The {Virtual} Gala Team
The {Virtual} Gala Team
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    • Contact Us
    • Our Services
      • About Us
      • Step-by-Step Guide
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      • Virtual Gala at Home
      • Virtual Gala in a Studio
      • Live Events
    • Resources
      • Testimonials
      • Our Blog
      • 2020 Year-End Webinar
      • Webinars / Podcasts
      • FAQ's
      • Virtual Examples
      • Mobile Bidding
      • Resources
    • Racism
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  • Racism

Now is the time to do a Virtual Fundraising Gala

There has never been a better time to do a virtual gala. All of your donors are sitting at home. They're all suffering through COVID-19 just like you are. 


They care about the population you serve. They're waiting for you to ask for their support

Fundraising goals are in reach despite Social Distancing

The Coronavirus crisis and the ban on large gatherings has forced many nonprofits to postpone or cancel their annual fundraisers. The virus hit right at the start of the Spring Event season, and at first, it didn’t seem as if it was going to stop charity fundraisers.


At The Gala Team, we did seven fundraising events on the weekend of March 6-7, and while the Coronavirus was a constant topic of conversation, it was not a significant factor. The audiences were laughing and joking as we all made the awkward effort to NOT shake hands and NOT hug and NOT touch our faces.


The events were normal. The fundraising was fine. In a weird way, the shared awkwardness of trying not to touch each other had brought us closer together.


The next week, the mandate for social distancing had blown us apart.


The NBA cancelled its season, and within days, all sporting events were cancelled, there were restrictions on international flights, schools were shut down, and colleges went {virtual}. Concerts and conventions came crashing down, and more than a dozen states imposed bans on gatherings of more than 250 people.


In the nonprofit community, the cute awkwardness of the previous week had turned into absolute devastation.


For many nonprofits, the annual fundraiser is the single biggest revenue generator of the year. Without this money, they won’t be able to deliver the critical services needed by some of the most vulnerable members of our society -- especially during this time of crisis.


Yes, some nonprofits are blessed with large cash reserves or endowment funds that can fill the gaps, but that’s the exception not the rule.


The reality for most nonprofits is that they need to find a way to replace at least a portion of the fundraising dollars they’re losing because of the Coronavirus.


So they scrambled, looking for new fundraising ideas, and discovered The {Virtual} Gala.


{Virtual} Gala Fundraising is exactly what it sounds like. You gather people together on their computers; you conduct a much shorter, much more focused version of your annual fundraiser, and you give your donors the opportunity to support you.


Remember, it’s not just you who is frustrated. The donors who care about the communities you serve are also looking for a way to help those in need during this crisis. So your announcement that you’re holding a {Virtual} Gala might be music to their ears.

SO HOW DO I CONDUCT A {VIRTUAL} GALA?
A laptop with a devise plugged into it, and a camera, all sitting on a yellow table.

Conducting Your {Virtual} Gala

Here are the first few things to consider:

1.  Communicate with your registration/mobile bidding company about this shift.  If you hadn’t already booked a partner like this, call one of these companies right away.  They will facilitate {virtual} giving from your whole donor base.


  • Auction & Event Solutions
  • Bolder Events
  • GiveSmart
  • OneCause


2. Check with The {Virtual} Gala Team on availability for your preferred date. We have a team of professional presenters who can host your event, interview your guests and facilitate your fundraising. 


3. Traditionally, Friday and Saturday nights are event nights. With a Virtual Gala, weekday nights, and even weekdays, are now possibilities because your donors are all staying home and/or working from home, so their availability for a digital event is greatly enhanced.


Some tips to consider:

  • Find a Live-Streaming platform that is user-friendly for all your guests.  Facebook Live, YouTube Live and Zoom are all great platforms. 
  • Each presenter will join the event from his or her own home. Make sure everyone has good lighting, good backgrounds and good sound.  
  • Keep it simple!  We all have a lot of experience in hosting live fundraising events, so lean on your experience and try to duplicate the things that you know work. Don't go crazy trying to invent entirely new fundraising ideas that may or may not work. Stick close to proven strategies.
  • Remember your charity is important to your supporters, and they want to contribute. By hosting your virtual fundraising gala, you're giving them the opportunity to support you.
  • Don't let your {Virtual} Fundraising Gala drag on too long. You don't want to take the 3-hour timeline from your normal Gala and turn that into your {Virtual} plan. You want to do a much tighter, much more concise version of your program (aim for 45 to 60 minutes.
  • The goal is to entertain, inform, engage and raise money.

Curious how this might play out?



Click the button below to check out a sample timeline for your {virtual} gala!

Sample Timeline

REMEMBER

Hosting a {Virtual} Gala might not have been your first choice, but if you're looking for solutions to the COVID-19 Social Distancing requirements, you've found your emergency parachute. 


You're a charity that your donors love. They want to fulfill your fundraising needs, you just have to let them know that you still need them, and you've developed fundraising ideas that will allow them to participate. 


We would love to help you plan and conduct your {Virtual} Gala.

LET'S GET {VIRTUAL}

Let's Get Social

Two men shaking hands in a highly reflective environment.

Services

Fundraising Consulting & Benefit Auctioneering

We offer benefit auctioneering, fundraising consulting and emcee services. With our unique paddle raiser strategy, live auction expertise and pre-event consulting, we help our nonprofit partners optimize their events for fundraising success.


The {Virtual} Gala was a reaction to the existential threat of Coronavirus-19. For many nonprofits, missing out on the revenue of their annual gala is a death blow. Unless they have an endowment, large capital reserves or a group of sponsors who step in to fill the gap, the Coronavirus could literally keep from them from delivering services, force them to layoff staff, and force the vulnerable to seek another source for help.


So simply skipping the event is not an option.


We can help you plan and execute your {Virtual} Gala. Our benefit auctioneers can host the event for you, and expertly engage the audience while facilitating your fundraising. 


Our consultants will help answer your pre-event questions to optimize your {Virtual} event for success.


We have a video production team that can provide a sound studio, lights, cameras, microphones, etc. to help deliver a truly professional presentation


If you'd prefer to shoot the {Virtual} Gala at your location, our video production team can arrive with mobile lights and cameras to handle the shoot.


The key to a successful {Virtual} event is flexibility, and we will be with you every step of the way to brainstorm ideas, solve problems, and help you recover some (or ALL) of the fundraising support you were going to receive during your normal gala.

Learn More

Watch Virtual Examples

Sample Virtual Timeline

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Keep it short - under 60 minutes
  • Limit the number of presenters - a host + 1 person to represent the charity (or 2 people from the charity) 
  • Use short videos
  • Do your paddle raiser (aka Fund-a-Need) before the Live Auction
  • Keep the Live Auction short (3 to 5 items).
  • Keep the event moving. Keep it light. Keep it fun. And wrap it up quickly.

Download PDF

Copyright © 2020 The Virtual Gala Team - All Rights Reserved.

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