Where Did the Event Go in Peer to Peer Fundraising?

At this year’s Non-Profit Technology Conference, taking place in Minneapolis April 11-13 2013, I will be presenting about the shift in peer-to-peer fundraising that is changing the way non-profits are engaging their constituents in their mission. We will explore the surge of these peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns and how online tools make it easy for any organization to offer this type of fundraising for their constituents.

For years fundraisers needed to run, walk or ride to show their donors their commitment to the mission and non-profits hosted events to collect the donations. Peer-to-peer fundraising events were the best vehicle to reach thousands of fundraisers and tens of thousands of donors, and looking at the numbers they still are. According the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council, America’s Top 30 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Events engaged almost 12 million fundraisers and raised $1.68 billion in 2012.

What about the rest of non-profit supporters that don’t participate in events? How do non-profits engage this population in a meaningful way that inspires them to ask their networks to support the non-profit’s mission too? Fundraising events built the foundation for peer-to-peer fundraising strategy, now it is time to take it to the next level. Non-profit advocates, donors and volunteers are passionate about the mission of the organizations they support, don’t you think if they were asked to fundraise any way they wanted to, they would?

According to the 2012 Blackbaud Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Benchmark Report, fundraisers who raise money by this form of peer-to-peer fundraising raise significant more per person than those that participate in traditional events. Traditional events recruit more fundraisers, so while they raise less per fundraiser they are raising more for most non-profits. If non-profits could engage all of their constituents to fundraise, think of how much could be raised.

The Non-Profit Technology Conference, produced by NTEN, brings nonprofit technologists, decision makers, and nonprofit leaders together to find new and better ways to use technology more effectively. Join me for Where did the Event Go in Peer to Peer Fundraising Friday April 12 from 3:30 – 5:00 PM.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Palo

Nancy Palo is a senior consultant on Blackbaud’s strategic services team with an emphasis on peer-to-peer fundraising. She brings more than 10 years experience in the event fundraising space enjoys helping nonprofits implement solutions to increase revenue through innovative online fundraising strategies. Prior to joining Blackbaud in April 2012, Nancy worked at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in California and New York where see oversaw the Society’s peer to peer fundraising campaigns, raising more than $30 million during her eight years with the organization. She studied communications and business at the University of San Diego and works remotely from her home office in her 400 square foot apartment in New York City. Connect with Nancy on Twitter at @fundraising101.