Fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused non-profit organizations to pivot their efforts to virtual engagement methods with donors. With large events no longer possible, virtual fundraising has risen in importance more than ever before. This shift to online fundraising will only continue, with donors engaging more with the organizations and causes they care about through events and conferences that will take place online.
Moving things virtually certainly doesn’t mean removing donor engagement at all from the company vision. It’s important to get creative and think of new ways to reach and engage with your donors, especially when we can’t physically be together.
Live-streaming technology opens up the window to endless fundraising possibilities, including virtual culinary lessons from some of the world’s best chefs. For donor events of all sizes and kinds, a virtual event can include, or even become a Delicious Experience. Donors can be shipped personal kits for an intimate at-home experience, or you can gather some of your top donors together for a group experience. Whether wearing a dress for a gala or an apron for the kitchen, these creative fundraising alternatives are worth exploring even once we’ve returned back to in-person events.
An unexpected benefit of not being able to do in-person fundraising events is that donors do not need to travel far and dress up too much to enjoy great networking opportunities and the chance to learn about the organizational updates. For top donors, gifting them a virtual mixology session, wine or whiskey tasting, or a fun cooking session, where they either do it on their own time, or together with other donors, is a great way to keep them engaged.
The Cocktail Quest: Craft Cocktail Game
The cocktail bar at the gala might be closed, but your donors can get in on the fun with a virtual Craft Cocktail Game Experience. This one-of-a-kind cocktail experience teaches guests how to mix a few drinks, while taking part in an exciting home scavenger hunt. No boring happy hours here! The unique cocktail class is led by award-winning mixologist Vance Henderson, who is also the U.S. National Brand Ambassador for Hendrick’s gin and has nearly two decades of cocktail experience to share with guests.
The Steak Experience
Bring the gala dinner into your donor’s home with a restaurant-ready steak cooked to perfection. Chef Kevin Fink, Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef” in 2016 and a 2020 James Beard Award finalist, will add some star experience to your fundraising event. Let him guide your donors through the secrets to getting a sizzling steak while supporting your cause.
Are you a fan of fettuccine or lean towards linguini? Let your donors learn how to make fresh pasta from three Italian chefs. Just like the best Italian cooking, every recipe starts from scratch and ends with a heartwarming bowl of pasta that will make dreams of Italy come true.
Have your donors bake up their own perfect macarons with the guidance from baker Danielle Trencher of Macarun. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Danielle has mastered these temperamental French confections and soon, so will your donors. Since it’s a customizable class, you can even choose colors or flavors that best match your nonprofit’s logo or cause.
