Events

When done well, events can create a wonderful experience that deepens donor relationships and transforms the perception of your organization. They also can be drains on staff and volunteer time, as well as money.

Ted Hart speaks with Eileen M. Wilhem, director of philanthropy at CAFAmerica, and Doug Balfour, owner and CEO of Geneva Global, about CAFAmerica's launch of International Day of Giving on his Nonprofit Coach radio show.

Announcing the 2012 Special Events Campaigns of the Year: MIND Research Institute and Avow Hospice, along with the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research.

The 2012 FundRaising Success Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence deadline has been extended to Sept. 7. Check out last year's Special Events winner, American Jewish World Service.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation, whose mission — So the World May Hear — brings greater understanding among people through hearing care, raised more than $7.6 million during its annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala. The event, which drew dozens of celebrity and VIP supporters, raised the most money of any gala since the event began in 2001.

Special events have an important place in a good overall fundraising program. One or maybe two well-done events can generate publicity for your organization in addition to raising money. Events can also give you a way to cultivate relationships.

The 19th annual Vera Bradley Classic Golf & Tennis Tournament raised $1,001,145. The four-day event, held in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the largest women's amateur golf and tennis charity event in the nation. Nearly 600 participants and 300 volunteers came together to have fun and raise funds for the cause; women from 11 states participated.

The funds support breast cancer research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.

Tens of thousands of fundraising “athons’’ nationwide mean donors suffer fatigue. As a result, some participants are struggling to raise the $4,000 the Boston Athletic Association requires of charity runners for the Boston Marathon.

This year more than 2,300 people will officially run the Boston Marathon for more than 130 charities; that is up from four charities with 500 runners in 1994, the first year the BAA formalized its charity marathon program.