You are never too young to make a difference in fundraising.

Burlington, Vermont-based Davis Studio is giving children the opportunity to let their creative juices flow for a great cause. Partnering with the Vermont Children’s Trust Fund and The Humane Society of Chittenden County, Davis Studio will host painting classes for area children beginning on March 16. Paintings will then be auctioned off May 6 at Shelburne Farms Coach Barn.

Including children in fundraiser events is a great idea to get the whole family involved and maximize fundraising success. Along with raising funds for a good cause, it also helps to shape children to become the young philanthropists of tomorrow.

Davis Studio, and others hosting similar events, can take its event to the next level by encouraging audience participation and interaction. We’ve come up with three ideas for maximizing fundraiser event success through audience interaction:

1. Honor the “Most Unique Painting,” the “Best Use of Color” or the “Artist in Training” by allowing guests to vote using keypads

2. Increase funds raised by incorporating audience response keypads that enable charity guests to place instant bids on artwork

3. Encourage a friendly “bidding war” among attendees by showing real time results of bidding with audience response systems

Learn more about the different types of audience response systems for your next fundraising event.

To receive the latest news and tips for enhancing your next event with electronic bidding and pledging, subscribe to the Purple Carpet Event RSS Feed or by email.

Plus, you should follow us on Twitter today.

Paint and Donate! Ideas to Get Children Involved in Your Next Fundraiser Event was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

One preventative hair loss shampoo company is working to “bring back the moustache” with a unique fundraising idea. After all, even bald men can grow moustaches!

Zenagen Shampoo, maker of a preventative hair loss shampoo, asked participants to submit pictures of themselves in costumes incorporating moustaches (real or fake), according to a recent article in The Auburn Plainsman. The winning photo – selected by a panel of judges – was chosen based on how well the moustache was incorporated into the costume.

The winner received a VIP trip to the annual ‘Stache Bash in St. Louis in the late fall. All proceeds from ‘Stache Bash ticket sales were donated to Challenger Baseball, a baseball league for children with disabilities.

We’ve found some more unique ideas to help incorporate interaction into events like the ‘Stache Bash and ensure maximum fundraising success:

• Put a fun twist on the typical photo contest. The Cotton Land Cluster of Dogs Shows recently hosted a fundraising contest to find the ugliest dog, which raised $5,000 from donations and entry fees. Have some ugly photos of their own? Post entries online and invite the public to vote on the best “worst” choice.

• Host an event with interactive audience voting. A Social Affair Dance Studio recently hosted a ballroom dancing contest where audience members voted for their favorites by making a $1 donation to charity. Build on this for your event by leveraging audience response systems, where attendees vote on keypads, to encourage even more participation.

• Leverage popular social networking channels to raise both money and awareness for a good cause. Social media marketing firm EVERYWHERE set the record for the world’s most widespread social network message, and in so doing raised $70,000+ in sponsor donations through social media fundraising. Encourage even more participation by tying in a poll asking participants to predict how much money the fundraiser will raise.

Check out some additional ideas for incorporating interaction into fundraising ideas.

Unique Fundraising Idea Tries to Bring the Moustache Back was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

IML Connector Audience Response System

Attendees at this week’s International Confex Exhibition in London got a firsthand, exclusive view of the brand-new IML Connector audience interaction and voting tool.

Not there? Not to worry.

We’ve got our own exclusive look at the new audience response system.

The audience response device – in direct response to event producer demand – reduces the amount of hardware necessary for attendees to fully participate in events. The single handheld device combines:

• Multiple audio channels and portable PA system
• Instant voting with configurable menus and choices
• “Push to talk” functionality, allowing attendees to ask questions without waiting for the mic

The Connector audience response system takes interaction to a whole new level by incorporating intuitive features such as an accelerometer that detects tilt and orientation. Imagine using the Connector at your next event to capture an actual show of hands.

User-friendly features have also been incorporated into the Connector. In place of an industry-standard alpha-numeric keypad, the Connector utilizes a QWERTY keyboard. Plus, the device offers a color screen for multimedia and high-resolution graphics, which enables more detailed question and answer sessions.

Learn more about the new Connector and other audience response systems available from IML.

To receive the latest news and tips for enhancing your next event with electronic bidding and pledging, subscribe to the Purple Carpet Event RSS Feed or by email.

Plus, you should follow us on Twitter today.

Gain an Exclusive Look at the Next Generation of Audience Response Systems was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

Large-scale events – from silent auctions to shareholder meetings – require careful planning, monetary resources and manpower. And a few tried-and-true tips for event planning don’t hurt, either.

In a recent podcast and whitepaper from promotional product retailer 4imprint, Paulette Wolf and Donielle Levine, authors of the book “Event Planning Made Easy,” offer what they consider the first and most important tip for successful event planning:

Establish the 5 “W’s” and 1 “How.”

One by one, those 6 elements include:

1. Who are the guests or attendees?

2. What is the event being planned?

3. Where will the event be held?

4. When is the event scheduled?

5. Why is the event being held—i.e., what’s the goal of the event?

6. How much is in the budget?

Of course, those steps are just the start. From there, the detailed work begins. We’ve come up with the next 6 “W” and “How” tips for event planning:

7. Who in my organization is willing and qualified to assist in the planning?

8. What channels should I use to promote the event?

9. Where can I find tools available to ensure full audience participation and interaction?

10. When should each planning milestone be reached leading up to the event?

11. Why did similar past events succeed or fail, and what lessons learned can be taken from those events?

12. How can I maximize fundraising ROI?

What tips for event planning would you add to the list?

12 Must-Read Tips for Event Planning was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

What phrase recently set the Guinness World Record for number of social media mentions in a 24-hour period – raising $70,000 through fundraising in the process?

A. #AIDSAwareness

B. #EliminateHeartDisease

C. #SayNoToPoverty

D. #BeatCancer

If you answered “D. #BeatCancer”, you know your social media and fundraising trivia!

In late October, EVERYWHERE, a social media marketing firm in Atlanta, officially set the record for the most widespread social network message in 24 hours. The phrase #BeatCancer received a total of 209,771 mentions on Twitter, Facebook and blog posts in just one day.

EVERYWHERE asked attendees at BlogWorld & New Media Expo to post the message via their blogs, Twitter accounts and Facebook accounts. From there, the campaign went viral.

The marketing firm didn’t just score bragging rights. Sponsors eBay/PayPal, MillerCoors Brewing Company and Genesis Today donated more than $70,000 for 4 non-profit cancer organizations. Those groups include Spirit Jump, Bright Pink, Alex’s Lemonade and Stand UP to Cancer.

Learn about another unique fundraising effort by taking our cancer fundraiser quiz.

A New Standard in Social Media Fundraising was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

Whether hosting a fundraising event for a school, church, non-profit organization or any other entity, certain planning requirements remain the same. In a recent post on The Fundraising Authority blog, several steps were identified to incorporate into planning. We’ve added to the list to create the 13 essential steps of any successful fundraising event.

1. Determine the event’s purpose. Is the goal to raise funds, gain publicity or develop a presence in a new market? In some cases, events have a combination of goals. For example, a charity dinner might be hosted to gain publicity for a non-profit organization, with a secondary purpose of raising funds.

2. Set a fundraising goal. The goal should be based on what the organization would like to net after accounting for all expenses. The event host committee, organization staff and key fundraisers can all help in determining this goal.

3. Plan for a budget. Budgets must encompass staffing, venue, food and drinks, entertainment, invitations, and security costs, among many other possible items. The most successful fundraising events also account for unexpected costs during budgeting.

4. Decide on a host committee. This group of donors, business leaders or celebrities can help an organization reach its fundraising goals by contributing funds and encouraging others to do the same. They may not be responsible for planning the event, but they’ll be vital to reaching fundraising goals.

5. Pinpoint the target audience. Determining who will be invited to the event will dictate much of the planning. For example, is the event geared toward a group of business leaders, parents of school children, families or other specific group?

6. Nail down event details. This includes choosing the location for the event, the food and drinks to be served, the required dress and special activities or entertainment for guests.

7. Ensure audience participation. A host of resources exist to help ensure maximum interaction among guests, including audience response text messaging systems or keypads with interactive quizzes.

8. Market the event to the target audience. Whether organizers choose to market the event through direct mail, telemarketing, word of mouth or via social networks, creating a marketing plan is critical. It may be helpful to think of the event as you would a product launch.

9. Create a procedure for ticket sales and donations. In addition to determining logistics like who will sell tickets and how they will be delivered, organizers should consider setting different contribution levels. For example, organizations could set a general ticket price for the actual event, and also offer a VIP level that would give attendees access to an additional reception.

10. Brainstorm ways to maximize fundraising. Successful fundraising events involve raising the highest amount of money possible. One way organizations can achieve this is through automated silent auction software. This technology allows guests to place instant bids during silent auctions directly from their seats.

11. Hold a quick event run-through. For all parties involved in running the event, organizers must ensure their roles and responsibilities are clearly communicated and understood. The larger the event, the more preparation needed.

12. Encourage audience participation. Audience participation is crucial for two reasons: First, it ensures all participants engage with one another and enjoy themselves. Second, the more audience interaction at an event, the more likely guests will be to donate funds. Discover how one high school was able to maximize donations at a fundraising event by soliciting audience response through electronic keypads.

13. Show appreciation to donors and participants. It’s important to keep all donors, vendors, staff and volunteers happy, so they will want to participate in future events. Saying “thanks,” even through simple notes, can go a long way.

Keeping these 13 steps in mind – whether planning a large or small affair – will ensure a successful fundraising event for all parties involved.

13 Essential Elements of Successful Fundraising Events was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

For charity organizations, a down economy presents a conundrum of sorts: the worse the economy, the greater the need for fundraising donations—and the greater the difficulty in securing them. When brainstorming fundraising ideas, it’s vital to consider how to maximize fundraising ROI.

But which fundraising ideas produce the best results? And which donor groups should be targeted to gain the most return?

Blogger Norman Olshansky, of non-profit consulting firm NFP Consulting Resources, presents some useful statistics to maximize fundraising (based on “Fund Raising: Evaluating and Managing the Fund Development Process” by James Greenfield) in a recent post.

In other words, to raise $1 through direct mailing general lists, you’d have to spend $1.15. But to raise $1 through soliciting major gifts, you’d only need to spend $0.05 to $0.10.

When you’re planning your next fundraiser, keep in mind which efforts produce the best results. Then brainstorm ways to maximize fundraising for the method you chose—whether that’s a direct mailing campaign or a gala.

For example, in October, Keep a Child Alive held its 2009 Black Ball to support children and families in Africa and India who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The fundraiser included such high-profile names as President Bill Clinton, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, John Mayer and Sir Richard Branson. To maximize ROI and attendee participation, the group utilized a silent auction software system that allowed guests to pledge donations right from their seats.

The event experienced a 30% participation rate, compared with the less than 10% average participation rate of similar events. In the end, the Black Ball was able to generate more than $70,000!

What ideas do you have to maximize fundraising ROI?

Maximize Fundraising at Your Next Event was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

What did one non-profit organization encourage participants to do on Sept. 17 to show their support for cancer fundraiser efforts?

A. Take a nature hike in honor of cancer survivors.

B. Wear a bald cap all day.

C. Give a stranger a hug.

D. Volunteer an hour of time at a local hospital.

If you chose “B,” you’re correct!

On Sept. 17, Small Army for a Cause held a nationwide cancer fundraiser event encouraging participants to wear a bald cap for the day and collect sponsor donations. All funds raised were given to several cancer-related charities.

The non-profit group was founded by members of Small Army, a marketing and ad agency in Boston. The Small Army team wanted to honor the memory of Mike Connell, co-founder of the agency who lost his battle with cancer in 2007.

What unique fundraising ideas do you have to raise money and awareness for a worthy cause?

Cancer Fundraiser Raises Support in a Unique Way was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

From formal dinners, to silent auctions, to celebrity golf tournaments, many school fundraiser ideas are geared toward the adult crowd. But involving the kids in school fundraising events is a wonderful way to teach them a lesson in philanthropy and strengthen family ties.

Get creative with your next school fundraising event by engaging the entire family—from the tiniest tots to grandparents, and everyone in between. Try these 3 school fundraiser ideas to maximize the success and level of interaction for your next event.

1. New Twist on Silent Auctions
Silent auctions are a popular school fundraiser idea. But instead of hosting a formal dinner where sporting event tickets, vacation packages and other big-ticket items are auctioned off, put a new spin on your next silent auction event. Involve students along with their parents by hosting a less formal event.

Auction off school-related items: a pizza party for your child’s class, school sweatshirts and “principal for a day” privileges, for example. Leverage an audience response silent auction software system to maximize success.

2. Unique Spin on Golf Tournaments
Lots of schools and other organizations host charity golf events to raise money for their worthy causes. Break the mold by hosting a mini golf tournament that involves the whole family.

Incorporate interaction and inspire some friendly competition. Encourage golfers and spectators to vote on who they think will win the tournament and which grade level will have the lower combined score.

3. Different Kind of Formal Dinner/Dance
Think outside the box the next time you’re considering a formal dinner/dance for a school fundraiser. How about a father/daughter or mother/son event instead? Or better yet, invite the entire family to put on their dancing shoes and join in.

Let your guests provide the entertainment factor for the night. Consider hosting a family talent show or dance competition during the event and allow guests to vote on the winners.

What other typical school fundraiser ideas could be flipped to involve the whole family?

3 School Fundraiser Ideas to Engage the Kids was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com

When you cast a vote, typically the goal is to choose the best possible option—whether you’re voting on a new school board president or a city ordinance. When was the last time you were encouraged to vote on the worst choice?

The Cotton Land Cluster of Dog Shows is doing just that as part of a fundraising contest to collect money for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit in Louisiana.

The charity dog competition honors the ugliest dog and the best owner/dog look-alike. Last year, the contest contributed more than $5,000 to its cause, according to The News-Star in Monroe, Louisiana.

Macmillan Cancer Support is following a similar lead. The London-based cancer charity has launched the Ugliest Mug fundraising contest in search of the most quirky or peculiar drinking mug in the UK, reports news source Your Thanet. The winning mug will be chosen based on its “ugly” factor and its bizarre history or story.

The contest serves as a jumpstart to the organization’s major fundraising event, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. During the event, UK residents are asked to host their own coffee mornings with friends, family and co-workers. The money collected during the coffee mornings will be donated to cancer patient care and treatment. Last year the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning raised £7.5 million; this year’s goal is more than £8 million.

Take a cue from these successful fundraising events and host your own variation. To maximize results, use an electronic voting system to have some fun and get creative:

• Plan a charity ’80s prom night. Instead of voting on the most popular king and queen of the prom, select the “Most Hideous Dress” and “Worst Tux.”

• Host a vintage car show. Don’t honor the most beautifully refurbished car; instead let attendees vote on the “Worst Clunker” or “Biggest Gas-Guzzler.”

• Hold an “un-fashion” show. Attendees can vote on the “Oddest Dress,” “Most Bizarre Hat” and “Ugliest Tie.”

How else could you use electronic voting systems to honor the “worst of”, have fun and raise money for your charity?

Fundraising Contests Get Creative and Honor the “Worst” Choices was posted at Purple Carpet Event Blog. | http://www.purplecarpeteventblog.com