Cultivating an Audience that Cares

It was another fantastic Wild Splendor event for Columbia Land Trust this year. The room was beautiful, the auction items were great and the food was delicious.

But their most essential element?

The right people in the room.

This is a mantra we repeat to our clients over and over as their event looms and it seems like the centerpieces are becoming the most essential element. Centerpieces come and go, but they don't increase your revenue. You can build the most beautiful room on the planet, but if you don't fill it with people who are going to support you, you've put on a good FUNraiser.

However, you haven't necessarily put on an effective FUNDraiser.

What Columbia Land Trust does so well is that they fill their room with some of their most passionate supporters. With guests who are deeply connected to the organization's mission and come prepared to show that support. With guests who are connected to someone else who is passionate about the organization.

They tapped into their network, and their network's networks to cull a crowd interested in their work and open to supporting them by writing checks.

Filled seats, are just that, unless you fill them with guests who are going to participate in the fundraising. It's about having the right people in the room. It's about making an event that will speak to them, engage them and inspire them to give and support you and your great work.

Congratulations Columbia Land Trust on a great event!