a non-holiday event.

With all these obstacles, how do you choose when to host your event? Here are the questions that I ask to determine the optimal date and time.

Who is your audience?

Are you looking to reach business owners or stay at home moms with elementary age children? Narrow down who your perfect attendee is and then learn when they have the time. A business owner often likes lunch events or afternoon events ending at 6 pm. This allows them to still be a part of the family time. A mom, you may need to host an event around 9 pm or during school hours.

What else is happening at that time?

When you have narrowed down a date and time, look at what else is happening in that community. If you are looking to attract football fans, you don’t want to host an event during Monday Night Football – unless you are showing the game. Is there a big concert going on? A big television event? A political event? Know what your target audience would attend other than your event.

How far out do you need to plan the event?

Remember that people will need a few weeks to put an event on their calendar. I prefer to give attendees at least 3 weeks before the RSVP deadline and do at least 4 weeks of marketing. If you are planning a large fundraising gala, add in time to gather sponsors etc. Understand what your timeline is and what is the level of commitment from your target attendee? Are they traveling out of town? Do they need to get baby/pet sitters? Do you have a dress code that will require time to adhere to? The larger the level of commitment, the more notice you need to give attendees.

Lay this information out on a calendar and then pick the date and time that overlaps with the least amount of other events. Remember, no time is perfect but there is an optimal time.

You can also do some market research and host events at different times throughout the day and year to see what brings in the most interest. The biggest thing is to know your perfect attendee profile. This will allow you to answer when is the best time for your event.

One more tip – I would not rule out breakfast events – if they come with a good breakfast (not runny eggs and/or small, stale pastries.) Breakfast can actually be a less expensive meal to cater than lunch or dinner and allowing people to start early in the morning and then head on with their day can bring in a great crowd.

Socially Distanced Fundraisers

Socially Distanced Fundraisers

Events, Non-Profit

Nonprofits have not disappeared during the pandemic. Most of them are working overtime to help the people they serve and have had to forgo the events, concerts, and galas that are their life blood.

I have been brainstorming with some of my friends that run non-profits on how they can still raise money and be socially distanced.

  1. Drive Through Fundraiser

I am working with a group that has access to a huge parking lot and some great caterers. We are working on creating a grab and go dinner solution. People will pay for the dinner beforehand and all the “extras”. There will be priests giving out blessings to the family in their car and a local DJ to spin tunes. You can also do raffle drawings, count the number of cars giveaways, etc.

There are a lot of different ways to spin this event to work with your non-profit.

Interested in the Drive Thru Fundraiser? Check out our Step by Step Drive Thru Fundraiser Workbook for $80. It is currently 35% off for all website visitors.

 

2. Virtual Game Night

There are a ton of games you can play online with a large group but my suggestion would be Bingo. It is easy to do in big groups and is interactive enough to keep people involved. I would have “Add Ons” to this night. Raffle tickets and a 50/50 drawing is an easy way to go. Having a meat and cheese board delivery option would be another great add on. Or you can have people pay for and pick up dinner and drinks before the Bingo begins. Choose foods that are good cold or can be easily heated up.

3. Movie Night Box

This is probably the simplest of the ideas on here. You put together a box with all the essentials for a movie night date. I would offer two different boxes: family movie night and date movie night. I would then offer an add on of a Drink box.

You can purchase most of this at a warehouse store and gather your troops to put the boxes together. Foil pans would be great options to pack in because they are durable and stack easy. Other catering boxes are also an option.

There is another variation of this where you get people together to watch the movie but in a socially distanced way. Have circles or tables laid out for four people at a time so people can stay separate. A park or even a driving range would be a great option for this.

4. Create Your Own Ice Bucket Challenge

We all remember the large amount of money that was raised by the Ice Bucket challenge. Make your own twist on that. Is it wearing a shirt or a button? Are you going to work with businesses to have their employees wear jeans on certain days if they donate money? You can also do a twist on the American Heart Association “Wear Red Day”.

Many people and businesses are still looking to donate to their chosen charities. Make it easy for them by letting them know you are still out there and helping your community.