The 2012 Tipping Point Benefit Dinner raised over $8 million dollars on May 10th thanks in part to IML’s electronic fundraising technology. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, IML’s keypads made bidding easy and anonymous.
Click here to read the full article about the event.
Curious about how IML Fundraiser works and looks in person? Watch our video to check it out!
MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) April 18, 2012
IML has successfully launched IML Fundraiser, its next generation electronic fundraising offering. This new product has been used for several fundraising events over recent weeks, helping organizations to raise more than half a million dollars.
IML Fundraiser features electronic bidding and pledging via IML’s newest wireless keypad, the IML Connector, as well as on tablets. Its large, full color screen enhances the user experience, displaying easy-to-read item names, descriptions and personalized branding. IML Fundraiser is able to unobtrusively run thousands of bidding devices on the industry’s most reliable system, providing a fast and easy setup and ensuring your event runs smoothly.
In February 2012, IML conducted a survey among its fundraising clients. The fantastic feedback received provided valuable insight into what’s important to our clients. IML always strives to supply innovative and reliable hardware and software to help maximize the value of fundraising events.
Here are some highlights:
There is absolutely no room for error on a live event, especially where there are significant funds to be raised, it’s great to see our participants agree. IML provides the only system that can guarantee reliability and 100% data capture.
All too often, marketers make the mistake of trying to reach everyone all the time in whatever medium possible with a single statement. Knowing it’s unlikely they will succeed, they do it anyway – essentially throwing hard-to-come-by money out the window. A broad, catch-all message will most often do little more for you than irritate the majority of the viewers. This may not be as true if you already have a donor base in place. But, do you want to take that risk? Segmented, smaller-scale, targeted messages will improve the relevance of the message you are trying to deliver. In turn, enhancing the impact you desire and giving you the results that you deserve.
A few posts back, I discussed the importance of knowing your audience and why it is a critical aspect to fundraising. I would like to go beyond merely knowing your audience, to knowing them so well that you can segment them into smaller groups based on similarities of that subdivision. This may sound like a lofty endeavor. Too much work, too much thinking, too much planning, and so on… Granted, there is some extra effort necessary — you do have to think about who your segments are and define them appropriately. But, the payout at the end will reinforce the value of this decision.
Many people agree that two heads are better than one. Generally speaking, this is a good rule of thumb. It can be particularly fitting when dealing in the nonprofit sector. Today’s economic climate offers little support when trying to find funds for your charity. For whatever reason, we in the fundraising realm have found there just isn’t as much money to go around. At moments like this, we can appreciate the possible need to rethink our process.
Herein lies a great opportunity to creatively solve problems using minimal resources. Consider the notion of taking on a partner (or two) for your fundraising initiatives. No need to role your eyes, nonprofit execs, all will be explained. A fine example of such collaboration can be found at onphilanthropy.com. This scenario illustrates thinking outside the box to join with another non-profit to collectively reach a common goal. By combining efforts, two parties have a greater chance for success (more donations) by increasing the effectiveness of operations, minimizing costs, getting more ideas on the table, and the gaining the reach of a broader, more diverse audience. In other words—doing more with less. Additionally, engaging a different audience could be quite useful if you feel that you’re starting to stretch your regular donors a little thin.
You could be, if you’re not using all the tools in the box to garner funds from your attendees. The term “To leave money on the table” is defined by answers.com as: v. phr. to refrain from taking the utmost advantage of something; to not address every aspect of a situation. If you are not using technology, like the options from IML Worldwide, to elicit donations from your attendees, then you probably are.
As an event planner, you’re responsible for the outcome of your events. Whether you like it or not, the accountability (good or bad) lies on you. A perfect example of this comes quickly to mind: the Robin Hood Foundation. In a time of economic stress; Michele Whitney, senior manager, development operations for the organization needed to improve participation and raise more money. She became a hero by choosing to use IML’s electronic keypads for a pledge competition. The night of the event, over $72 million was raised in just over 18 minutes. And yet, not one guest left with a prize in hand. Participation from the attendees increased significantly and the pledge competition, merrily played out through IML’s devices, helped raise more money compared to previous years.
With any fundraising event, when the big day comes, there’s a moment of reflection. Has everything been checked? Has everything been double-checked? Triple-checked? In that moment, event planners cross the spectrum of emotion. Hope. Delirium. Confidence. Panic. Not necessarily in that order, and never visible to those around.
Try as they might, no event planner anticipates everything. That’s just life. But here are five questions that are frequently asked of event planners, and that may help you as you plan your event:
1. How do I get people to my event?
People want to be a part of something special. As the planner, you don’t want to over promise and under deliver, but you want to set expectations high and build anticipation. When people look forward to the event, they will spread the word.
So get creative with paper and digital invitations that look great. Use social media and traditional media (if budget allows) to tout the event and create as much awareness as possible.
If you or your planning committee is on the fence about switching from paper bid sheets to an electronic silent auction or pledge, you should consider an important trend among our clients: almost all say they will never go back to paper bidding.
Why do we at IML think this is? The benefits of using electronic bidding and pledging only increase with each time they are used. There is always a bit of a learning curve when using technology that is new to your attendees. Luckily, IML’s bidding keypads are very user-friendly and people quickly learn how to bid and keep tabs on their favorite items. And even though our clients get better results than paper bidding in their first year, their success often continues to improve in the following years.
Professional event planners understand the importance of space flow. There’s nothing worse than attending an event that feels overcrowded. Good use of the space provided makes attendees happier and satisfied attendees are more likely to help you meet your fundraising goals.
Whether you are hosting a silent auction or a fundraising gala, considering the best use of your event space will set the stage for a successful event. Here are a few things to consider when planning your next event.
5 Tips for Event Space Planning and Secrets to Increase Flow
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