Engaging Donors at Events

There are many ways to get your donors to understand what your nonprofit organization is all about. Organizational videos, personal testimonies, pamphlets, word of mouth or an online presence. But what if you could have your donor see your organization through the eyes of the people you are helping? Really experience it using all their senses? In this way, the feeling of empathy is created. Your donor is able to see, feel, smell, taste and hear what your clients do. It puts your donor in the shoes of your clients. This is exactly what the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon did at their Wish Ball this year.

Meet Soren. Soren is 4 years old and he is obsessed with superheroes, action movies and cartoons. He was diagnosed on October 1, 2013 with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that typically affects children. Soren’s wish was to be in a movie complete with a superhero, villains and a damsel in distress. Local production company Funnelbox and video game developer SuperGenius created a movie featuring “Super Soren”. And the Wish Ball was the perfect place to show this movie, complete with popcorn, a red carpet, autographs with “Super Soren” and Iron Man all culminating in the exclusive showing of the movie. Donors got to see Soren’s wish come true right before their eyes. They became part of Soren’s story and thus felt engaged with the organization they were supporting. Donors walked away knowing they helped Soren’s wish come true that night, making them superheroes, too!

If your donor feels part of your organization’s story, they are more likely to continue to be engaged. Give them an experience they will remember at your next fundraising event. Put them in the shoes of the people you are helping every day by getting them to use all five senses with an experiential moment. Make your donors the hero and give them a new understanding of how they have helped your organization’s beneficiaries.