How Great Data Built an Inclusive Event

Donor data drives fundraising. It lets you know who your supporters are and how they’re engaging with your work, which helps you retain donors and grow your relationships. Data is also the understated backbone of a successful fundraising event.

On the day of your event, if you know ahead of time who your sponsors are bringing, where everyone is sitting and who your major donors are in attendance, you’re going to have a much less stressful event and your guests are going to have a better experience. But if we backtrack a little, great data can also help you design an event specifically for your supporters.

 

North by Northeast Community Health Center is a health organization in Portland focused on African American healthcare and health equity. Their annual major donor event, Community Supper, is an opportunity for their community at large to gather and celebrate their work. This year’s Community Supper was one of the most inclusive events we’ve ever been a part of. It was a room full of love and connection to this work—from patients to community partners to sponsors—and they were able to do this because of their efforts in data collection and management.

First, they looked at feedback from last year’s Community Supper and made key decisions based on that input from guests. This included adding an FAQ to their ticketing page to better inform guests what to expect at the event, providing a shuttle from the clinic to the venue on the night of the event and including multiple fundraising activities with a range of price points so everyone had a chance to participate and be a part of the giving.

 

They also offered sponsors the opportunity to host patients at their tables so they could bring the whole NxNE community together. The key to this was following up with sponsors and thoroughly gathering guest information leading up to the event. That way last-minute changes were made easily, and everyone was welcomed and expected.

Data is crucial in so many ways. It can help you build the framework for your fundraising and design events that achieve your goals and inspire your supporters. With good data and data management, your dreams become that much more attainable.

Photos by Tom Cook