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Introducing the Virtual Fundraising Framework 

It’s no secret fundraising has changed. What was common place for fundraising 12 months ago, doesn’t apply anymore.

So, what are you going to do? How are you going to make sure you can keep your doors open and continue supporting those who rely on your services? How are you going to create engaging fundraisers that will keep your donors excited? And how are you going to do that in an online manner?

These are big questions, but don’t worry, we’re here to help. As leaders in virtual fundraising we know how to host successful fundraisers online, that engage your donors, and ultimately help you raise more than you have in the past, and now we’re giving you the proven framework, tested by over 100 organizations, so you can win with your fundraising too. 

 

Introducing the Virtual Fundraising Framework. 

The three-part framework to creating a successful virtual fundraiser, that wows your donors.

Choose the Right Fundraising Elements

Especially when going virtual, having the right fundraising drivers are essential to engaging your donors. We like to break down these fundraising elements into two categories

1. Fundraising elements that drive people to engage with you.

For virtual events it’s your ticket sales, with an online silent auction it’s open bidding to the general public. With these fundraising elements the goal is to share it far and wide to get individuals to participate. 

And remember, with online fundraising you don’t have to be bound by geographical restrictions!

2. Fundraising elements that encourage donors to give, more.

Now that you’ve got donors engaged with your fundraiser, the next goal is to give them more opportunities to donate. For your virtual event, try a live auction and fund-a-need, or maybe do a flash raffle and ask donors to buy tickets during the event. For your online silent auction why not ask for additional donations when people are checking out?

However you approach it, consider these two types of fundraising elements to increase the amount you raise with your fundraiser. 

 

Build a COVID Safe Plan

With restrictions changing almost daily, it’s hard to know what will and will not be allowed when your fundraiser launches. Instead of leaving it to the last minute, build a plan that allows you to adapt on the fly and still host a successful fundraiser! 

1. Start with Plan A

Ask yourself “If restrictions were to stay the exact same, what will my virtual fundraiser look like?“

2. Then move to Plan B

“What if restrictions were to ease? How can I adapt my fundraiser to match looser restrictions, while still keeping people safe?”

3. And finally Plan C

And finally, “If restrictions become tighter, what would my fundraiser look like, and how can it still engage my donors in an innovative way?”

With virtual fundraising, there are countless ways to get creative. We’ve seen everything from virtual bartenders, online dance classes, live cooking demonstrations, and even virtual wine tastings! Think outside the box and consider what will resonate with your donors and encourage them to participate, regardless of restrictions. 

 

Execute with the Right Tools and Technology

The final key to a successful fundraiser is having the right tools and technology to ensure your donors can participate and engage in a seamless experience. For insight on the most popular live-streaming platforms with charity professionals right now, click here.

Not only does the right technology make your job easier, but it gives donors confidence to give, knowing their purchases and donations will make it to your organization. 

We’d encourage you to simplify the fundraising experience for your donors. Give your donors everything they need to give quickly, from donation prompts at the right moments, reminders to participate in the live auction or 50/50, and notifications when they’ve been outbid on silent auction items. With regular prompts and easy calls to action, they’ll have no excuse not to give! 

 

These are the insights you need to get started. Next, you’ll need the tools that allow you to execute.

You’ll need to find an all-in-one platform to host your virtual fundraiser with ease, and I have a feeling Trellis could be the perfect tool to help you do that.  

The post Transform your fundraising to an online experience and surpass your goals. appeared first on Trellis.

Virtual events have become the new normal, but as more organizations look to secure vital funding through virtual events, organizations are looking to drive more revenue and better engage their attendees.

Organizations can incorporate a virtual silent auction, live auction and fund-a-need pledging seamlessly into their virtual event. These features not only better engage your audience with the speakers and auctioneers, but also encourage donors to participate in the bidding and donating from a custom portal on their mobile device.

Donors love it!

If you want an easy to use tool to drive more funds and also make your charity look innovative you should book a demo to learn more. Viewers can watch the live event on their tv or laptop and bid in live time on their second device. Allowing people in the same room or people across the globe to compete and bid on items. This is great for small gatherings, watch parties or fully virtual events.

It is incredibly simple to set up and manage!

“When planning your virtual fundraiser, you need to check out Trellis. Simple to use for both the planner and the attendees. I easily managed our virtual silent auction, fund-a-need pledging, and live auction all from the same platform.” – Diane Whittington, Senior Events Manager of Solutions with Impact

With our easy-to-use admin panel you can control exactly what is on your presenter screen and the donor view. Push donation options, live auction items and fund-a-need offerings directly to your donors phones in real time! Using the admin panel, the host can also manage the opening and closing of the online auction and each individual item.

Organizations can leverage these features to raise more by creating a seamless donating process and engaging their donors in an entertaining and memorable way.

Interested in learning more about virtual live auctions and fund-a-need pledging?

Join a live demo!

The post Virtual live auction and fund-a-need features designed to help you drive more revenue appeared first on Trellis.

As we start adjusting to a new socially-distant reality and connecting with customers like you, we realized that it is still not the time to resume our fees like before. At the current point, we are going to continue waiving our fees, then reassess on July 1st. Depending on the climate at that time and where our customers are, we will readjust. 

“growing and supporting more customers that even before due to this crisis, and adding as much value as possible is our top priority right now.”

We are a social enterprise with a mission to power global collective impact. To do this effectively, we need a revenue stream. However, growing and supporting more customers than ever before due to this crisis, and adding as much value as possible is our top priority right now. We are excited to continue building relationships with new and existing customers that we know are in an extremely challenging time right now. 

So please enjoy our product, let us know how we can improve it. We hope to keep supporting you long after this crisis is over, as we welcome a better and brighter future together.

Have questions about our pricing policy?

The post Adjusting our Pricing to Support Customers Like You appeared first on Trellis.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Trudeau promises more help is on the way after $10.5 billion has already been paid out. 

Saturday, June 6, 2020

The Stay at Home Gala ‘Hope in the Valley’ virtual event in Thornbury, Ontario raises just shy of $40,000 for the local community, enjoying a night of dressing up, and staying in. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Reimagining your non-profit to survive a crisis. 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Jillian Harris uses trellis.org to run Santa Jilly’s Christmas in June, raising over $200,000 for Mamas for Mamas.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Employment will be the way back in Canada. Justin Trudeau encourages employers to begin hiring again. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Anxiety and depression spikes as COVID continues in USA. 

Monday, May 25, 2020

Here’s what needs to happen before we can all get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Tiger Woods plays for US $10 million for COVID-19.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Potential COVID vaccine shows promising results. 

Friday, May 15, 2020

Cases and death rates of COVID expected to spike in USA as the country continues to reopen. 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

What to consider for fundraising events during COVID. 

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Canada prepares for COVID test number 1,00,000 within the next 24 hours. 

What back-to-school looks like in Wuhan as they reopen. 

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

5 tips for hosting digital fundraising events during COVID-19 (featuring insights from your friends at trellis.org!).

USA death rates to double as the economy reopens.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Canada Prime Minister commits $850 million to fight COVID-19 globally. 

Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Stay at Home Gala runs across Canada, raising almost $500k for Canadian communities.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The biggest US mall plans to reopen, kickstarting what retail will look like amid COVID-19.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

US States discuss plans to reopen the country during COVID-19.

The first COVID-19 test drug proves ineffective. 

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

A rise in direct cash donations from major donors and foundations is seen across the board since COVID-19 broke out.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Haircuts for Good, a North American movement launches encouraging people to cut their hair and donate to Hospital Foundations.

Canadian government announces $350M to support charitable organizations impacted by COVID-19. 

Monday, April 20, 2020

British Columbia expects to see no lift on 50 person gatherings this summer, impacting fundraising events.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

The star-studded One World: Together at Home living room concert raised $127M for COVID-19 relief.

Friday, April 17, 2020

British Columbia, Canada could see an ease in COVID restrictions come May. 

U.K.’s Capitan Tom Moore’s fundraiser hits £17M raised for National Health Services.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Edinburgh runner raises millions for COVID-19 Relief by inspiring runners around the world. 

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

TechSoup is offering a discount for Zoom accounts to assist with organizations working remotely. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Trump halts funding to WHO (World Health Organization)

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Shopify CEO pivots their charitable foundation to fund COVID-19 efforts. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Read suggestions around what needs to happen before life goes back to normal in Canada.

New CDC guidelines to protect essential workers. 

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

New York City sees it’s deadliest day of COVID-19.

Monday, April 6, 2020

Stay at Home Galas launch across Canada, in a push to raise $1,000,000 for COVID relief in the country.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

One World: Together at Home, the latest star-studded fundraiser for COVID-19 relief is announced which will be aired on April 18.

Saturday, April 4, 2020

What we can learn from Europe about the impact of COVID-19 on fundraising professionals.

Friday, April 3, 2020

How to establish a celebrity fundraising partnership amid COVID-19. 

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Podcast: How the charitable sector is likely to evolve post COVID-19.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

COVID-19 continues to shift how fundraising events are held. 

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

City of Toronto cancels all major events until June 30, 2020

Monday, March 30, 2020

Justin Trudeau announces 75% wage subsidies for non-profit organizations currently seeing a decrease in revenue due to COVID-19.

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Trump extends US social distancing guidelines until April 30.

Elton John and celebrity friends host the iHeart Living Room Concert for America raising nearly $8 Million for Feeding America and First Responders Children’s Foundation

Canadian charities call on federal funding amid COVID-19

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Travel advisories put in place for parts of the US.

Friday, March 27, 2020

The Stay at Home Gala fundraiser is hosted (virtually) raising money for Canadian Foundations (North Okanagan, Central Okanagan and South Okanagan).

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

British Columbia, Canada declares state of emergency due to COVID-19.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The United Way Southern Interior BC launches a COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Okanagan launches a Stay at Home Gala raising money for COVID-19 Relief and in support of local small businesses. 

To discuss how this could work for your organization book a meeting with the Trellis team here! 

Friday, March 20, 2020

Canada implements a temporary wage subsidy for employers including non-profit organizations, registered charities, and small businesses. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Central Okanagan Food Bank announced the winner of the Sprout a Fundraiser challenge hosted by Trellis in a time of great need. 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

British Columbia, Canada declares state of emergency due to COVID-19

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Public Health Authorities encourage individuals to stay in isolation to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donated $1 Million to Canadian and US food banks! 

Monday, March 16, 2020

Public Health Authorities encourage individuals to stay in isolation to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Gatherings over 50 people are discouraged. Canada chooses to close Canadian borders.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Trellis releases a FREE COVID-19 Resource Guide for fundraisers. Download your copy for insights around how to navigate fundraising events during COVID-19.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Public Health Authorities encourage individuals to practice social-distancing and reducing time spent in groups to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Trellis offers FREE COVID-19 Response Strategy Sessions for charitable organizations, we discuss alternate fundraising options.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Events and gatherings of over 250 people are not encouraged, impacting many fundraising events.

We’ve created some free resources specifically for you as your organization navigates the covid-19 outbreak!

The post Your updates channel for how covid-19 is impacting your fundraising events appeared first on Trellis.

We created our 5 foolproof ways to market your next fundraising event blog a few months ago. It was full of great ideas to share the word about your fundraising events. But, like everything else it doesn’t seem as relevant now. So, we’re giving you a 2.0 version, 5 ways to market your next fundraising initiative amid COVID-19, these ideas have been created with virtual events in mind, but can be used regardless of what type of fundraiser you are currently holding!

PS. Keep reading to the bottom to find out what our BONUS way to market your next fundraiser is.

So … ready to jump right in?

1. Engage in third party fundraising options. 

You’ve got keen supporters, get them to help you reach your goal!

We’ve seen the power of third party champions many times before, and during our current crisis, we’re seeing it again. Empower your third party champions to raise funds, and help you reach your goal! Encourage them to create their own fundraising page to promote and sell tickets for your event, or to simply raise funds. Celebrate and promote what they are doing as much as you can, so that you can help them experience success and ultimately drive more donations to your cause. And hey, it might spark some other third party champions to get involved too! You can learn more about engaging third party champions here!

2. Optimize your email marketing tactics 

Email marketing is NOT dead. It’s actually still really effective, you just have to do it right.

You already know that catchy subject lines, mobile-ready formats, and strong branding works. But in order to make your emails effective for your marketing strategy, you need to make it easy for people to engage.

Start by spelling out the details. If you’re hosting a virtual event, you may want to spend some extra time telling guests what they can expect as it may be their first virtual event, or yours! Keep it clear and concise, but tell your email readers why they need to attend, when and where to go, and give them a link to RSVP right in your email! (You can take it up a notch and include a donate button too if you’re feeling extra ambitious!) When we make it this easy for our readers, we’re giving them no excuse not to attend.

3. Take your social media to the next level. 

Social media is noisy, so be even noisier.

We get it. When you don’t have a budget to put towards social media ads, and you’re constantly fighting with all the other noise on social media, it can be overwhelming. But why not try some of these tactics to stand out and make a splash! Research is showing that social media usage is increasing right now, so capitalize on the opportunity while you can!

• Offer event giveaways or discounts to your followers. It’s working on Instagram right now so why not jump on the bandwagon?! Ask your followers to engage with you in some capacity for a chance to win free or discounted virtual event tickets. For a relatively small cost, you’ll be able to get more eyes on your event, and create even more awareness about what you are up to!
• Promote donation options. While you’re drawing more people to your social pages, make sure to remind them how easy it is to give! Even if supporters may not be able to attend, they may feel inclined to give, especially if you remind them how easy it is to do so!
• Remind followers of the ‘why’. While you’re getting more attention to your page because of your event, make sure to keep sharing your mission, the impact your cause makes and stories of life change through your cause. With posts like this, your supporters will feel inspired to join your virtual event!

But, as you approach social media, make sure it still feels like your own. Remember it’s your platform to represent your organization however you would like! Use your voice!

4. Engage with strategic sponsorships for your event. 

Fundraising is hard enough as it is, so let’s call on the right people to make it easier.

Finding sponsors can be hard, but with a targeted and tailored approach, it might not have to be as hard as we think! For fundraising events, the ‘spray and pray’ approach is typically the way we start. If it’s a for-profit business we’ll throw out the ask and get used to hearing a lot of no’s. But things are different across the board, so why not approach sponsorships a little differently?

Start with organizations you already have a relationship with. Scan your CRM and pull out any businesses you’ve worked with before to start the asks. And as you’re making your asks, be strategic in what you are asking their sponsorship to entail. Especially as businesses also face the impacts of COVID-19, find ways for them to support you with in-kind services as part of a sponsorship instead of money. Consider what services you could use some help with, and find the right businesses to do the job! And, when you’re making your ask, make sure to share your organization’s story. Take the time to educate them on what you do, who you serve, and the impact your organization makes. Even if they can’t support you this time, with more awareness of your cause, they will be inclined to jump on board next time!

5. Offer online fundraising options.

In the world of technology, we can do anything in an instant. Give supporters a chance to donate to your cause instantaneously too.

When setting up your event page, make sure donation prompts are at the forefront. When people believe in your organization, they are more inclined to give, so as they are reading about your upcoming virtual event, make the donation options easy and accessible. And, as a bonus, for supporters that can’t attend your event, you’re still giving them ways to get involved and support your cause! Win-win!

We also recommend using a thermometer to measure your fundraising success. It’ll help people visualize your progress, and create a sense of urgency to reach your fundraising goal!

Bonus! Add additional revenue streams. 

Marketing and fundraising unite! Blend your strategies leading up to your event to secure your funding and raise more for your cause. 

In times like this standard donation requests may not be enough to hit your urgent fundraising goals. We’d encourage you to look for innovative ways to drive additional revenue and show value to your community. This could be in the form of eCommerce sales, virtual silent auctions, or presale tickets to future events.

By creating a comprehensive plan, you’ll be able to make up for the lost funds that you usually receive through marquee events. Adding additional revenue streams might sound daunting, but we’ve got you covered. Download our Alternate Fundraising Strategies Resource Guide to help you get started.

You’ll be able to use your trellis page to host these additional revenue streams, keeping it easy for your supporters. 

We hope these 5 ways to market your next fundraiser successfully will help you get started as you navigate fundraising amid COVID-19. As you are putting these into practice make sure to reach out to our team and let us know how it’s going!

At trellis, our platform has been designed to help you do all of these things with ease.

Don’t believe us? Book a demo and we’ll show you how.

The post 5 Ways to Market Your Next Fundraising Initiative Amid COVID-19 appeared first on Trellis.

When making decisions regarding your events, use the following scale.

1/ Make no changes, continue as planned with your fundraising event. 

2/ Provide enhanced communication with attendees to address concerns they may have, and inform them of the heightened precautions your event team is taking in light of COVID-19. 

For sample messages to send to your event attendees, click here.

3/ Implement risk mitigation strategies for your event, without cancelling your fundraiser. 

For resources to use to communicate this message, click here. 

4/ Postpone or cancel your event. With a cancelled event, you can still ensure your organization receives funds through different revenue-generating channels. 

Click here to learn how to implement these. 

Many Public Health Authorities are recommending postponing or cancelling gatherings over 50 people. Events with less than 50 local attendees are still deemed to be low risk. Please note that this will differ by region or state, check with your local health authority for more information. 

If you are hosting in-person events, encourage your attendees to do the following:

• Be diligent with everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including:
  • Stay home when you are sick, except to receive medical care
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

As an event host, take extra precautions for your guests in light of COVID-19.  

• Ensure venue cleaning and sanitization is being handled.
• Provide hand sanitizer throughout the venue for your guests.
• Encourage guests to avoid physical contact at your event (opting for elbow touches and waves instead of handshakes or hugs).
• Review your event schedule, removing excess time for networking where attendees will be in close proximity, and opt for elements to be online to also protect your guests. 

Review the following resources to make sure your venue is ready.

• WHO workplace readiness guidelines
• CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations

As you decide what your fundraising initiatives look like during COVID-19, connect with our team of fundraising specialists.

The post Can I still host my fundraising event? appeared first on Trellis.

However, it is recommended to take additional precautions to keep guests and staff members safe. 

Below are three actions that you can take to make sure your guests feel comfortable when attending your event. 

Communicate

As an event planner, be clear about the risks of your event and communicate to keep your event attendees aware of your next steps. Let your event attendees know how you are proceeding with your event amid COVID-19. Provide attendees with options if they do not feel comfortable attending. We’ve crafted messaging to send to your event attendees here for you to use in sharing this message. 

Be prepared to receive questions and concerns from your attendees following your announcement as people process your announcement and decide how they would like to move forward. 

For sample messages, click here. 

Extra Event Preparation

At your event, take extra steps to keep guests feeling safe and comfortable. Provide hand sanitizer, and access to hand-washing stations wherever possible. Add signage to remind your attendees to keep respectable distances between one another. And offer alternatives for greetings each other like a wave, nod, or smile. 

For sample posters to add at your event, click here.

Adjust the Event

Where possible, change your activity schedule to reduce risk. Remove or shorten times for networking and mingling, opt for smaller gatherings for dinners, or introduce elements virtually so people can participate remotely. 

Without moving your event to be completely virtual, these small changes can help to reduce time spent together in confined spaces, helping attendees and staff stay safe. 

Social distancing will help slow the spread of this outbreak, but we know people still require social interaction. As long as the risk is low and event attendees and staff are safe, it is possible to host a fundraising event successfully amid COVID-19. 

For more information, review our covid-19 resource guide.

The post Hosting a successful fundraising event during COVID-19 appeared first on Trellis.

The current situation with COVID-19 is very challenging and rapidly changing. We know event organizers and charitable staff members are working quickly to assess their plans and redirect resources as needed. This is a difficult time around our world and we know how important your fundraising initiatives are for your organization, and we’re committed to helping you along the way. You’ll continue to receive weekly payouts, and stay informed about new solutions to help you reach your fundraising goals regardless of the situation with COVID-19.

We’ve created a FREE COVID-19 Resource Guide which includes:

• up to date information to keep you informed as you make decisions about your upcoming events
• tools to help you and your organization assess if you need to cancel your event based on the level of risk
• alternative revenue sources should you and your organization decide to postpone or cancel your fundraising events

Our team is constantly updating these resources as they are released. For the most up to date information, visit trellis.org. Additionally, we’re offering FREE COVID-19 Response Strategy Sessions to assist charitable organizations with their fundraising planning around COVID-19. 

As we navigate through uncertainty, we can hold onto the knowledge that we are stronger when we work together and support one another. At trellis, we promise to support you and your organization the best we can. 

We welcome your insight as we support our charity partners across the country. 

Sincerely, 

Justin Goodhew

Founder and CEO

support@trellis.org

The post Planning your fundraising events with COVID-19 in mind. appeared first on Trellis.