Difference between revisions of "Special events"

From NGO Handbook
(Development of a successful format)
(Marrying the corporate and the social)
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==Marrying the corporate and the social==
 
==Marrying the corporate and the social==
 
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[[Pierson4.gif|right|450px]]
 
In the past, fundraising was traditionally either social or they are corporate. There are very few galas that combine both. We have actually figured out a way to marry the two. We did not really have a choice given our constituents; we needed to figure out a way to do this and make it work to our benefit.  
 
In the past, fundraising was traditionally either social or they are corporate. There are very few galas that combine both. We have actually figured out a way to marry the two. We did not really have a choice given our constituents; we needed to figure out a way to do this and make it work to our benefit.  
  
So now our galas are a very successful marriage of both a corporate and a social gala. We have a few components that I feel really contribute to making this possible. One component is keeping a short program. This enables the corporation to come in and allows them to have a lot of networking time and also a lot of social and mingling time. For example, if you have a board member that buys a table and fills it with their friends, they want to be able to chat them up, talk to them about the organization, keep them interested and make them want to come back next year.  
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So now our galas are a very successful marriage of both a corporate and a social gala. We have a few components that I feel really contribute to making this possible. One component is keeping a short program. This enables the corporation to come in and allows them to have a lot of networking time and also a lot of social and mingling time. For example, if you have a board member that buys a table and fills it with their friends, they want to be able to chat them up, talk to them about the organization, keep them interested and make them want to come back next year.
  
 
==Live entertainment==
 
==Live entertainment==

Revision as of 07:29, 16 October 2011

This presentation by Staci Pierson, Manager of Special Events for the Rainforest Alliance, primarily focuses on the gala held by the Rainforest Alliance every year. This event encompasses a large number of special event components. The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical forests. It was founded in 1987 to conserve biodiversity by transforming land use practices, businesses practices, and consumer behavior. The first annual gala was held in the spring of 1990, with the goal of raising unrestricted funds, create awareness, further its mission, and attract new members and donors. This first gala was successful event, attracting approximately two hundred guests and raising about $20,000. By 2010, the gala drew about 600 guests and raised more than $1.5 million for the organization, with the costs about $250,000.


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