Why You Should Ditch Your Next Fundraising Event

By Gail Perry

Fundraising events are a foundation for many nonprofit fundraising programs. But they are the most inefficient way of raising money.

Data from fundraising consultant James Greenfield shows that it costs 50 cents to raise $1 in a fundraising event. But your board members and volunteers don't know this statistic. Many volunteers aren't familiar with annual or major-gift fundraising — especially the costs vs. the benefits. That's why they zero in on events as the life-saving panacea for fundraising. That's the only thing in their sphere of reference.

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Gail Perry Author's page Gail believes in parties first, rabble-rousing second, and having fun while changing the world. Gail Perry CFRE is an international fundraising coach, speaker, trainer and thought-leader. She is a leader in a new breed of fundraisers who are on the cutting edge of fundraising today. Her Fired-Up Fundraising approach, developed over the past 25 years as a nonprofit philanthropy expert, has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions in gifts. Gail's practical and refreshing approach to raising money in today's world is based on the very latest innovative fundraising strategies. An inspirational and popular speaker, she leads energizing fundraising workshops and board retreats around the globe. She particularly enjoys working with nonprofit board members, introducing them to a new perspective on fundraising and ways they can be successful at it. Gail's book, Fired-Up Fundraising, has been called the "gold standard guide to building successful fundraising boards." Gail got her start in fundraising at Duke University, and then went on to lead fundraising at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can read Gail's weekly blogs at FiredUpFundraising.com, and also find her provocative articles at FundraisingSuccess, Guidestar, and Capital Campaign Magic.