We attended a fundraising event for one of our strategic planning clients this week. A great idea to pass along to those of you “in design” on new fundraisers: Double the flavor, double the fun, increase the $$$s!

Our friends have hosted a standard morning breakfast fundraiser for several years, maxing out income by recruiting business sponsors to underwrite all expenses, recruiting Board and other table hosts to invite their like-minded friends (who attend as guests, for free). Then, of course, the breakfast presentation “tells the story and makes the pitch”. They have all the details nailed down – last year made $170,000 in contributions from the event.

photo credit: mastermaq

How to improve?

Here’s what they did: This year they ran the EXACT same fundraiser twice in a single day, as the breakfast event and then – instant replay – as a luncheon. Board members were asked to fill TWO tables – one at each event. One unanticipated advantage: Board members were able to ask a friend to come to either event. If a friend had to say “no” to the early morning breakfast? Come to the lunch instead. There are morning people in the world who WANT to come at 7 a.m. and be out by 8:30. There are others (who may be willing to support your mission) who’d rather come for lunch.

Our friends added over 100 attendees using this strategy. As long as costs are covered, why not consider the possibility of upping your fundraiser ROI this way?