Event Fundraising
Plan, promote, and profit from fundraising events that supporters love.
For: Nonprofit fundraisers and development staff
What you’ll learn
- Choose the right event type for your goal and capacity
- Build a realistic event budget and net revenue goal
- Recruit sponsors and underwriters to cover costs
- Measure true event ROI, including staff time
- Convert one-night attendees into repeat donors
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
What a fundraising event is actually for
5 min
- 2
The menu: types of fundraising events
6 min
- 3
Gross vs. net: the number that actually matters
6 min
- 4
Building the budget
6 min
- 5
Sponsorships: covering the cost before the doors open
6 min
- 6
Day-of logistics & the run of show
5 min
- 7
After the event: turning attendees into donors
5 min
Sources & further reading
- Classy (GoFundMe) — How to Calculate Fundraising Event ROI
- OneCause — How to Plan a Fundraising Event: Steps to Raise More
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — Donor Cultivation Events: A Practical Guide for Fundraising
- Bloomerang — Special Event Follow-Up to Convert Guests to Loyal Donors
- Double the Donation — Corporate Giving and Matching Gift Statistics
- GiveSmart — How to Calculate Net Gain for a Nonprofit Event
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.