Special Events Software: Saving Time and Effort for Fundraising Events

This type of platform manages event planning, event execution and event follow-up.

"It is really helpful in streamlining a process that can be full of pitfalls," Houston says.

For instance, event software can set up codes for invites and segment the invitation list — i.e., an alumni event for the business school as opposed to the university as whole. It also can easily print name tags and verify spelling on the day of the event, as well as provide up-to-date information on attendees to deepen personal interactions — always a key to fundraising.

Then it allows for follow-up by providing robust analytics and data on the event and event attendees — who signed up, who showed up, where the folks came from, etc. And then that information can be used for surveys and thank-yous, while also providing insights on whom to invite and not to future events.

Houston and MassEcon Marketing Communications Coordinator Annie O'Connell provide these keys when assessing events software:

• Make sure it's user-friendly.
• Make sure it's flexible — allowing on-the-fly printing and analytics.
• Make sure it has an export feature to keep data organized and eliminate manual input.
• Make sure the provider has responsive staff to help with any issues — something Houston says is key with Attend.com, very customer-focused.