Special Events with a Virtual Twist

As with any fundraising and marketing effort, testing is critical. What is successful in a live setting is not always successful online. Be realistic about the dollars you will raise with your first attempt at the online component, and have a long-term plan for online growth.

6. Document the good, the bad, the ugly, and the extraordinary. No matter the event — live, online, or integrated — documentation is critical. Organizations that document all stages of an event’s lifecycle, listing what worked and what didn’t, create an historical basis for future events. Unfortunately, documentation often is an activity that organizations start out doing but don’t continue as event planning ramps up. Keep in mind that the institutional memory will be an important tool as you build on your event’s success.